Not sure what to do with a gun?
Answer three questions, then pick your situation below.
General information, not legal advice.
Laws change and vary by state.
Three Questions First
- Is anyone in danger right now? Call 911. If you or someone close to you is thinking about suicide, call or text 988, and get the gun out of the house first. The Safe Storage guide covers how.
- Is this your choice, or is there a court order? Turning in, selling or storing a gun on your own is voluntary. A court order or protective order is a legal process with its own rules. See Know Your Rights.
- Do you know what the gun is? Write down the maker, model, caliber and serial number before anything else. A gun that looks ordinary can be worth real money. See What Is It Worth?
Pick Your Situation
I want to get rid of a gunEvery lawful option, side by side.
Someone died and left gunsSteps for heirs and executors.
I want to know what it is worthIdentify it, then get it valued.
I need it out of the house for a whileStorage and temporary transfer.
Police or a court asked for my gunsVoluntary versus legal process.
It is a suppressor, SBR or machine gunNFA rules and trusts after 2026.
What does my state require?State maps for private sales and permits.
I want the historyAmnesties and buybacks timeline.
Safety Before Anything Else
- Treat every gun as if it is loaded until you have checked it yourself, or had someone who knows guns check it.
- If you are not comfortable unloading a gun, leave it where it is, keep people away from it and call a gun shop or the police non-emergency line for help.
- Never walk into a police station or a store carrying a gun without calling first. Ask how they want it brought in.
- Move guns unloaded, in a locked case, with ammunition stored separately.
Most people end up at one of the guides above. If your question is not covered, use the Contact Us form.