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Case ([personal profile] case) wrote in [community profile] fandomsecrets2026-01-25 03:19 pm

[ SECRET POST #6960 ]


⌈ Secret Post #6960 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


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[A cruel prince]

























Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 23 secrets from Secret Submission Post #994.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Re: Fanfic research Q

(Anonymous) 2026-01-25 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
So, how does someone get their first gun in America?

I have a MC who moved to America as an adult, and by time of canon is a newly minted citizen.

I want them to buy a gun for this fic. How do they do that? Do they need to go and get certified at a firing range first, or do they just walk into a gun shop and point and say "that one"? If they go to a firing range for lessons, do they need to buy the gun first or does firing ranges have their own that they teach customers on? What sort of handgun are they likely to be recommended for target shooting, and also for a hunting rifle/shotgun?

Canon location is the D.C. suburbs in Virginia, and time period is 2010-ish, if that changes things?

Re: Fanfic research Q

(Anonymous) 2026-01-25 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
They can walk into a gun store and buy one. They need a couple forms of ID, I think they need a Virginia ID not sure if that varies by state, and will have a background check run.

They could also buy one from someone as a private sale in which case no background checks or anything are needed

Re: Fanfic research Q

(Anonymous) 2026-01-26 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
This. OP, every state has its own laws regarding background checks and time, so if you're setting the fic in VA, look up VA-only laws. Because, state by state, there are also loopholes for gun shows and private citizens - in some states they're bound by the same laws as gun dealers, and in others it's the wild fuckin west. I don't know VA, so I don't know if it's faster while also still legal to go get a gun at a gun show or on fuckn craigslist versus going to a licensed shop that will run the background check and observe a waiting period.

Re: Fanfic research Q

(Anonymous) 2026-01-25 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Just walk into a gun shop and say "that one." They should run a background check to see if you've been flagged, but a lot of gun stores will sell it to you anyway (I don't remember if we had mandatory background checks yet in 2010). Some states have waiting periods, so you may have to come back to the gun shop in a few days to actually pick it up, but there are also gun shows where you can walk in and point at one and walk out with it. You can also just.... buy a gun. From some rando. May not be technically legal, but neither is jaywalking.

Firing ranges will let you rent guns, though they are often age restricted, gun type restricted, and first timers often have to have someone with experience with them; there are also training courses. None of them depend on you already owning a gun, and you don't have to pass anything to buy a gun.

You do not need a license in Virginia to own a gun.

Re: Fanfic research Q

(Anonymous) 2026-01-25 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
As others have said, just walk in and say they want to buy a gun. They pay fee to have their background check done and that’s it. I do not know if Virginia had a waiting period for buying a handgun in 2010, you’ll want to Google that.
For a handgun in 2010 they’d most likely be recommended a 1911 of some sort. But also around that time gun shops were full of Taurus handguns, cheap entry level hand guns. I don’t think anyone who knew anything about guns ever bought them but the shops would push them hard on first time buyers.
For a target rifle, a Remington .22 long barrel. For a hunting gun, it depends what they’re hunting. If I remember correctly, the Mossberg 550 was the best selling shotgun for a couple years around that time.