I'm from Iowa, can I buy a handgun in Ohio?

Okay, a lot of info. I appreciate the interest. So it appears, seeing that I'm still an active student in Ohio, I can purchase the gun here, as that in and of itself establishes residency. I have student identification and a permanent address (single family home) in Ohio. I mostly haven't changed my drivers license for insurance reasons (family insurance would go up). It is easier to get a handgun in Ohio. Sounds like maybe I should just talk to an FFL in the area. I would have to do that to purchase the gun anyway, I suppose. The most important detail from the posts was that I'm (federally?) a resident of Ohio. Inspectormac gets the gold star.
 
Kid, the only flaw in your logic is that you may have difficulty finding an FFL that agrees to accept your student residency. Many are hard core and want to go by the driver's license only. You may have to shop around a little.
 
Kid, the only flaw in your logic is that you may have difficulty finding an FFL that agrees to accept your student residency.
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I don't see why not. By law, he's a resident of Ohio. He just has to get ID showing that.

If you are a U.S. citizen with two States of residence, you should list your current residence address in response to question 2 (e.g., if you are buying a firearm while staying at your weekend home in State X, you should list your address in State X in response to question 2.)
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From OP's post #4:
So then my options are to buy it when I got back for Christmas, which would require a permit to purchase. Or bite the bullet and change my permanent address. How would I do either of those things?
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The OP specifically identified two options: (1) buying a handgun when he got back to Iowa, his permanent residence; or (2) changing his permanent residence to Ohio. And he specifically asked how he would exercise either option.

Iowa law is certainly germane to option #1, yet I was criticized by Aguila Blanca and Frank Ettin for succintly summarizing the Iowa law relevant to the first option listed by the OP. Why?
 
lefteye said:
...I was criticized by Aguila Blanca and Frank Ettin for succintly summarizing the Iowa law relevant to the first option listed by the OP. Why?
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First, because that had nothing to do with the OP's original question. The OP wrote (emphasis added):
RockstarWizkidd said:
I'm 25 and have no criminal record of any kind. I've lived in Cleveland for 6 years (college), but my driver's license is still issued by Iowa. That may also still be my "permanent address." I'm not sure how that works.

Can I buy a handgun in Ohio?
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Second, there is no indication in anything posted by the OP that he is not familiar with Iowa law regarding the purchase of a handgun.

Third, it has been quite clear that the OP's issue centers on the question of where he resides for the purpose of buying a gun.
 
Is the OP's post #4 irrelevant to his options for buying a handgun? It appears that he can lawfully buy a handgun in either Iowa or Ohio, the two options he is considering. I have not suggested that the OP doesn't know the applicable Iowa law. The OP asked how he would do "either of these things." The first option he listed was buying a handgun in Iowa. How can it be wrong to address the option he listed first in response to his question? He can get an Ohio ID or an Iowa permit to acquire a handgun.
 
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You guys... no need to fight over me ;). So, it would be preferential to buy it here. It's a Christmas gift, and we're doing Christmas at my parents place in Iowa. Not only would she open her gift with everyone else, but then we could go to the back 40 and shoot it... with my other family members. Lol, it would be a nice moment is all.

I'll only have a couple days when I get back. I do have residency, it will be difficult to get ID before leaving (I'm deep in finals now). So I should be able to go discuss it with an FFL, if they're up on the law, it shouldn't be an issue.

To the rest of you. I knew that I needed a permit to purchase in Iowa. I knew that I didn't need one in Ohio. (To me, after living in Des Moines and Cleveland, it should definitely be the opposite, lol.) I didn't know how to go about getting a permit to purchase (asked before researching it), but I mostly didn't know what the deal was with residency. Thanks guys, if anyone has more help, I would appreciate that too.
 
So, it would be preferential to buy it here. It's a Christmas gift, and we're doing Christmas at my parents place in Iowa.
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That, however, would be a problem. If you buy the gun in Ohio but give it to an Iowa resident, the transfer would have to go through a dealer in Iowa.
 
She may be from Ohio, but she can't legally bring a handgun she obtained in Iowa back to Ohio.

