THE BOOK IS DESIGNED TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS COMMONLY ASKED BY GUN OWNERS WITH REGARD TO THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING HANDGUN OWNERSHIP, AS WELL AS TO HELP THEM SEE THE CONFLICTS THAT ARISE BETWEEN THE LAWS OF DIFFERENT STATES. IT EXPLAINS HOW A GUN OWNER SHOULD GO ABOUT FINDING OUT WHICH LAWS APPLY TO HIM. FEDERAL LAWS APPLY EVERYWHERE AND ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR ANYONE DESIRING TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN. APPLICABLE STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY LAWS SHOULD ALSO BE CONSULTED, AND THE STRICTEST OF THESE MUST BE FOLLOWED. A SUMMARY OF FEDERAL LAWS IS PRESENTED; FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS ARE OUTLINED REGARDING PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM BUYING FIREARMS, PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM BUYING OR TRANSPORTING GUNS IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE, AND THE TYPES OF FIREARMS AND IMPLEMENTS WHICH ARE PROHIBITED IN THE UNITED STATES. SPECIAL REGULATIONS WHICH APPLY TO MACHINE GUNS AND OTHER SPECIAL FIREARMS AND TO DEALERS AND COLLECTORS ARE DETAILED. A SECTION GIVES COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THE PURCHASE, TRANSPORTATION, AND LICENSING OF FIREARMS. THE HANDGUN LAWS OF EACH OF THE 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARE THEN SUMMARIZED INDIVIDUALLY. SUCH INFORMATION AS PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING A HANDGUN, REQUIREMENTS FOR CARRYING A PISTOL, MINIMUM AGE, WAITING PERIOD, DEALER REQUIREMENTS, SPECIAL RULES FOR ANTIQUE WEAPONS, AS WELL AS ADDRESSES OF PERSONS OR AGENCIES WHO CAN BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, IS PROVIDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN: A TABLE SUMMARIZING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF EACH STATE'S LAWS; AND THE ADDRESSES OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS DIVISION REGIONAL AND BRANCH OFFICES. (VDA)