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Which states require all gun dealers to get a state-issued license?

16 states have adopted this policy

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

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Alabama has adopted this policy

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Alaska has not adopted this policy

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Arizona has not adopted this policy

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Arkansas has not adopted this policy

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California has adopted this policy

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Colorado has adopted this policy

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Connecticut has adopted this policy

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Delaware has adopted this policy

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Florida has not adopted this policy

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Georgia has not adopted this policy

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Hawaii has adopted this policy

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Idaho has not adopted this policy

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Illinois has adopted this policy

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Indiana has adopted this policy

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Iowa has not adopted this policy

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Kansas has not adopted this policy

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Kentucky has not adopted this policy

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Louisiana has not adopted this policy

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Maine has not adopted this policy

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Maryland has adopted this policy

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Massachusetts has adopted this policy

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Michigan has not adopted this policy

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Minnesota has not adopted this policy

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Mississippi has not adopted this policy

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Missouri has not adopted this policy

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Montana has not adopted this policy

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Nebraska has not adopted this policy

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Nevada has not adopted this policy

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New Hampshire has adopted this policy

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New Jersey has adopted this policy

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New Mexico has not adopted this policy

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New York has adopted this policy

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North Carolina has not adopted this policy

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North Dakota has not adopted this policy

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Ohio has not adopted this policy

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Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

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Oregon has not adopted this policy

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Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

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Rhode Island has adopted this policy

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South Carolina has not adopted this policy

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South Dakota has not adopted this policy

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Tennessee has not adopted this policy

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Texas has not adopted this policy

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Utah has not adopted this policy

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Vermont has not adopted this policy

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Virginia has not adopted this policy

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Washington has adopted this policy

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West Virginia has not adopted this policy

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Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

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Wyoming has not adopted this policy

What It Does

Basic safety practices for dealers can help stop guns from getting into the wrong hands. Although federal law requires all gun dealers to obtain a license, dealer regulations haven’t been updated in decades and the agency that enforces the law has been undermined by restrictions written by the gun lobby. Many states fill the gap by mandating a state-issued license and additional oversight; the strongest states require background checks and training for employees, robust physical security to prevent theft, and thorough record-keeping. A full discussion on Gun Thefts is here.

The Impact

In-state gun trafficking is 64 percent lower in places with strong gun dealer regulations and oversight.

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Policy adopted?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Show Citations and Footnotes 
Source: Ala. Code § 13A-11-78; Cal. Penal Code § 26500(a); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-28(a); C.R.S. § 18-12-401.5; Del. Code Ann. tit. 24, § 901; Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-31; 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 68/5-15(a); Ind. Code § 35-47-2-14; Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-106(a); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 122; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:8;  N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58:2(a); N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(2); 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6112; 11 R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-38; Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.110.

Webster DW, Vernick JS, & Bulzacchelli MT. (2009, May 29). Effects of state-level firearm seller accountability policies on firearm trafficking. Journal of Urban Health, 86: 525-37. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11524-009-9351-x.

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