Do you have to have a license for a Bersa Thunder 380?

Question

Hi,

Do you have to have a license for a Bersa Thunder 380 in the New York State? Or any State?

Thank You!

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Daniel C

Answer 1

Yes

http://www.nysrpa.org/nygunlaws.htm

Answer 2

It doesn't matter what kind of handgun, it matters where you are located.

In New York City, you need a handgun licence to have any handgun, from a 1911A1 colt 45 acp, to a Smith and Wesson model 19 357 magnum, or as you ask about, a Bersa Thunder 380.  Then each gun must also be registered.

But New York City doesn't give out licences to anyone except the rich and famous.

Rest of New York, same deal, you need licence to own any, and each specific gun you own must be registered, except they actually give out licences to honest folk

In Minnesota, where I am from, there is no licence and no registration.  If you buy from a dealer, you need to have a 'permit to purchase' which is basically a background check by the state to make sure you aren't a felon or nutcase, but this is redundant because the dealer will run you through an instant check process.  It's just a waste of taxpayer money to do it twice.  In Minnesota, you can buy any handgun you want, be it a Colt 45, or a Smith and Wesson 357, or, as you ask, a Bersa 380, with no registration.

Other states don't have that silly 'permit to purchase', no gun licence of any kind, and no registration either.  Of course, in all those states, if you buy from a dealer, you go through the instant background check.

In some states, if you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon on your person as you go out and about, this also allows you to skip the instant background check.