State-by-State Firearm Law Reference

Reference · Liberty

What each state's statute calls things, what its constitution says, whether the state or its localities set the rules, and how its public-carry licence statute is classified. Dated, quoted from the code, and closing with what no court has decided.

How this page was checked. Every entry was read on 7 September 2026 from the state legislature’s own code or constitution site where it would serve the text, from Justia or FindLaw where it would not, and for court status from supremecourt.gov and the courts’ own opinion PDFs. Each cell links to its source and, in the row-by-row section, quotes it. One field has been re-read since, and carries its own date here and in the sources list: the statutory term for Texas, re-checked 13 September 2026. A field marked not located or unverified is exactly that — never a claim that something does not exist. And not legal advice; statutes change, and every field carries the date it was checked.

What this table is, and is not

CLASSIFICATION, TERMINOLOGY AND STATUS OF LAW ONLY. This dataset records the defined term a statute uses and its citation, the text of a state constitutional provision, whether a state preempts local ordinances, the classification of a public-carry licensing statute, and the status of litigation. It contains nothing about acquiring, purchasing, assembling, modifying or carrying anything, no products, models, prices or sellers, no forms or procedures, and no explanation of how any device works. Feature criteria that follow a statutory definition are deliberately not reproduced: the term and the citation are the point. Where a fact could not be recorded without drifting toward that line it was left out, and the row says so under 'omitted'. This is an educational reference and not legal advice; statutes change, and every field carries the date it was checked.

The four columns

Statutory term. The term the state's statute defines in the 'assault weapon' family, with its citation and the opening clause of the definition, or a sourced note that the statute carries no such term — recorded as covering the definitions section alone, or the whole chapter, according to how much of the text was read.
State constitution. The state constitution's arms provision, quoted, or a sourced finding that the constitution's bill of rights carries none.
Preemption. Whether a state statute displaces local firearms ordinances: 'full' (the statute occupies the field with no enumerated carve-outs), 'partial' (the statute itself lists what localities keep), 'inverted' (localities may go stricter, not looser), or not located.
Licensing regime. The classification of the state's public-carry licence statute on its face: 'permitless' (the offence is framed by age or disqualifying status, not by the absence of a licence), 'shall-issue' (the statute says the authority 'shall issue' on objective criteria), or 'may-issue'. Classification, citation and the operative clause only.

The federal baseline

Term	Citation	What the text says	Source
machinegun	26 U.S.C. § 5845(b)	The term 'machinegun' means any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person. Definitional text only. This is the National Firearms Act definition used for NFA classification purposes.	[1]
firearm (for National Firearms Act purposes)	26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)	The term 'firearm' means (1) a shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length… Opening clause only; the enumerated categories that follow are not reproduced here.	[2]
semiautomatic assault weapon (federal, expired)	18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30) as added by Pub. L. 103-322, title XI, subtitle A (1994); expired September 13, 2004	were effective Sept. 13, 1994, and were repealed effective as of the date that is 10 years after that date Sourced to the editorial notes on Cornell LII's text of 18 U.S.C. § 921: the 1994 provisions 'were effective Sept. 13, 1994, and were repealed effective as of the date that is 10 years after that date'. The current § 921(a)(30) defines a different term (paragraphs were renumbered after the sunset), so the 1994 definition is cited to the Public Law. The enrolled bill on govinfo was fetched (200) but truncated before Title XI; congress.gov refused non-browser fetches.	[3]

Source: law.cornell.edu, read 7 September 2026. Opening clauses only; the enumerated categories that follow each definition are not reproduced.

State by state

Sixteen states: the ten with a statutory term in the ‘assault weapon’ family or a 2025–2026 enactment, and six without one, so the table shows the range rather than one side of it. Details, quotes and every source are in the row-by-row section below.

