I have never been to united states of america. I don't know laws regarding buying guns in us. Is it possible for a tourist to buy gun in US ? I would like to travel to us as a tourist for few weeks, buy a gun and kill myself. Is it possible for somebody with tourist visa to buy a gun in america ?
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Short answer: No. In order to purchase a firearm in the US you must be a resident of the state in which you are buying it, and able to prove that residency. A tourist is not a resident of the state, they are unable to purchase firearms.
can you somehow borrow gun from people ? well if i find someone who will lend me their gun is possible but it is probably impossible to find such person unless you have connections among gangs etc
Tommen Baratheon
1+1=3
- Dec 26, 2023
- 431
What about shooting at a gun range? I've seen Belgian people doing that in TV.
ShatteredSerenity
I talk to God, but the sky is empty.
- Nov 24, 2024
- 676
It's true that the core of the Gun Control Act prohibits nonresident aliens from owning firearms, but the gun rights advocates have done their best to make swiss cheese of these regulations and there are many loopholes available to get around it.
If you travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program the prohibition on purchasing firearms does not apply. A big chunk of Europe participates in the Visa Waiver Program, but not many countries elsewhere. If it applies to you you're lucky and you don't need to jump through any hoops to purchase firearms.
If you aren't eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, there is an exception if you have a hunting license. It can be from any state, and they can be ridiculously easy to obtain. You may also need a proof of residence with the hunting license, I don't know if that applies to all states but at least some places require it. Proof of residence fairly simple, they just want a document showing that you live in the state, like a rental agreement or contract. An AirBnb receipt might even be enough.
The most Wild West approach is to travel to an ultra gun-friendly state like Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming where private sales don't require any ID or background check whatsoever. Some sellers choose to require ID for their own protection, but many don't. You can find websites for people trading guns, and you could line up most of the transaction online and by phone before traveling there. The states I listed are sparsely populated so you might need to travel to a remote location to purchase a weapon. Those states also have sky high suicide rates on a par with impoverished African nations, so CTB there is nothing out of the ordinary.
Unlikely. Anytime someone commits suicide using a gun it will be seized as evidence for the investigation. In many states any time you loan a weapon to someone else you have to do a background check, or report it to the police. If you're a nonresident alien who's prohibited from possessing a weapon the police could then go after the person who loaned it to you.
In a state without such requirements the gun could eventually be returned to the owner once the investigation was complete. Most people would be uncomfortable with being sucked into a police investigation involving their firearm, having to wait an unknown period of time to get it back, and having to clean whatever bits of you end up on it.
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Tommen Baratheon
1+1=3
- Dec 26, 2023
- 431
FrenzyReality341
Member
- Jan 8, 2025
- 23
This has happened often enough that a lot of places wont rent anything out to someone visiting alone. I think private seller in a heavy pro gun state is the way to go. If you offer to pay 30% more then the gun is worth Ill bet many would skip the backround check. "Ghost Guns" might be a diffrent option to look into.
BriocheAlien
Member
- Mar 28, 2024
- 18
Homemade guns. You can 3d print them yourselves or purchase a kit iirc.
Tommen Baratheon
1+1=3
- Dec 26, 2023
- 431
ShatteredSerenity
I talk to God, but the sky is empty.
- Nov 24, 2024
- 676
Yes and no. Ammunition is much less regulated, but the laws on nonresident aliens do apply to both firearms and ammunition for the most part.
Note that there is a complex interaction between state and federal laws that make it difficult to know what rules apply in a given location. For example many gun laws require residency in a US state, but what exactly counts as residency is unclear. The federal government used to impose a 90-day minimum requirement to establish residency, but courts rejected it in 2011 so now it's left up to the states.
Residency Requirements for Aliens Acquiring Firearms
It's not clear to me if any states allow less than 90 days residency. It's also unclear if residency requirements apply to people admitted under the Visa Waiver Program.
One way around this is to go to a gun range, rent a gun, and then just turn the gun on yourself. People have done it before. I think in some states if you go to ranges without owning a gun you have to go with someone else, I think to try to avoid precisely these types of situations. Look into the most gun friendly states like TX, FL, and AZ. Good luck.
tpboy
No Karma Cafe
- Aug 4, 2023
- 485
come to Alabama, have a decent amount of cash. you will get your gun without any problem. just tell someone...anyone you are looking to buy.
Where in Alabama would you recommend? Do you think one could just walk into any gun store and offer extra cash? Or wait for gun shows?
How does one go about finding private sellers?
tpboy
No Karma Cafe
- Aug 4, 2023
- 485
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