Which firearm sales or deliveries are prohibited under federal regulation? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR sources.

Details / How it works

• Interstate restriction: A licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector may not sell or deliver any firearm to a non-licensee who does not reside in (or maintain a place of business in) the State where the licensee's premises are located, subject to two carve-outs.
• Age limits: Firearms or ammunition cannot be sold or delivered to anyone under 18, and handguns (and their ammunition) cannot be sold or delivered to anyone under 21.
• Prohibited categories: No person may sell or dispose of any firearm or ammunition to someone they know or have reasonable cause to believe is a convicted felon (crime punishable over one year), a fugitive from justice, an unlawful user of or addict to controlled substances, adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution at age 16 or older, illegally or unlawfully present or a covered nonimmigrant alien, dishonorably discharged, a renounced citizen, subject to a qualifying intimate-partner protective order, convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or intending furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, drug trafficking offense, or transfer to a prohibited person.
• Armor piercing ammunition: Licensed dealers may not willfully transfer armor piercing ammunition.
• Straw purchases and high-risk shipments: Knowingly purchasing or conspiring to purchase a firearm for a prohibited person, and shipping or transporting firearms whose use or possession would constitute a felony for the recipient, are unlawful.
• Transferee certification tie-in: Under § 478.124, transferees must certify on Form 4473 that they are not prohibited and do not intend sale or disposition to prohibited persons or in furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking offense.

Numbers & thresholds

Key numeric rules set by the regulation:

Each figure above is drawn directly from 27 CFR 478.99 as currently amended through April 19, 2024.

Exceptions & edge cases

• Long guns to out-of-state residents: The interstate ban does not apply to rifle or shotgun sales (curio or relic, for licensed collectors) fully meeting the requirements of § 478.96(c).
• Temporary sporting loans: Loans or rentals for temporary lawful sporting purposes (§ 478.97) fall outside the interstate prohibition.
• Armor piercing ammunition manufacturing/importing: Permitted solely for U.S. or State departments and agencies, exportation, or Director-authorized testing or experimentation under § 478.149.
• Nonimmigrant-visa alien exceptions: Exceptions cover admissions for lawful hunting or sporting (or a valid hunting license), accredited foreign-government officials and missions, State Department-designated distinguished visitors acting in official capacity, and friendly foreign law-enforcement officers on official business.
• Pre-1986 dealer inventory: Armor piercing ammunition held before August 28, 1986 may be transferred to U.S., State, or local agencies if recorded under § 478.125(c); violations expose the dealer to license revocation.