State	Statutory term	State constitution	Preemption	Licensing regime
California	assault weaponCal. Penal Code § 30510	none	partialCal. Gov. Code § 53071	shall-issueCal. Penal Code § 26150(a) · 2024
New York	assault weaponN.Y. Penal Law § 265.00(22)	none	—not located	shall-issueN.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(1) · 2022
New Jersey	assault firearmN.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(w)	—unverified	none firearms-specific locatedN.J.S.A. 2C:1-5(d)see note	shall-issueN.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 · 2022
Connecticut	assault weaponConn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)	Conn. Const. art. First, § 15	—not located	permit required (statute says ‘may issue’)Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-28
Massachusetts	assault-style firearmMass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 121	Mass. Const. Pt. the First, art. XVII	—not located	shall-issueMass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131
Maryland	assault weapon (defined as assault long gun, assault pistol, or copycat weapon)Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-301(b), (d)	—unverified	partialMd. Code, Crim. Law § 4-209(a)	shall-issueMd. Code, Public Safety § 5-306(a) · 2023
Illinois	assault weapon720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1)	Ill. Const. art. I, § 22	partial430 ILCS 65/13.1	shall-issue430 ILCS 66/10(a) · 2013
Washington	assault weaponRCW 9.41.010	Wash. Const. art. I, § 24	fullRCW 9.41.290	shall-issueRCW 9.41.070(1)
Colorado	specified semiautomatic firearmC.R.S. § 18-12-116(1)(d)(I), added by SB 25-003 (2025)	Colo. Const. art. II, § 13	inverted: local governments may adopt stricter ordinances, not looser onesC.R.S. § 29-11.7-103	shall-issueC.R.S. § 18-12-203(1) · 2003
Virginia	assault firearmVa. Code § 18.2-308.2:2 (definitions within that section)	Va. Const. art. I, § 13	partialVa. Code § 15.2-915(A)	shall-issueVa. Code § 18.2-308.04 · 2017
Texas	no such term anywhere in the chapterTex. Penal Code ch. 46	Tex. Const. art. I, § 23	partialTex. Loc. Gov't Code § 229.001	permitless (constitutional carry)Tex. Penal Code § 46.02(a) · 2021
Florida	no such term in the chapter's definitions sectionFla. Stat. § 790.001 (Definitions)	Fla. Const. art. I, § 8(a)	partialFla. Stat. § 790.33(1)	permitless (constitutional carry)Fla. Stat. § 790.01 · 2023
Pennsylvania	no such term in the chapter's definitions section18 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (Definitions)	Pa. Const. art. I, § 21	full18 Pa.C.S. § 6120(a)	shall-issue18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(e)(1)
Ohio	no such term in the chapter's definitions sectionOhio Rev. Code § 2923.11 (Definitions)	Ohio Const. art. I, § 4	partialOhio Rev. Code § 9.68	permitless (constitutional carry)Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.111(B)(1) · 2022
Arizona	no such term in the chapter's definitions sectionA.R.S. § 13-3101 (Definitions)	Ariz. Const. art. II, § 26	partialA.R.S. § 13-3108(A), (B)	permitless (constitutional carry)A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(2) · 2010
Georgia	no such term in the part's definitions sectionO.C.G.A. § 16-11-125.1 (Definitions)	Ga. Const. art. I, § I, para. VIII	partialO.C.G.A. § 16-11-173(b)(1)	permitless (constitutional carry)O.C.G.A. §§ 16-11-125.1(2.1), 16-11-126 · 2022

All rows verified 7 September 2026. One field has been re-read since, and carries its own date here and in the sources list: the statutory term for Texas, re-checked 13 September 2026. ‘none’ in the constitution column means the bill of rights was read in full from the legislature’s own site and carries no arms provision. Flags mark what this sitting could not source; they are not findings.

Row by row, with the statute's words

Each row quotes the opening clause of the provision it cites, and names what was deliberately left out.

Californiaverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault weapon · Cal. Penal Code § 30510
30510. As used in this chapter and in Sections 16780, 17000, 27555, 27560, 27565, 27875, 27920, 27966, and 28000, “assault weapon” means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:

Chapter 2 (Assault Weapons and .50 BMG Rifles) added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6 (recodification of earlier law).
The enumerated designations following the opening clause are deliberately not reproduced. [4]
State constitution: none
The California Constitution's Declaration of Rights (Article I, Sections 1–32, adopted 1879) was retrieved in full from the Legislature's own site and contains no occurrence of the word 'arms'. California has no state constitutional arms provision. [5]
Preemption: partial · Cal. Gov. Code § 53071
53071. It is the intention of the Legislature to occupy the whole field of regulation of the registration or licensing of commercially manufactured firearms as encompassed by the provisions of the Penal Code, and such provisions shall be exclusive of all local regulations, relating to registration or licensing of commercially manufactured firearms, by any political subdivision as defined in Section 1721 of the Labor Code. (Added by renumbering Section 9619 by Stats. 1971, Ch. 438.)

Classified partial because the occupied field is limited on its face to registration and licensing of commercially manufactured firearms, not the whole field of firearms regulation. [6]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · Cal. Penal Code § 26150(a) · in force since 2024
26150. (a) When a California resident applies for a new license or license renewal to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, the sheriff of a county shall issue or renew a license to that California resident upon proof of all of the following:
[7]
Left out: The enumerated model designations and feature criteria in § 30510 (classification detail beyond the defined term is outside the dataset's boundary).; Eligibility criteria, training requirements and application procedure in §§ 26150 et seq. (procedural walkthrough, excluded by design).

New Yorkverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault weapon · N.Y. Penal Law § 265.00(22)
“Assault weapon” means

unconfirmed — the retrieved page did not display a session-law history line for subdivision 22.
Definition sits at subdivision 22 of § 265.00. Feature criteria and enumerated categories deliberately not reproduced. [8]
State constitution: none
Article I (Bill of Rights) of the New York Constitution was retrieved in full from the Senate's own site; the section headings run 1–9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, and none concerns a right to keep or bear arms. New York has no state constitutional arms provision. (New York's statutory arms language sits in Civil Rights Law § 4, which is a statute, not a constitutional provision, and was not fetched.) [9]
Preemption: —
No New York statute establishing state preemption of local firearms ordinances was located in this sitting. Recorded as not located, not as absent.
Status: not located this sitting
Licensing regime: shall-issue · N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(1) · in force since 2022
shall be issued or renewed except by the licensing officer, and then only after investigation and finding that all statements in a proper application for a license are true
[10]
Left out: Preemption: no New York statute establishing state preemption of local firearms ordinances was located within this session's fetch budget. Recorded null rather than asserted absent — New York is generally understood not to have a broad preemption statute, but that could not be sourced to a primary text here.; Feature criteria in Penal Law § 265.00(22).; Licensing eligibility, training and application procedure in § 400.00.

New Jerseyverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault firearm · N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(w)
“Assault firearm” means:

unconfirmed from the fetched page
Definition at subsection (w). Enumerated categories and feature criteria deliberately not reproduced. [11]
State constitution: —
The New Jersey Constitution was not fetched in this sitting; whether it carries an arms provision is recorded as unverified, not as absent.
Status: not verified this sitting
Preemption: none firearms-specific located · N.J.S.A. 2C:1-5(d)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the local governmental units of this State may neither enact nor enforce any ordinance or other local law or regulation conflicting with, or preempted by, any provision of this code or with any policy of this State expressed by this code, whether that policy be expressed by inclusion of a provision in the code or by exclusion of that subject from the code.

This is a general Criminal Code preemption clause; the fetched text does not mention firearms. Recorded here as the closest sourced provision, expressly flagged as NOT a firearms-specific preemption statute.
Status: partial: the fetched provision is the Criminal Code's general preemption clause (N.J.S.A. 2C:1-5(d)) and does not mention firearms [12]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 · in force since 2022
the chief police officer or the superintendent shall issue the permit to the applicant in the form prescribed by the superintendent.
[13]
Left out: Feature criteria in 2C:39-1(w).; Application requirements, training and insurance provisions referenced in 2C:58-4 (procedural, excluded by design).

Connecticutverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault weapon · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)
(1) “Assault weapon” means:

Most recently amended by P.A. 23-53, effective June 6, 2023, which redefined 'assault weapon' in subdivision (1) and added subdivision (10) defining '2023 assault weapon'.
Feature criteria and enumerated categories deliberately not reproduced. The Connecticut General Assembly's own site (cga.ct.gov) failed TLS verification from this environment, so the text was read from Justia. [14]
State constitution: Conn. Const. art. First, § 15
Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.

Adoption/amendment year not shown on the fetched page. Connecticut's current constitution dates from 1965; year unconfirmed from this source. [15]
Preemption: —
No Connecticut preemption statute was located in this sitting. Recorded as not located, not as absent.
Status: not located this sitting
Licensing regime: permit required (statute says ‘may issue’) · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-28
the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection…may issue, to any holder of any temporary state permit, a state permit to carry a pistol or revolver within the state.
[16]
Left out: Preemption: no Connecticut preemption statute was fetched within budget; recorded null.; Feature criteria in § 53-202a.; Suitability and eligibility criteria in § 29-28 (procedural, excluded by design).

Massachusettsverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault-style firearm · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 121
“Assault-style firearm”, any firearm which is:

unconfirmed — the fetched page did not display an amending act line for this definition.
Terminology point of interest: Massachusetts uses 'assault-style firearm', not 'assault weapon'. Feature criteria deliberately not reproduced. The 2024 firearms act (St. 2024, c. 135) is understood to have introduced this term, but the amending act could not be confirmed from the fetched page. [17]
State constitution: Mass. Const. Pt. the First, art. XVII
The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.

Constitution of the Commonwealth adopted 1780. Adoption year for art. XVII not separately stated on the fetched page. [18]
Preemption: —
No Massachusetts firearms preemption statute was located in this sitting. Recorded as not located, not as absent.
Status: not located this sitting
Licensing regime: shall-issue · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131
the licensing authority shall issue as provided under section 121F only if it appears that the applicant is neither a prohibited person nor determined to be unsuitable
[19]
Left out: Preemption: no Massachusetts firearms preemption statute was fetched within budget; recorded null.; Feature criteria in ch. 140 § 121.; Licensing eligibility and suitability procedure in § 131.

Marylandverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault weapon (defined as assault long gun, assault pistol, or copycat weapon) · Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-301(b), (d)
“Assault weapon” means: (1) an assault long gun; (2) an assault pistol; or (3) a copycat weapon.
“Assault long gun” means any assault weapon listed under § 5–101(r)(2) of the Public Safety Article.

unconfirmed from the fetched page
Maryland's definition is structured as a three-part cross-referencing definition. The list incorporated by reference from Public Safety § 5-101(r)(2) is deliberately not reproduced. [20]
State constitution: —
Maryland's Declaration of Rights was not fetched in this sitting; whether it carries an arms provision is recorded as unverified, not as absent.
Status: not verified this sitting
Preemption: partial · Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-209(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the State preempts the right of a county, municipal corporation, or special taxing district to regulate the purchase, sale, taxation, transfer, manufacture, repair, ownership, possession, and transportation of…

Classified partial because the statute opens with 'Except as otherwise provided in this section' and the section itself enumerates carve-outs under which counties and municipalities retain regulatory authority. [21]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-306(a) · in force since 2023
shall issue a permit within a reasonable time to a person who the Secretary finds:
[22]
Left out: State constitution: not verified this session.; The incorporated model list under Public Safety § 5-101(r)(2).; Permit eligibility criteria and application procedure in Public Safety § 5-306.

Illinoisverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault weapon · 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1)
In this Section: (1) 'Assault weapon' means any of the following, except as provided in subdivision (2)

Added by Public Act 102-1116 (the Protect Illinois Communities Act), signed and effective January 10, 2023; the possession provision effective January 1, 2024.
The Illinois General Assembly's legacy fulltext.asp URLs returned 404 on re-check in this sitting (the site was rebuilt); the section was re-read from FindLaw and the Act's date from the Illinois State Police. Feature criteria deliberately not reproduced. [23]
State constitution: Ill. Const. art. I, § 22
Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Illinois Constitution of 1970. The page's source line reads only '(Source: Illinois Constitution.)' and gives no separate adoption year for § 22. [24]
Preemption: partial · 430 ILCS 65/13.1
Sec. 13.1. Preemption. (a) Except as otherwise provided in the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, the provisions of any ordinance enacted by any municipality which requires registration or imposes greater restrictions or limitations on the acquisition, possession and transfer of firearms than are imposed by this Act, are not invalidated or affected by this Act.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, the regulation of the possession or ownership of assault weapons are exclusive powers and functions of this State.

Partial and unusual in structure: subsection (a) preserves more restrictive local ordinances by default, while subsection (c) makes the regulation of the possession or ownership of assault weapons an exclusive power of the State, with a ten-day window that grandfathered pre-existing local ordinances. Legacy ilga.gov URL 404 on re-check; re-read from FindLaw. [25]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · 430 ILCS 66/10(a) · in force since 2013
§ 10. Issuance of licenses to carry a concealed firearm. (a) The Illinois State Police shall issue a license to carry a concealed firearm under this Act to an applicant who:

The section's own text refers to 'July 9, 2013 (the effective date of this Act)'. Legacy ilga.gov URL 404 on re-check; re-read from FindLaw. [26]
Left out: Feature criteria in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1).; Qualification criteria, application contents and Review Board process in 430 ILCS 66/10 and 66/25–30 (procedural, excluded by design).

Washingtonverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault weapon · RCW 9.41.010
“Assault weapon” means:

In force on the verification date. The page also shows a 2026 amendment (2026 c 203 s 2) with a 2027 effective date; the definition recorded here is the version in force on 2026-09-07. [27]
State constitution: Wash. Const. art. I, § 24
The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.

Washington Constitution of 1889. Adoption year for § 24 not stated on the fetched page. Fallback source used because the Washington Legislature's own constitution page was not located within fetch budget. [28]
Preemption: full · RCW 9.41.290
The state of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation within the boundaries of the state, including the registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms…
Local laws and ordinances that are inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or exceed the requirements of state law shall not be enacted and are preempted and repealed.

Classified full: the statute declares occupation of the entire field, with the only reservation being for local laws 'specifically authorized by state law, as in RCW 9.41.300'. [29]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · RCW 9.41.070(1)
The chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county shall within thirty days after the filing of an application of any person, issue a license

The page also displays a version effective May 1, 2027 with different wording; both versions read as mandatory issuance, so the classification is unaffected. Effective year of the current wording not confirmed from the page. [30]
Left out: Feature criteria in RCW 9.41.010.; Licensing eligibility and application procedure in RCW 9.41.070.

Coloradoverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: specified semiautomatic firearm · C.R.S. § 18-12-116(1)(d)(I), added by SB 25-003 (2025)
“SPECIFIED SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARM” MEANS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (1)(d)(II) OF THIS SECTION:
ON OR AFTER AUGUST 1, 2026, IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO KNOWINGLY MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTE, TRANSFER, SELL, OR PURCHASE A SPECIFIED SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARM

Signed April 10, 2025; the operative provision applies on or after August 1, 2026.
Terminology point: Colorado's statute does not use the term 'assault weapon'. On its face the 2025 act regulates manufacture, distribution and transfer of the defined class from August 1, 2026; it is not written as a possession prohibition. The enumerated categories, the exceptions in (1)(d)(II), and everything the act says about the process it creates are deliberately outside this table. [31]
State constitution: Colo. Const. art. II, § 13
The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called in question; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons.

Colorado Constitution of 1876. Adoption year for § 13 not stated on the fetched page. [32]
Preemption: inverted: local governments may adopt stricter ordinances, not looser ones · C.R.S. § 29-11.7-103
a local government may enact an ordinance, regulation, or other law governing or prohibiting the sale, purchase, transfer, or possession of a firearm

Amended by 2021 Ch. 269 (SB 21-256), effective 2021-06-19, per the fetched page. The rule runs the opposite way from a conventional preemption statute and is described that way rather than as 'full' or 'partial'. [33]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · C.R.S. § 18-12-203(1) · in force since 2003
a sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to an applicant who:
[34]
Left out: Enumerated categories and exceptions in the 'specified semiautomatic firearm' definition.; Permit eligibility criteria and training provisions in §§ 18-12-203 and 18-12-202 (procedural, excluded by design).; Any description of what the August 1, 2026 provision requires of purchasers — that is transaction-process content, outside the boundary.

Virginiaverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: assault firearm · Va. Code § 18.2-308.2:2 (definitions within that section)
“Assault firearm” means:

The section's history line on the fetched page ends '2026, cc. 1084, 1106, 1107', i.e. it was amended by three 2026 acts. Which of those chapters corresponds to SB 749 could not be confirmed from the page.
Virginia's Code already carried a definition of 'assault firearm' before 2026. The 2026 act (SB 749) that created a broader statute was enjoined before it took effect; its text could not be read from the Legislative Information System, which serves an application shell to non-browser fetches, so no 2026 definitional language is recorded. Feature criteria deliberately not reproduced. [35]
State constitution: Va. Const. art. I, § 13
That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

Source is the Virginia Legislature's own constitution site. Adoption/amendment year not displayed on the fetched page. [36]
Preemption: partial · Va. Code § 15.2-915(A)
No locality shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or motion…governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof other than those expressly authorized by statute.

Classified partial: the fetched page shows carve-outs under which localities may regulate (including workplace employment rules, law enforcement officers acting within their duties, government buildings, public parks and recreation centers, and permitted public events). Amendment history on the page runs: 1987, c. 629, § 15.1-29.15; 1988, c. 392; 1997, cc. 550, 587; 2002, c. 484; 2003, c. 943; 2004, cc. 837, 923; 2009, cc. 735, 772; 2012, c. 757; 2020, cc. 1205, 1247 — the 2020 amendments are what introduced the current carve-outs. [37]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · Va. Code § 18.2-308.04 · in force since 2017
The court shall issue the permit via United States mail and notify the State Police of the issuance of the permit within 45 days
[38]
Left out: The text of the 2026 'assault firearm' definition — could not be retrieved in readable form; no quote, no fact.; Permit application procedure and eligibility criteria.

Texasverified 7 September 2026 · statutory term re-checked 13 September 2026

Statutory term: no such term anywhere in the chapter · Tex. Penal Code ch. 46
Sec. 46.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) “Club” means an instrument that is specially designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of

Re-checked 13 September 2026, after the 7 September sitting could not read the chapter text. This negative is stronger than the definitions-section negatives recorded for Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona and Georgia: the whole chapter was searched, not only its definitions section, so nothing anywhere in ch. 46 defines a term in the ‘assault weapon’ family. [39]
State constitution: Tex. Const. art. I, § 23
Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defence of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.

Texas Constitution of 1876; the fetched page shows Feb. 15, 1876 and no subsequent amendment to § 23. [40]
Preemption: partial · Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 229.001
Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 43.002 of this code and Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, a municipality may not adopt or enforce regulations that…

Classified partial because subsection (b) enumerates categories of regulation municipalities may still adopt (including discharge regulation outside sport shooting ranges, zoning ordinances, explosives storage and transportation, and regulation at public parks and meetings). [41]
Licensing regime: permitless (constitutional carry) · Tex. Penal Code § 46.02(a) · in force since 2021
A person commits an offense if the person: (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun; (2) at the time of the offense: (A) is younger than 21 years of age

Classification rests on the structure of the offence: it is framed by age and disqualifying status rather than by the absence of a licence. The fetched page shows former subsection (c) 'Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., ch. 809 (H.B. 1927), § 26(8)'. Classification and citation only. [42]
Left out: The remaining elements and location restrictions in § 46.02 (these edge toward carrying-conduct guidance and are outside the boundary).; Any statement of what a person may or may not do when carrying.

Floridaverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: no such term in the chapter's definitions section · Fla. Stat. § 790.001 (Definitions)
790.001 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, except where the context otherwise requires: (1) “Ammunition” means

A definitions-section negative is weaker than a positive quote: a term could in principle be defined elsewhere in the chapter. Recorded as 'no such term in the definitions section', not as 'no statutory definition anywhere'. [43]
State constitution: Fla. Const. art. I, § 8(a)
The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.

The fetched page indicates the provision was amended in 1990 (following C.S. for S.J.R. 43, 1989). [44]
Preemption: partial · Fla. Stat. § 790.33(1)
Except as expressly provided by the State Constitution or general law, the Legislature hereby declares that it is occupying the whole field of regulation of firearms and ammunition…

Declares occupation of the whole field, but classified partial because subsection (4) enumerates exceptions (zoning ordinances for general business purposes, law enforcement agency regulations, employee firearm regulations, court proceedings, and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wildlife regulations). [45]
Licensing regime: permitless (constitutional carry) · Fla. Stat. § 790.01 · in force since 2023
(1) A person is authorized to carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm, as that term is defined in s. 790.06(1), if he or she: (a) Is licensed under s. 790.06; or (b) Is not licensed under s. 790.06, but otherwise satisfies the criteria for receiving and maintaining such a license

History line on the fetched page ends 's. 5, ch. 2023-18'. Classification and citation only. [46]
Left out: The full offense structure of § 790.01 and the criteria cross-referenced to § 790.06 (eligibility walkthrough, excluded by design).; Field A negative not established from a full chapter index.

Pennsylvaniaverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: no such term in the chapter's definitions section · 18 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (Definitions)
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent provisions of this subchapter which are applicable to specific provisions

The Pennsylvania General Assembly's own site could not be read from this environment; the section was read from FindLaw. A definitions-section negative is weaker than a positive quote. [47]
State constitution: Pa. Const. art. I, § 21
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.

Pennsylvania Constitution of 1968. No adoption or amendment year is shown for § 21 on the fetched page. [48]
Preemption: full · 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120(a)
No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth.

Classified full: the bar is stated without enumerated local carve-outs. Its only internal limit is definitional — it reaches conduct 'not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth'. Subsection (a.1)(2) preserves a political subdivision's own contract and warranty actions, which is not a regulatory carve-out. [49]
Licensing regime: shall-issue · 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(e)(1)
shall be issued if, after an investigation not to exceed 45 days, it appears that the applicant is an individual concerning whom no good cause exists to deny the license.
[50]
Left out: Field A negative not sourced (state statute site unreachable).; License eligibility criteria and application procedure in § 6109.

Ohioverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: no such term in the chapter's definitions section · Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.11 (Definitions)
As used in sections 2923.11 to 2923.24 of the Revised Code: (A) "Deadly weapon" means any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death

A definitions-section negative is weaker than a positive quote. [51]
State constitution: Ohio Const. art. I, § 4
The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.

The page gives an effective date of September 1, 1851. Source is Ohio Laws, the state's own site. [52]
Preemption: partial · Ohio Rev. Code § 9.68
The individual right to keep and bear arms, being a fundamental individual right that predates the United States Constitution and Ohio Constitution…
the state by this section preempts, supersedes, and declares null and void

Classified partial because subsection (D) of the fetched text excepts two categories of zoning ordinance: those regulating or prohibiting commercial sale of firearms in residential or agricultural zones, and those specifying hours of operation or geographic areas for commercial sales subject to stated conditions. [53]
Licensing regime: permitless (constitutional carry) · Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.111(B)(1) · in force since 2022
A person who is a qualifying adult shall not be required to obtain a concealed handgun license in order to carry in this state
[54]
Left out: Field A negative not sourced.; The definition of 'qualifying adult' and the conditions in § 2923.111 (eligibility detail, excluded by design).

Arizonaverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: no such term in the chapter's definitions section · A.R.S. § 13-3101 (Definitions)
13-3101. Definitions A. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Deadly weapon" means anything that is designed for lethal use.

A definitions-section negative is weaker than a positive quote. [55]
State constitution: Ariz. Const. art. II, § 26
The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.

Source is the Arizona Legislature's own constitution page. Arizona Constitution of 1912; no separate amendment year shown for § 26. [56]
Preemption: partial · A.R.S. § 13-3108(A), (B)
Except as provided in subsection G of this section, a political subdivision of this state shall not enact any ordinance, rule or tax relating to the transportation, possession, carrying, sale, transfer, purchase, acquisition, gift, devise, storage, licensing, registration, discharge or use of firearms or ammunition…

Classified partial: subsection (A) is expressly subject to subsection (G), which enumerates permitted local regulations (tax provisions, certain regulation as to minors, commercial regulation, employee conduct rules, and discharge limitations in parks and preserves). [57]
Licensing regime: permitless (constitutional carry) · A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(2) · in force since 2010
Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife concealed on his person or concealed within his immediate control in or on a means of transportation if the person is under twenty-one years of age

Classification rests on the face of the offence: the concealment prohibition in (A)(2) is limited to persons under twenty-one. The amending session law is not shown on the fetched page, so the effective year is recorded as unconfirmed from this source. [58]
Left out: Field A negative not sourced.; The remaining offense elements and exemptions in § 13-3102.

Georgiaverified 7 September 2026

Statutory term: no such term in the part's definitions section · O.C.G.A. § 16-11-125.1 (Definitions)
As used in this part, the term:

A definitions-section negative is weaker than a positive quote. [59]
State constitution: Ga. Const. art. I, § I, para. VIII
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.

Georgia Constitution of 1983. No separate amendment year shown on the fetched page. [60]
Preemption: partial · O.C.G.A. § 16-11-173(b)(1)
Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, no county or municipal corporation, by zoning, by ordinance or resolution, or by any other means, nor any agency, board, department, commission, political subdivision, school district, or authority of this state, other than the General Assembly, by rule or regulation or by any other means shall regulate in any manner

Classified partial: subsection (c) carves out local regulation of firearms possession by government employees and volunteers in their employment or volunteer functions, and law enforcement and prosecutorial authority over employee firearms regulation; subsections (d) and (e) preserve ordinances requiring firearm ownership and limiting discharge within municipal or county boundaries. [61]
Licensing regime: permitless (constitutional carry) · O.C.G.A. §§ 16-11-125.1(2.1), 16-11-126 · in force since 2022
'Lawful weapons carrier' means any person who is licensed or eligible for a license pursuant to Code Section 16-11-129 and who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a weapon or long gun
Any person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun or long gun may have or carry on his or her person a long gun.

