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State Firearm Legality Matrix (2026)

Statute-cited, every class verified on or after 2026-07-28

This matrix tracks the legality of eight product classes across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.: forced reset triggers, binary triggers, suppressors, short-barreled rifles, pistol braces, unfinished frames and unserialized firearms, magazine capacity limits, and assault-weapon feature bans. Each is a distinct area of state law, and they do not move together; a device legal under federal law can still be a felony to possess in California, New York, or New Jersey, and a state that bans one class often leaves another untouched.

Product classes
8
Jurisdictions
51
Verified on or after
2026-07-28

Worst status across all classes

LegalRestrictedBanned

The restricted counts as of the latest verification: forced reset triggers are restricted in 16 jurisdictions, binary triggers in 12 states plus two ambiguous jurisdictions, suppressors banned in eight states plus D.C., short-barreled rifles banned outright in five states plus D.C., common braced-pistol hosts banned in six states plus D.C. and restricted in four more, unfinished frames or unserialized firearms currently restricted in 15 states plus D.C. with Maine and Virginia restrictions enacted for 2027, magazine capacity capped in 13 states plus D.C., and assault-weapon feature bans in 11 states plus D.C. Every restricted cell links to the controlling statute or court decision, and each class carries its own last-verified date.

The asymmetries are where people get caught. Washington bans binary triggers but not forced reset triggers; Nevada is the reverse. Delaware's magazine limit is 17 rounds, not the 10 or 15 most states use. Suppressors are legal to own in Connecticut but cannot be used while hunting. Minnesota's binary-trigger ban was struck down in May 2026 while its forced-reset prong survived. Colorado's SB25-003 split its own timeline: the rapid-fire device ban has been in force since April 2025, while the semi-auto purchase-permit regime started August 1, 2026. The 2023 federal brace rule was vacated, but a brace-equipped firearm still must remain a pistol under the configuration-specific federal test; Rhode Island and Maryland then apply their own handgun and short-barreled-rifle classifications.

Full dataset

The full matrix: every state, every class

The full matrix below lists every state and Washington, D.C. against all eight classes. Legal cells reflect no state restriction beyond federal law; restricted and banned cells cite the statute or case and note whether the rule reaches possession or only sale and transfer. Use the linked per-class pages for the detailed feature tests, round limits, serialization paths, grandfather rules, and litigation status behind each cell.

LegalRestrictedBannedRestricted and banned statuses link to the controlling statute or case.
StateForced Reset Triggers16 restrictedBinary Triggers14 restrictedSuppressors11 restrictedShort-Barreled Rifles10 restrictedPistol Braces11 restrictedUnfinished Frames & Ghost Guns16 restrictedMagazine Capacity Limits14 restrictedAssault Weapon Feature Bans12 restricted
AlabamaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
AlaskaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
ArizonaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
ArkansasLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
CaliforniaBannedBannedBannedBannedRestrictedRestrictedRestricted10rdRestricted
ColoradoBannedLegalLegalLegalRestrictedRestrictedRestricted15rdLegal
ConnecticutRestrictedBannedRestrictedRestrictedBannedRestrictedRestricted10rdRestricted
DelawareBannedBannedBannedRestrictedBannedRestrictedRestricted17rdRestricted
FloridaRestrictedRestrictedLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
GeorgiaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
HawaiiBannedBannedBannedBannedBannedBannedRestricted10rdRestricted
IdahoLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
IllinoisBannedBannedBannedRestrictedBannedRestrictedRestrictedBanned
IndianaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
IowaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
KansasLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
KentuckyLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
LouisianaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
MaineLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
MarylandBannedBannedLegalRestrictedLegalRestrictedRestricted10rdRestricted
MassachusettsBannedBannedBannedLegalRestrictedRestrictedRestricted10rdBanned
MichiganLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
MinnesotaBannedLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
MississippiLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
MissouriLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
MontanaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
NebraskaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
NevadaBannedLegalLegalLegalLegalBannedLegalLegal
New HampshireLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
New JerseyBannedBannedBannedBannedBannedBannedRestricted10rdBanned
New MexicoLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
New YorkBannedBannedBannedBannedBannedBannedRestricted10rdBanned
North CarolinaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
North DakotaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
OhioLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
OklahomaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
OregonBannedBannedLegalLegalLegalRestrictedLegalLegal
PennsylvaniaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
Rhode IslandBannedBannedBannedBannedLegalBannedRestricted10rdRestricted
South CarolinaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
South DakotaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
TennesseeLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
TexasLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
UtahLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
VermontLegalLegalRestrictedLegalLegalRestrictedRestrictedLegal
VirginiaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
WashingtonLegalBannedLegalLegalRestrictedRestrictedRestricted10rdRestricted
West VirginiaLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
WisconsinLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
WyomingLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegalLegal
District of ColumbiaBannedRestrictedBannedBannedBannedBannedRestricted10rdBanned

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states are strictest across all eight classes?

California, New Jersey, and New York restrict every class on this matrix: they restrict trigger devices, suppressors, short-barreled rifles, common brace-equipped pistol hosts, unfinished or unserialized builds, magazine capacity, and assault-weapon features. Washington, D.C. is functionally as strict, though no District statute names binary triggers; its restriction flows from the registration regime. Hawaii and Illinois also restrict all eight classes with narrow differences in scope.

Do these state laws override federal law?

State bans operate independently of federal law, not the other way around. A binary trigger or forced reset trigger can be legal under federal law and still be banned in California or New York; a suppressor banned in Illinois stays banned even with an approved federal Form 4. Federal legality is a floor, and states are free to be stricter through their own machine-gun, trigger-activator, and assault-weapon definitions.

How current is this state legality matrix?

Every class carries its own last-verified date shown on its page. The unfinished-frame and ghost-gun class was verified August 18, 2026 against official statute and session-law text; the pistol-brace class was verified earlier in August, and the remaining classes in July. Recent changes reflected here include Maine and Virginia ghost-gun rules enacted for 2027, the July 2026 Illinois PICA ruling, and the August 1, 2026 start of Colorado's semi-auto purchase-permit regime.

Does a suppressor tax stamp still cost $200?

No. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors effective January 1, 2026, so the stamp is now free. You still file a Form 4 or Form 1, submit fingerprints, pass a NICS background check, and register the suppressor, and ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

Is this matrix legal advice?

No. This matrix is an informational summary of state law, not legal advice. State statutes change, court decisions can shift a cell overnight, and local ordinances can add restrictions. Confirm the cited statute for your state and consult a firearms attorney before buying, building, or transferring any restricted item.

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