Federal law again, as Frank already posted:
18 U.S.C. 922. Unlawful acts

(a) It shall be unlawful—
...

(3) for any person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to transport into or receive in the State where he resides (or if the person is a corporation or other business entity, the State where it maintains a place of business) any firearm purchased or otherwise obtained by such person outside that State
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To summarize: you, as a resident student in Ohio, are an Ohio resident for gun purchases, according to BATF. That means while you are attending school as a student in Ohio, you may follow Ohio laws and buy guns just like any other Ohio resident.

If you want to give her a handgun, since she is an Ohio resident, and you are an Ohio resident, you probably should follow Ohio law on transfers to other non-licensees and do that in Ohio.
 
K. Then I need to take care of it here. So just a question on legality here... if I bought and gave her the gun here in Ohio, is it illegal to bring it with on the trip to Iowa afterwards?
 
RockStar... said:
K. Then I need to take care of it here. So just a question on legality here... if I bought and gave her the gun here in Ohio, is it illegal to bring it with on the trip to Iowa afterwards?
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No, Once it becomes HER firearm, in HER state of residence, she can take HER firearm anywhere in the country where doing so is not illegal.

The problem is that YOU have dual residency. She does not. The law is that a person can only receive a handgun through an FFL in that person's state of residence. As a resident of both states, you can legally (perhaps not practically) make the purchase in either state. As a resident only of Ohio, your GF can only receive the firearm through an FFL in Ohio.

Once the gun is hers (through a legal transfer), she can take it with her to Iowa, Nebraska, Florida, or anywhere other than a state where either the gun or her possession of it would be illegal (such as New York, where non-residents in general can't even tough a firearm). Interstate transport must be in conformity with the FOPA.
 
just go to the DMV and get an address change, I don't see why it would concern you to as where your permanent address is shown. you could simply change it right back when you go back to Iowa. Wouldn't you also be subject to out-of-state tuition by not changing your perm address as soon as possible to get your six months or year or whatever to claim residency.

but I also agree that it is illegal to buy a gun intended for ownership by your girlfriend. I think you would have to be married to be that generous

I think you should just find the gun store you wanna purchase from and give her a gift certificate, she may appreciate picking her own gun anyhow
 
but I also agree that it is illegal to buy a gun intended for ownership by your girlfriend.
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No it isn't. The problem only arises if it's for a resident of another state, or if it's a straw purchase (which is another situation).
 
just go to the DMV and get an address change,
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Changing to a different state is more involved than a simple address change. There are tax considerations, voter registration, etc.
 
Return of the OP

Okay, so concisely and more specifically than asked before. Lol, we've run into a lot of confusion apparently, although the discourse isn't unenjoyable.

Unalterable Facts
  • My girlfriend's Christmas gift is a small handgun, because she works downtown and is an attractive young woman. She also likes guns, but doesn't personally have any.
  • I am originally from Iowa. She is originally from Ohio. We now both live in Ohio, and both go to college here.
  • I have lived in Ohio for six years, but maintain my driver's licensure from Iowa for insurance reasons.
  • We are going back to my family's farm in Iowa on the 21st (9 days) for Christmas. We will be there for a week.
  • The gun is chosen, and am planning on having it shipped to an FFL.
The Question
Will I be able to buy the gun in Ohio?

My Current Understanding
  1. It's actually legal for me to buy a gun here, due to the ATF's stance on student residency
  2. It may be difficult for me to convince an FFL of my residence.
  3. It is easier to purchase a handgun in Ohio. Obtaining a permit to purchase in Iowa would be an extra hurdle, and I have somewhat limited time.
  4. If I purchase the gun here in Ohio, I can legally transport it to Iowa.
  5. I cannot legally give it to her in Iowa, if purchased in Ohio.
  6. I cannot legally give it to her without involving an FFL if I purchase it in Iowa
In summary, I can buy the gun here and then take it to Iowa. We can enjoy shooting it together while there. I cannot legally tell her that I am giving it to her until we return to Ohio.

I numbered the second list to make it clearer specifically what any poster is discussing.
 
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