Classification rests on the statutory definition of 'lawful weapons carrier', which extends to a person merely 'eligible for a license' as well as one licensed. The § 16-11-126 page shows the amending act as 2022 Ga. Laws 596, § 5, eff. 4/12/2022 (S.B. 319). [62]
Left out: Field A negative not sourced.; The full carrying provisions of § 16-11-126 and licence eligibility in § 16-11-129 (eligibility and carrying-conduct detail, excluded by design).

As of 7 September 2026

What's Still Unsettled

As of this writing, these are the questions no court has finally decided. Each entry names the case, what has happened, and what has not. When a ruling lands, the row changes; the table never claimed to know.

Whether state statutes banning firearms they classify as 'assault weapons' are consistent with the Second Amendment after New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen.

Where it stands. Pending before the Supreme Court. Certiorari was denied in Snope v. Brown on June 2, 2025, leaving the Fourth Circuit's decision upholding Maryland's statute in place. On June 30, 2026 the Court granted certiorari in Viramontes v. Cook County (No. 25-238) and Grant v. Higgins (No. 25-566), consolidated them, and on September 4, 2026 set argument for December 2, 2026. Neither has been decided. On July 17, 2026 the en banc Third Circuit held New Jersey's prohibition unconstitutional, which conflicts with the Second, Fourth and Seventh Circuits. [63] [64] [65] [66] [67]

What no court has decided. The Supreme Court has never decided whether the Second Amendment protects possession of AR-15-platform and similar semiautomatic rifles, and has not resolved the split between the Third Circuit on one side and the Second, Fourth and Seventh Circuits on the other. That question is now squarely presented in the consolidated cases but remains undecided as of 2026-09-07.

Whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee the right to possess AR-15 platform and similar semiautomatic rifles.

Whether state statutes limiting the permitted capacity of ammunition magazines are consistent with the Second Amendment.

Where it stands. The certiorari petition is still pending: neither granted nor denied. The Ninth Circuit sitting en banc upheld California's limit; the petition in Duncan v. Bonta has been distributed for conference repeatedly since November 2025 without action, most recently for the conference of June 29, 2026, with supplemental briefs filed August 3 and August 11, 2026 addressing the Third Circuit's intervening decision. No grant or denial had issued as of 2026-09-07. [68] [69] [70]

What no court has decided. The Supreme Court has never decided whether magazine-capacity limits are consistent with the Second Amendment, and has not acted on the Duncan petition. The en banc Third Circuit's July 17, 2026 holding that New Jersey's large-capacity magazine provisions are unconstitutional conflicts with the Ninth and First Circuits, and that conflict is unresolved.

DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/29/2026.

Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island: current posture not verified; its status is not stated.

Whether a state may make private property open to the public a default no-carry zone for licensed carriers absent the owner's express consent, and what that implies for 'sensitive places' doctrine generally.

Where it stands. Decided June 25, 2026 (argued January 20, 2026), 6-3. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, joined by Roberts, C.J., and Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett, JJ.; Barrett, J., concurred (joined in part by Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ.); Kagan, J., dissented; Jackson, J., dissented, joined by Sotomayor, J. [71]

What no court has decided. The holding is confined to Hawaii's private-property default rule. The opinion announces no general test for which locations may be designated 'sensitive places', and the syllabus and opinion as read contain no sentence expressly reserving that question, so the table says only that the broader question was not decided, not that the Court 'expressly reserved' it.

Hawaii's law prohibiting licensed concealed-carry permit holders from carrying handguns on private property open to the public without the property owner's express authorization violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.

Whether prosecuting an unlawful drug user for firearm possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) is consistent with the Second Amendment.

Where it stands. Decided June 18, 2026 (argued March 2, 2026). Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, joined by Roberts, C.J., and Thomas, Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, Barrett and Jackson, JJ. (seven); Thomas, J., concurred; Jackson, J., concurred, joined by Sotomayor, J.; Alito, J., concurred in the judgment, joined by Kagan, J. [72]

What no court has decided. The Court expressly did not address whether the government may bar persons who are addicted, or presently intoxicated, from possessing a firearm, nor whether a § 922(g)(3) prosecution supported by individualized proof of dangerousness would be constitutional. Those questions remain open.

The government's prosecution of Mr. Hemani under §922(g)(3)'s unlawful user provision is inconsistent with the Second Amendment.

Whether the Supreme Court has ever ruled on the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act's registration and definitional scheme beyond United States v. Miller (1939), and whether Miller remains the governing NFA precedent.

