Indiana gun laws: a plain-English guide for buyers

Indiana keeps its firearm rules short. There is no permit to purchase, no registration, no state waiting period, no magazine limit and no ban on semi-automatic rifles, and since 2022 an adult who meets the state's proper person standard can carry a handgun without a license. That does not mean there are no rules at all. This guide covers buying, owning, carrying and transporting firearms in Indiana as of September 2026. It is general information, not legal advice; when a decision matters, read the statute or talk to an Indiana attorney.

Buying from a licensed dealer

Every firearm you order from us ships to a federally licensed dealer that you pick at checkout. At the counter you show a valid photo ID, fill out ATF Form 4473 and the dealer runs a federal NICS background check. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Indiana adds no purchase permit, no firearm owner identification card and no registration with any state or local agency.

There is also no state waiting period. Once the NICS check comes back as proceed, you can take the gun home the same day. If the check is delayed, federal rules apply and most Indiana dealers hold the firearm until they get a final answer. Note that an Indiana License to Carry a Handgun is not treated as a substitute for the NICS check at the counter the way a few other states' permits are, so plan on the check either way.

Private sales

Indiana does not require a background check when one Indiana resident sells a firearm to another in a private sale. The rules that do apply are federal and criminal rather than administrative:

• Prohibited buyers: it is a crime to sell or give a firearm to someone you know is not allowed to have one.
• Minors: state law restricts providing a handgun to a person under 18, with narrow family and supervised-use exceptions.
• Out-of-state buyers: federal law requires a sale between residents of different states to go through a licensed dealer.

Many private sellers in Indiana still meet at a dealer and pay for a transfer, because a paper record protects both sides.

Age rules

At a dealer you must be 21 for a handgun and 18 for a rifle or shotgun. Indiana's permitless carry option is written around adults, and the state police still issue the License to Carry a Handgun to applicants who qualify. If you are between 18 and 20 and want to carry, read the current statute carefully or ask the state police licensing unit before you rely on any summary, including this one.

What Indiana does not regulate

Indiana has no assault weapon ban, no magazine capacity limit and no gun registry. State law also preempts local firearm ordinances, which means Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Gary and every other city follow the same purchase and possession rules as the rest of the state. Cities keep a narrow set of powers, mostly around discharging a firearm inside city limits and their own property, so a municipal park rule is not the same thing as a purchase rule.

Carrying a handgun

Since July 1, 2022 Indiana has had what the Indiana State Police call a permitless carry option: if you meet the proper person criteria in state law, you may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a license. The license did not go away. The state police still issue five-year and lifetime licenses, both fee exempt since 2020 and 2021, and plenty of Hoosiers still get one. Our Indiana handgun license guide explains the process and why the card is still worth having.

Where a handgun may not be carried

Permitless carry does not open every door. School property, including school buses and school functions, is restricted by statute with limited exceptions. Secure areas of commercial airports, courthouses and other government facilities have their own rules, federal buildings and military installations follow federal law, and a private property owner or employer can bar firearms on their premises. Check posted signs and, if you carry regularly, read the statute rather than a summary.

Transporting a firearm

With permitless carry in force, a lawful carrier may keep a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Long guns are normally carried unloaded and cased, and hunting rules add their own restrictions on loaded firearms in vehicles. If you cross into Illinois, Michigan, Ohio or Kentucky, the rules change at the state line, so look up the destination state before you drive.

Red flag and prohibited persons

Indiana has had a firearm seizure law since 2005, often called the Jake Laird law, which allows police to seize firearms from a person a court finds to be dangerous, with a hearing afterward. Federal prohibitions apply on top of state law: felony convictions, certain domestic violence convictions, some protective orders and a few other categories bar possession. If you are unsure whether an old case affects you, get an answer from an attorney before you order a firearm.

Hunting firearms

Hunting equipment is a separate rulebook run by the Department of Natural Resources rather than the criminal code. Indiana now allows centerfire rifles with a bullet diameter of at least .219 inch for deer on both public and private land, along with legal handguns, shotguns firing slugs and muzzleloaders. Our deer season guide covers the firearms list and the 2026-27 dates in detail.

Ordering from us

Pick your firearm, choose an Indiana dealer at checkout and we ship it there. Ammunition, optics and most parts come straight to your door. If you want a local starting point, read our Indianapolis buying guide or browse the city index, then go to the catalog.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.