How to Sell a Gun in Northern Mariana Islands

Published August 13, 2023 | Updated: August 11, 2023
Category: Cash For Guns, Firearm Information, Gun Laws, How to Sell a Gun, Legal, Sell Unwanted Guns, Sell Used Guns, Sell Your Gun, Sell Your Guns

If you’re a resident of the picturesque Northern Mariana Islands and looking to sell a gun, it’s important to navigate the unique set of gun laws that govern this U.S. commonwealth. In this guide, Dunlap Gun Buyers will explain how to sell a gun in the Northern Mariana Islands, including the state and federal laws that apply, the process for private sales, and other restrictions. Whether you’re a gun owner or a potential buyer, this article will provide valuable insights to ensure compliance with the regulations while facilitating a smooth transaction.

The following is compiled from a memorandum from the Northern Mariana Islands Office of the Attorney General on State Laws and Published Ordinances to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

What is the Process to Legally Buy and Sell a Firearm in Northern Mariana Islands?

In order to purchase a firearm legally, the buyer must be 18 years old to purchase rifles, shotguns and ammunition. Buyers looking to purchase handguns must be at least 21 years old. Anyone buying a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer must complete a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms form 4473. The purchaser must, under the permanent provisions of the Federal Brady Law, also undergo a National Instant Criminal Background Check System check, which will be performed by the licensed firearms dealer.

The check will indicate to the dealer whether the purchaser’s background allows for the person to complete the purchase of the firearm. If the check disallows the sale for no warranted reason, there is an appeal process the purchaser can pursue to receive the necessary clearance to complete the purchase. No licensed firearms vendor shall deliver a firearm, and no person shall take possession of a firearm from a licensed vendor, until a minimum of 48 hours have elapsed from the date the person purchased the firearm.

In the Northern Mariana Islands, all firearms must be registered with the Department of Public Safety.

What is the Gun Licensing, Permit and Registration Process in Northern Mariana Islands?

No person may acquire or possess any firearm or ammunition within the Commonwealth without having possession a current Firearm Owner’s Identification Card previously issued by the Department of Public Safety under the provisions of this Division. There are exceptions to the law for those who are law enforcement officers, Members of the United States Armed Forces and others that are named specifically in the legal text.

Below is the legal text:

Chapter 6 – Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Act
Section 10601. Firearm Owner’s Identification Card requirement exceptions.
(a) No person may acquire or possess any firearm within the Commonwealth without having in his or her possession a current Firearm Owner’s Identification Card previously issued in his or her name by the Department of Public Safety under the provisions of this Division.
(b) No person may acquire or possess firearm ammunition within the Commonwealth without having in his or her possession a current Firearm Owner’s Identification Card previously issued in his or her name by the Department of Public Safety under the provisions of this Division.
(c) The provisions of this Division regarding the possession of firearms and firearm ammunition shall not apply to:
(1) Any duly sworn law enforcement officer of the United States, while engaged in the operation of their official duties;
(2) Members of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard, while engaged in the operation of their official duties;
(3) A common carrier, warehouseman, or other person engaged in the business of transporting or storing goods, to the extent that the possession or receipt of any firearm is in the ordinary course of business and not for the personal use of any such person;
(4) A person being loaned a firearm solely for the purpose of shooting at targets, if the loan occurs on the premises of a properly licensed target facility, and the firearm is at all times kept within the premises of the target range;
(5) A person who has acquired a firearm by operation of law upon the death of the former owner of the firearm within the preceding 60 days;
(6) A person lawfully transporting a firearm through the Commonwealth in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 926A;
(7) Federal officials required to carry firearms, while engaged in the operation of their official duties;
(8) Members of bona fide veterans’ organizations which receive firearms directly from the Armed Forces of the United States, while using the firearms for ceremonial purposes with blank ammunition;
(9) Color guards of bona fide veterans’ organizations or members of bona fide American Legion bands while using firearms for ceremonial purposes with blank ammunition; or
(10) Any person who temporarily possesses a firearm while participating in a firearms training and safety class conducted by a firearms instructor.
(d) Each applicant for a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card must:
(1) Make application on blank forms prepared and furnished by the Department of Public Safety, or by electronic means, if and when made available by the Department of Public Safety;
(2) Be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee to be established by the Department of Public Safety; provided, that such fee shall, in the judgment of TITLE 6: CRIMES.

What are the State Laws on Private Sales of Guns in Northern Mariana Islands?

There are two ways to legally conduct private transfers of firearms between individuals who are not licensed firearms vendors. Sellers can conduct the transaction by either completing the sale through a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer or at at the Department of Public Safety. If a licensed firearm vendor is available for the transfer on an island, the Department can choose to not to facilitate the transfer. The waiting period of 48 hours for firearm transfers applies to private transfers as well.

