State Gun Shows

Alabama does not explicitly regulate gun shows. In addition, Alabama law provides that “[n]o county or municipal corporation, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof, by ordinance, resolution, or other enactment, shall regulate in any manner gun shows.”¹ See the Alabama Private Sales section for additional laws that apply at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Ala. Code § 11-80-11(a). [↩]

Alaska has no law regulating gun shows. See the Alaska Private Sales section for additional state laws that apply at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Arizona has no law regulating gun shows.

See our Gun Shows Policy Summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Arkansas has no law regulating gun shows.

See the Arkansas Private Sales section for additional state laws that may apply at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

In 2000, Coloradans voted in favor of a ballot initiative to require background checks at gun shows. As a result, all firearms transfers at gun shows must be processed by a licensed firearms dealer.¹ Prospective purchasers are subject to the same background check process that applies to retail firearms transfers and processing dealers must record the transfer and retain the records in the same manner as with retail transfers (see the Colorado Background Checks and Dealer Regulations sections).²

Firearms dealers may charge a fee of up to $10 for conducting the background check, and gun show promoters must prominently post a notice setting forth the requirement for a background check.³ These provisions do not apply to the transfer of antique firearms or curios or relics, as defined under federal law.⁴

Colorado law defines a gun show as:

[T]he entire premises provided for an event or function, including but not limited to parking areas for the event or function, that is sponsored to facilitate, in whole or in part, the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or collection of firearms at which: (a) twenty-five or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer, or exchange; or (b) not less than three gun show vendors exhibit, sell, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange firearms.⁵

See the Colorado Private Sales section for state laws that apply at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-26.1-101(1). [↩]
2. Id., Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-26.1-102. [↩]
3. Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 12-26.1-103, 12-26.1-104. [↩]
4. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-26.1-105. [↩]
5. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-26.1-106. [↩]

Connecticut defines a gun show as any event at which 50 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer or exchange to the public, or at which two or more persons are exhibiting one or more firearms for sale, transfer or exchange to the public.¹

At least 30 days before a gun show, the person who organizes, plans, promotes or operates the show must notify the chief of police, warden, or first selectman of the jurisdiction in which the show is to take place, of the date, time, duration and location of the gun show.²

Connecticut prohibits any person, firm or corporation from selling, delivering or otherwise transferring any firearm at a gun show until the person, firm or corporation requests a background check for the prospective transferee and receives an authorization number approving the transfer from the state Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection.³

See the Connecticut Private Sales section for state laws that apply at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue

1. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-37g(a). [↩]
2. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-37g(b). [↩]
3. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-37g(c). For further details, see Conn. Gen. Stat. 29-36l. [↩]

Delaware has no laws regulating gun shows.

See the Delaware Private Sales section for state laws that apply at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

The District of Columbia does not specifically regulate gun shows. Generally, firearms may not be transferred in the District until the purchaser has been issued a firearm registration certificate, which requires a background check by the Chief of Police.¹

See the District of Columbia Background Checks, Prohibited Purchasers Generally and Registration sections for further information.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.03, 7-2502.06(a). [↩]

Florida does not explicitly regulate gun shows, although retail sales of handguns at gun shows are subject to the state’s mandatory three-day waiting period. In addition, the Florida Constitution permits counties to enact ordinances requiring criminal history records checks and three to five-day waiting periods in connection with the sale of any firearm occurring on property to which the public has the right of access.¹

See the Florida Private Sales and Florida Waiting Periods sections for more information.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Fla. Const. art. VIII, § 5(b). [↩]

Georgia has no law regulating gun shows or requiring background checks on gun purchasers at gun shows. In addition, Georgia law explicitly prohibits any county or municipal corporation, by zoning or by ordinance, resolution, or other enactment, from regulating gun shows in any manner.¹

See the Georgia Private Sales section for state laws that may apply to firearm sales at gun shows.

See our Gun Shows policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-173(b)(1). [↩]