2025 Legal Guide to Selling a Gun in Indiana (IN)

Indiana Firearm Ownership Restrictions

Chapter. 2 Handguns
Section 35-47-2-7 Prohibited sales or transfers. [Effective until July 1, 2019]

(a) Except an individual acting within a parent-minor child or guardian-minor protected person relationship or any other
individual who is also acting in compliance with IC 35-47-10 (governing children and firearms), a person may not sell,
give, or in any other manner transfer the ownership or possession of a handgun or assault weapon to any person under
18 years of age.

(b) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or in any other manner transfers the ownership or possession of a
handgun to another person who the person knows:

1. is ineligible for any reason other than the person’s age to purchase or otherwise receive from a dealer a handgun;
   or
2. intends to use the handgun to commit a crime;
   commits criminal transfer of a handgun, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 3 felony if the other person
   uses the handgun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

(c) A person who purchases a handgun with the intent to:

1. resell or otherwise provide the handgun to another person who the person knows is ineligible for any reason to
   purchase or otherwise receive from a dealer a handgun;
2. resell or otherwise provide the handgun to another person who the person knows intends to use the handgun to
   commit a crime; or
3. transport the handgun outside Indiana to be resold or otherwise provided to another person who the transferor
   knows:
   (A) is ineligible to purchase or otherwise receive a handgun; or
   (B) intends to use the handgun to commit a crime;
   commits the straw purchase of a handgun, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 3 felony if the other
   person uses the handgun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

(d) As used in this subsection, “NICS” has the meaning set forth in IC 35-47-2.5-2.5. It is a defense to a prosecution under
subsection (b)(1) that:

1. the accused person contacted NICS (or had a dealer contact NICS on the person’s behalf) to request a
   background check on the other person before the accused person sold, gave, or in any other manner transferred the
   ownership or possession of the handgun to the other person; and
2. the accused person (or dealer acting on the person’s behalf) received authorization from NICS to sell, give, or in
   any other manner transfer ownership or possession of the handgun to the other person.

Section 35-47-2-7 Prohibited sales or transfers. [Effective July 1, 2019]
(a) As used in this section, “machine gun” means any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily
restored to shoot automatically more than one (1) shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The
term includes the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or a
combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of
parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

(b) Except an individual acting within a parent-minor child or guardian-minor protected person relationship or any other
individual who is also acting in compliance with IC 35-47-10 (governing children and firearms) and federal law, a person
may not sell, give, or in any other manner transfer the ownership or possession of a handgun or machine gun to any
person under eighteen (18) years of age.

(c) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or in any other manner transfers ownership or possession of a
machine gun to a person under eighteen (18) years of age commits a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 4
felony if the person who sells, gives, or transfers ownership of the machine gun has a prior conviction under this section,
and a Level 3 felony if a person under eighteen (18) years of age uses the machine gun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

(d) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or in any other manner transfers the ownership or possession of a
handgun to another person who the person knows:

1. is ineligible for any reason other than the person’s age to purchase or otherwise receive from a dealer a handgun;
   or
2. intends to use the handgun to commit a crime; commits criminal transfer of a handgun, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 3 felony if the other person
   uses the handgun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1)

(e) A person who purchases a handgun with the intent to:

1. resell or otherwise provide the handgun to another person who the person knows is ineligible for any reason to
   purchase or otherwise receive from a dealer a handgun;
2. resell or otherwise provide the handgun to another person who the person knows intends to use the handgun to
   commit a crime; or
3. transport the handgun outside Indiana to be resold or otherwise provided to another person who the transferor
   knows:
   (A) is ineligible to purchase or otherwise receive a handgun; or
   (B) intends to use the handgun to commit a crime;
   commits the straw purchase of a handgun, a Level 5 felony. However, the offense is a Level 3 felony if the other
   person uses the handgun to commit murder (IC 35-42-1-1).

(f) As used in this subsection, “NICS” has the meaning set forth in IC 35-47-2.5-2.5. It is a defense to a prosecution under
subsection (d)(1) that:

1. the accused person contacted NICS (or had a dealer contact NICS on the person’s behalf) to request a
   background check on the other person before the accused person sold, gave, or in any other manner transferred the
   ownership or possession of the handgun to the other person; and
2. the accused person (or dealer acting on the person’s behalf) received authorization from NICS to sell, give, or in
   any other manner transfer ownership or possession of the handgun to the other person.

FEDERAL DISQUALIFICATION CATEGORIES

• 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.

Save the Hassle, Sell your Gun to Cash My Guns

If navigating the intricacies of Indiana’s gun laws for a private transaction seems overwhelming, Cash My Guns offers a simplified, safe, and fully legal alternative for selling your handgun or long gun while guaranteeing 100% compliance with all state and federal regulations.

The entire process is designed to be hassle-free and can be completed without leaving your house: simply inform them which firearm(s) you wish to sell, receive a competitive offer, and upon acceptance, you will be provided with prepaid shipping to mail the gun directly to their licensed Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL).

This arrangement ensures the legal transfer is handled professionally, making the process quick and safe, and resulting in payment delivered to you via check within a few days of the firearm’s receipt.

When you use Cash My Guns, you get the following unbeatable benefits!

Free gun appraisal  –  Fair price for your gun –  Free shipping

Easy shipment tracking throughout the whole process. Speedy payment!
Begin our safe and discrete process here.