Below is the legal text:

Section 10803. Private transfers.
(a) Where neither party to a prospective firearms transaction is a licensed firearms vendor under Chapter 8 of this Division, the parties to the transaction shall complete the sale or other transfer through a licensed firearms vendor as follows:
(1) The seller or other transferor shall deliver the firearm to the licensed firearms vendor, who shall retain possession of the firearm until all legal requirements for the sale or other transfer have been met, including compliance with any Commonwealth or federal waiting periods;
(2) The licensed firearms vendor shall process the sale or other transfer as if he or she were the seller or other transferor. The licensed firearms vendor shall comply with all requirements of Commonwealth and federal law that would apply if he or she were the seller or other transferor of the firearm;
(3) If the licensed firearms vendor cannot legally deliver the firearm to the purchaser or other transferee, the licensed firearms vendor shall require proof that the seller is in possession of a valid firearm registration certificate, and, if the seller has a firearm registration certificate and the return is not prohibited by Commonwealth or federal law, return the firearm to that person;
(i) Subsection (a)(3) shall not prohibit a person from receiving their firearm back from a firearm vendor if the person acquired their firearm by operation of law upon the death of the former owner of the firearm within the preceding 60 days.
(4) If the vendor cannot legally return the firearm to the seller or other transferor, the vendor shall store the firearm until it can be transferred or otherwise disposed of as provided by law; and
(5) The vendor may require the purchaser or other transferee to pay a fee covering the administrative costs incurred by the vendor for facilitating the transfer of the firearm.
(b) Alternatively, where neither party to a prospective firearms transaction is a licensed firearms vendor under Chapter 8 of this Division, the parties to the transaction may complete the sale or other transfer at the Department of Public Safety as follows:
(1) The parties to the transaction shall notify the Department of Public Safety in a manner to be determined by regulation to schedule a time for transfer. The firearm must be transported to and from the Department of Public Safety in a locked container, unloaded, separate from ammunition, and in open view. A person transporting a firearm to the Department of Public Safety in accordance with this subsection is exempt from 6 CMC § 10401(a).
(2) The Department of Public Safety shall ensure that the purchaser is in possession of a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card before releasing the firearm to the purchaser.
(3) If the Department of Public Safety cannot legally deliver the firearm to the purchaser or other transferee, the Department of Public Safety shall require proof that the seller is in possession of a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, and, if the seller has a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and the return is not prohibited by Commonwealth or federal law, return the firearm to that person;
(i) Subsection (b)(3) shall not prohibit a person from receiving their firearm back from the Department of Public Safety if the person acquired their firearm by operation of law upon the death of the former owner of the firearm within the preceding 60 days.
(4) If Department of Public Safety cannot return the firearm to the seller or other transferor, the Department of Public Safety shall store the firearm until it can be transferred or otherwise disposed of as provided by law; and
(5) The Department of Public Safety may authorize, by regulation, a fee to reimburse the Department for the administrative costs of services provided under this section.
(6) Private transfers under this subsection shall be subject to the firearm waiting period contained in 6 CMC § 10851 as if the Department of Public Safety were a licensed firearm vendor.
(7) If a licensed firearm vendor is available to complete the private transfer of firearms on a particular island, then the Department of Public Safety may, by regulation, decline to complete the private transfer of firearms under subsection(b).

FEDERAL DISQUALIFICATION CATEGORIES

Federal law disqualifies certain individuals from purchasing firearms. These include individuals with convictions carrying a maximum imprisonment term exceeding one year, felony warrants or out-of-state misdemeanors, individuals on felony pre-trial release, and those with misdemeanor crimes related to domestic violence, mental health adjudication, unlawful use or addiction to controlled substances, dishonorable discharge from the armed forces, renounced U.S. citizenship, or illegal alien status.

  • Conviction (felony or misdemeanor) where the crime has a maximum imprisonment term exceeding 1 year (even if a buyer did not receive actual imprisonment exceeding 1 year).
  • Warrant (felony or out-of-state misdemeanor).
  • Felony pre-trial release.
  • Misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence restraining/stalking/protection order mental health adjudication or commitment.
  • Unlawful use or addicted to a controlled substance (including marijuana).
  • Dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.
  • Renounced U.S. citizenship.
  • Illegal alien.

Get the Best Price for Your Gun Without Leaving Home

If the hassle of navigating Northern Mariana Islands gun laws seems overwhelming, we’re excited to tell you that there’s a better way!

You can safely, easily and legally sell your handgun or long gun to Dunlap Gun Buyers and be 100% compliant with Guam gun laws.

We have a Federal Firearms Licensee, who is licensed by the U.S. Government to help people with selling and transferring firearms. We take care of the hard part and make the process safe, quick and hassle-free. The reality is, you can sell your gun without leaving the house.

Just tell us which gun(s) you’d like to sell, we’ll make you an offer, and once we agree on a price, you’ll mail us your gun(s) with all expenses paid by us. When we receive your gun(s), we get you paid with a check in your hand within a few days.

When you use Dunlap Gun Buyers, you get the following unbeatable benefits!

  1. Free gun appraisal
  2. Fair price for your gun
  3. Free shipping
  4. Easy shipment tracking throughout the whole process
  5. Speedy payment!

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“DISCLAIMER”
The information contained on this website has been prepared as a service to the internet community and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Dunlap Gun Buyers has used reasonable efforts in collecting, preparing, and providing quality information and material, but does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or currency of the information contained in or linked to this website. Users of information from this website or links do so at their own risk and should consult their local firearm law resources and/or an attorney when engaging in selling a firearm. The cited information in this article was obtained on 08/11/2023 at www.https://www.atf.gov/file/118951/download