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Buying Your First Firearm Shouldn’t Be Frightening
It is easy to feel intimidation with the prospect of buying your first firearm. This can be especially true for those people that do not have a lot of experience with them. And with what we are shown by the media, it is no surprise that many have strong opinions on whether or not we should even be allowed to own one.
While we won’t be going into the politics of the situation, we can help dispel some myths and provide you with some basic information to keep in mind. From what size and caliber, how much you should pay, and what to expect during the process. We want to make sure you have the information. Along the way, we hope to get you more comfortable with the entire process.
Am I allowed to own a gun?
This is the first question anyone should be asking themselves after deciding they are ready to buy their first firearm. While we have the freedom to possess a variety of guns, we must be sure to “toe the line” on the state and federal laws that apply.
According to the ATF, the following is a general list of those who are not allowed to transport, ship, purchase, or possess a firearm or ammunition. A person that is:
- convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; (Is this you? Don’t fret! More on this later…)
- who is a fugitive from justice;
- who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, codified at 21 U.S.C. § 802);
- who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution;
- who is an illegal alien;
- who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
- who has renounced his or her United States citizenship;
- who is subject to a court order restraining the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of the intimate partner; or
- who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
What kind of gun should I buy?
That’s a tough question to answer without knowing a few key things. What will the firearm be used for? Training with a hunting rifle is much different than something like an AR-15. And training with a pistol is another world altogether. Add to that the different choices for sights and optics and it can be very intimidating when buying your first firearm.
For this article, we will be focusing on those that are looking for pistols for self-protection. That doesn’t mean you should make that your first firearm. You may be more comfortable with something a bit less powerful that allows you to do some initial training. For example, many firearms that shoot 9mm rounds have a similar model that shoots the much less expensive .22 rounds. This means you can train the basics with a low-cost alternative and then polish those skills on your everyday carry weapon (EDC).
Some Options…
For new shooters, .22 offers a solid foundation for basic marksmanship and manipulation of firearms. Learning firearms safety applies whether the gun shoots BBs or .50 caliber bullets. And when you’re ready, you can “pull the trigger” on a larger caliber pistol with appropriate stopping power or accuracy. Depending on what’s most important to you.
But in this economy, sometimes buying your first firearm means taking what you can get. Personally, I lucked into my first gun purchase. I wasn’t looking to buy a Ruger Blackhawk .357 but once I saw it, I knew I had to have it. You’ll likely find yourself in the same situation. And if you do, buy it!
Firearms are consistently keeping their value when all other consumer products lose theirs. As long as you stay away from Pawn Shops, you will be able to get a fair price for your gun. Even if that weapon has had thousands of rounds through it. This is because guns are not nearly as fragile as some people may think they are.
We can help with repairs!
When we work on a firearm at Central Oklahoma Armorers, there are times when all the oil in the world won’t break a part free from its impingement. That’s when the hammer comes out! When you realize how much punishment most firearms can handle, you start to worry less about keeping it clean and more about keeping it on target.
How much should I pay when buying my first firearm?
There isn’t a straightforward answer, but do keep in mind what we talked about earlier. Guns tend to keep their value. Does that mean you should go out and buy the first one you can find? Absolutely not! As with any other purchase, your first order of business is to do some homework. Research, watch videos, and ask people questions.
That last part can be very intimidating for first time gun buyers. Walking into a shop can get your head spinning. Especially when you see the sheer number and types of firearms that are available today. And unfortunately, shop owners may be excellent at selling, repairing, and using firearms, but they may have terrible people skills.
For those people, shopping at a large online distributor can help by allowing you to take all the time you need to do the research. We won’t mention any here, but a quick google search will show quite a few. In most cases after purchase, you just need to select a local FFL dealer that will process the ATF form 4473 and transfer it to you.
Is the ATF form 4473 hard to fill out?
No! And many dealers now have a way to allow you to fill out the form on a tablet or in-house computer. From there it is electronically sent out for the required background check. Once approved, you will be clear to take the gun home.
Beyond your personal information, you will be required to answer questions that help determine if you are considered to be a prohibited possessor. Earlier in this article, we provided a list of those who are prohibited. Here are some of the questions you will be expected to answer truthfully. And we highly suggest that you do NOT lie on this.
21. Answer the following questions by checking or marking either the “yes” or “no” box to the right of the questions:
a. Are you the actual transferee/buyer of all of the firearm(s) listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) (ATF Form 5300.9A)?
