Firearm Purchase Certificate

The Nebraska Legislature determined the state had a valid interest to regulate the purchase, lease, rental, and transfer of handguns. As a result, they established a requirement that Nebraskans must apply for and receive a certificate prior to the purchase, lease, rental, or transfer of a handgun.

Thus, when purchasing a handgun in Nebraska (regardless of whether the purchase is through a federally licensed dealer, or through a private party), Nebraska law requires the purchaser to first obtain either a permit to purchase a firearm certificate or complete all requirements and apply for and receive a Concealed Handgun Permit. This is due to state statute 69-2403.

A firearm purchase permit is NOT required if:

  • You are acquiring the handgun as a licensed firearms dealer under federal law
  • The handgun is an antique handgun (For the purposes of the National Firearms Act, the term “Antique Firearms” means any firearm not intended or redesigned for using rim fire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and manufactured in or before 1898 (including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar type of ignition system or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1898) and also any firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1898, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.}
  • You are authorized to do so on behalf of a law enforcement agency;
  • Someone or an organization (like a range) is allowing you to try the gun and you remain in the line of sight (visible) to the person or remain within the range
  • You are receiving or providing access to the handgun from/to your sibling, parent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or grandparent (and are otherwise not a prohibited person)
  • You as the person acquiring the handgun have a valid Concealed Handgun Permit or
  • You are a peace officer