English
EspañolWhat is the difference between federal and state gun laws? Why do I need to understand both?
In these pages, we refer to two types of gun laws:
- Federal gun laws are laws that apply to all U.S. states and territories.
- State gun laws are specific to each state or territory.
The major differences between the two types of laws are:
- who makes the law;
- who prosecutes someone who breaks the law; and
- what the punishment is for breaking the law.
It’s important to know about both types of gun laws so you can understand all of the ways the abuser might break the law. This can help you protect yourself. In this section, we will mostly discuss your state’s gun laws. However, read our Federal Gun Laws pages to see if any federal laws also apply to your situation.
If you believe the abuser broke the law by having a gun, you can report it to the local police. You don’t need to be able to tell the police which law or if it’s a state or federal law. However, you should know that the local police can only arrest someone for breaking a state law. They cannot arrest someone for breaking a federal law. Only federal law enforcement can do that. The federal law enforcement agency that handles gun issues is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (“ATF”). If the abuser broke state and federal laws, s/he might be prosecuted in both state and federal courts.
|
If… |
Then… |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
If you believe the abuser broke a federal law, you can also contact the ATF directly to report it. To learn how, go to If I think the abuser has a gun illegally, who do I report it to?
