How to Conduct a Background Check for Firearm Sales Between Individuals

8/24/2019

 

Any person may sell a firearm to an unlicensed resident of the State where he resides as long as he does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law.

  -From the ATF web site

Typically, when a person sells a firearm on a classified ads website they will have no way of knowing whether the buyer is "prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm". Legally we are allowed to sell a firearm without a background check. However, the moral and possible legal reprecussions would be serious if that firearm were used in an act of violence.

Here's an incomplete list of people who may not possess a firearm:

• Convicted felons
• Illegal Immigrants
• Fugitives from justice

• Persons convicted of domestic violence
• Persons who are covered under a protective order
• Unlawful User/Addicted to a Controlled Substance
• Adjudicated Mental Health
• Persons who were dishonorably discharged from the military
• Those who have renounced their citizenship

There is no public access to federal criminal background databases such as NICS. Therefore, it is not possible for an individual citizen to perform a firearms background check.

The NICS system or National Instant Criminal Background Check System is a database maintained by the FBI. The purpose of the NICS system is to provide federally licensed gun dealers the ability to execute background checks on buyers to verify their eligibility for gun ownership. If a seller wants to perform a background check they will require the assistance of a licensed firearm dealer or manufacturer.

Contact a local gun shop and ask if they would be willing to do the background check for a person to person transfer. Most will charge a fee for this service. These fees can range anywhere from $15 to $50+ so it's worth your while to call around. Try to support a locally owned shop whenever possible.