Warning: You are not the actual transferee/buyer if you are acquiring any of the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual transferee/buyer, the licensee cannot transfer any of the firearm(s) to you. Exception: If you are only picking up a repaired firearm(s) for another person, you are not required to answer 21.a. and may proceed to question 21.b.
b. Do you intend to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) in furtherance of any felony or other offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, a Federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking offense?
c. Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year, or are you a current member of the military who has been charged with violation(s) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and whose charge(s) have been referred to a general court-martial?
d. Have you ever been convicted in any court, including a military court, of a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more than one year, even if you received a shorter sentence including probation?
Note: What should I answer for ATF Form 4473 21d if my firearms rights have been restored? Per ATF guidelines, if an individual has had their rights restored through means of sealed records, time served, or other legally justified ways of restoring the right to possess a firearm, you would answer NO. Thereby allowing the purchase of the firearm as long as the background check is clear.
ATF Form 4473 (Revised August 2023) instructions state in relevant part:
EXCEPTION: A person is not prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm if that person: (1) has been convicted of any Federal or State offense pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices; (2) has been convicted of a State misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of two years or less; or (3) following conviction of a felony or other crime for which the judge could have imprisoned the person for more than one year, or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, has received a pardon, an expungement or set aside of the conviction, or has lost and regained civil rights (the right to vote, sit on a jury, and hold public office) in the jurisdiction in which the conviction occurred, AND the law of the convicting jurisdiction does not prohibit the person from receiving or possessing firearms. Also, a person who has no more than one conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an individual in a dating relationship, and is not otherwise prohibited under this chapter, is not prohibited if 5 years have elapsed from conviction or completion of the person’s custodial or supervisory sentence, whichever occurs later, and the person has not subsequently been convicted of any other misdemeanor crime of violence, or any other offense that would disqualify the person under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). A person subject to any of these exceptions, or who received relief from disabilities under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), should answer “no” to the applicable question.
Accordingly, a person who meets the conditions to the exception as detailed on the ATF Form 4473 should answer the respective question(s) in accordance with the instructions.
e. Are you a fugitive from justice?
f. Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?
Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.
g. Have you ever been adjudicated as a mental defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution?
h. Have you ever been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions?
i. Are you subject to a court order, including a Military Protection Order issued by a military judge or magistrate, restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening your child or an intimate partner or child of such partner?
j. Have you ever been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or are you or have you ever been a member of the military and been convicted of a crime that included, as an element, the use of force against a person as identified in the instructions?
k. Have you ever renounced your United States citizenship?
l. Are you an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States?
m.1. Are you an alien who has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa?
m.2. If you answered “Yes” to question 21.m.1, do you fall within any of the exceptions stated in the instructions?
n. Do you intend to sell or dispose of any firearm(s) listed on this form or any continuation sheet(s) to any person described in questions 21(b)-(l) or to a person described in question 21.m.1 who does not fall within a nonimmigrant alien exception?
What else should I do before buying my first firearm?
Beyond the normal research of videos and information out there, take some time to find your local gun range. Most ranges now have the option to allow patrons to rent a variety of firearms. Some even offer you a chance to try out a fully automatic machine gun!
But in our case, a trip to the range to go hands-on before buying can prevent the terrible feeling of buyer’s remorse. Remember, in most cases you will be required to purchase ammo at the range for any guns you rent. This is for safety and to ensure nothing crazy is going on with uncle Buck and his reloaded ammo stash!
So what can we take away? First, do your research on the price and quality of various firearms manufacturers. You’ve probably already heard of the big names. Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Browning, and Colt just to name a few. But there are a lot of companies producing just as quality goods at even better prices.
Next, take the time to try out different pistols at the range. You may find that one fits better in your hand. You may just like the look of one over the other. In the end, it’s a matter of personal preference and your own training on that firearm.
Lastly, train after buying your first firearm! Like anything else in life, training will get you as close as you can get to real world scenarios. Find a firearms instructor or a friend that wants to take the journey with you. Use one of the many training systems like Mantis that allows you to use your own weapon to train indoors with laser technology.
Whatever you do, buying your first firearm is part of being an American. Make sure you do so with knowledge, and above all, reverence for those that fought and died to ensure we keep this and all of our other freedoms.
Still have cold feet? Contact us for free advice. We’re always happy to help!