Where it stands. No Supreme Court merits decision squarely upholding or striking the National Firearms Act's registration and definitional scheme after United States v. Miller (1939) was located in this sitting. Miller held that, absent evidence that the weapon at issue bore a reasonable relationship to the preservation of a well regulated militia, the Second Amendment did not protect it; Heller (2008) narrowed Miller's scope. [73]

What no court has decided. The Supreme Court has not revisited the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act's registration requirement or its definitional scheme in a merits decision after Miller, and Heller's narrowing of Miller leaves the doctrinal footing of the NFA unsettled rather than affirmatively settled.

has some reasonable relationship to the preservation … of a well regulated militia

A negative proposition resting on one encyclopaedic source (Cornell's Wex entry) and the absence of a contrary finding. Published as 'none located', not as a flat assertion that none exists.

Whether any state enacted a new assault-weapon statute in 2026, and what its litigation status is.

Where it stands. Yes: Virginia. Senate Bill 749 (2026 Regular Session) was signed in May 2026 with an effective date of July 1, 2026. Before that date the Lancaster County Circuit Court, in Crump v. Katz (No. CL26000201-00, filed May 18, 2026), entered a preliminary injunction against enforcement (reported June 27, 2026), running through December 31, 2026 or until a final order. As of 2026-09-07 no final merits judgment has been reported and no federal appellate court has ruled on the statute. [74] [75] [76]

What no court has decided. No court has issued a final merits judgment on the constitutionality of Virginia's 2026 statute. The order in Crump v. Katz is preliminary and time-limited. No federal appellate court has ruled on it.

The injunction runs through December 31, 2026, or until a final order is issued.

Sourced to JURIST (a law-school news service) and a party filing, not to the court's order or to the Legislative Information System, which serves an application shell to non-browser fetches. The statute's text is not quoted anywhere in this dataset. Dates should be re-checked against the order itself before any narrative piece relies on them.

What was left out, and why

Magazine-capacity statutes by state. Recording the capacity threshold a state sets would require reproducing the operative restriction in a way that reads as a compliance figure; the classification value is low and the drift risk is real. The litigation status of those statutes is covered under 'unsettled' instead.
Anything the Colorado 2025 act says about the process it creates from August 1, 2026. Transaction-process content is outside the boundary; only the defined term, the date and the act's stated scope are recorded.
Eligibility criteria, training requirements, application steps and reciprocity for any licence. Procedural walkthrough content is outside the boundary by design.
The 2026 Virginia statutory definition. Its text could not be read from the Legislative Information System in this sitting; no quote, no fact.
The claim that exactly six states have no constitutional arms provision. Verified only for California and New York from their legislatures' own sites; the count was not established and is not published.
Feature criteria following each statutory definition. The term and citation classify; the criteria list adds nothing a reader needs and sits closer to the line.

This page records what statutes say and what courts have and have not decided, as of the date printed on it. It is educational, not legal advice; it says nothing about what anyone may do, and it is not a substitute for the statute itself or for a lawyer licensed in your state.

Article sources

26 U.S.C. § 5845(b) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
26 U.S.C. § 5845(a) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30) as added by Pub. L. 103-322, title XI, subtitle A (1994); expired September 13, 2004 — Fetched 7 September 2026.
California: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
California: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
California: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
California: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
New York: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
New York: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
New York: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
New Jersey: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
New Jersey: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
New Jersey: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Connecticut: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Connecticut: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Connecticut: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Massachusetts: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Massachusetts: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Massachusetts: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Maryland: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Maryland: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Maryland: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Illinois: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Illinois: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Illinois: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Illinois: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Washington: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Washington: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Washington: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Washington: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Colorado: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Colorado: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Colorado: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Colorado: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Virginia: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Virginia: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Virginia: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Virginia: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Texas: Statutory term — Fetched 13 September 2026.
Texas: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Texas: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Texas: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Florida: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Florida: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Florida: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Florida: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Pennsylvania: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Pennsylvania: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Pennsylvania: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Pennsylvania: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Ohio: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Ohio: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Ohio: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Ohio: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Arizona: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Arizona: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Arizona: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Arizona: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Georgia: Statutory term — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Georgia: State constitution — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Georgia: Preemption — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Georgia: Licensing regime — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Snope v. Brown, No. 24-203 (U.S.) (from Bianchi v. Brown, 4th Cir.) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Certiorari granted June 30, 2026; consolidated with Grant v. Higgins (25-566); n — Fetched 7 September 2026.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/07/us-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-challenges-t — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Third Circuit, en banc, decided July 17, 2026, Nos. 24-2415, 24-2450 & 24-2506. — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Docket 24-203. Justices Alito and Gorsuch would have granted; Justice Thomas dis — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Duncan v. Bonta, No. 25-198 (U.S.) (from 9th Cir. en banc, No. 23-55805) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Docket 25-198; most recent docket entry August 11, 2026; questions presented inc — Fetched 7 September 2026.
https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/242415p.pdf — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Wolford v. Lopez, No. 24-1046 (U.S.) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
United States v. Hemani, No. 24-1234 (U.S.) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Crump v. Katz (Va. Cir. Ct., Lancaster County) — Fetched 7 September 2026.
Plaintiffs' motion for injunction, Circuit Court for the County of Lancaster, Ca — Fetched 7 September 2026.
The existing Code section's history line shows three 2026 amending chapters; whi — Fetched 7 September 2026.