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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

Dealer License Required

Alabama has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
No

Dealer License Required

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

California has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

Colorado has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

Connecticut has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

Delaware has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
No

Dealer License Required

Florida has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
No

Dealer License Required

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Illinois has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

Indiana has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
No

Dealer License Required

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Maine has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Maryland has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Minnesota has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Montana has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

New Hampshire has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
No

Dealer License Required

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

New York has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

North Carolina has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Oregon has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
No

Dealer License Required

Rhode Island has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
No
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

South Carolina has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

South Dakota has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Tennessee has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Texas has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Utah has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Vermont has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Virginia has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Washington has adopted this policy

Does the state law require employees to pass a background check?
Yes
Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Yes

Dealer License Required

West Virginia has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

Dealer License Required

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, including security alarm systems, 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.

Dealer License Required

Policy adopted? Does the state law require employees to pass a background check? Does the state law require the dealer to have physical security?
Alabama No No
Alaska — —
Arizona — —
Arkansas — —
California Yes Yes
Colorado Yes Yes
Connecticut Yes Yes
Delaware Yes No
Florida — —
Georgia — —
Hawaii No No
Idaho — —
Illinois Yes Yes
Indiana No No
Iowa — —
Kansas — —
Kentucky — —
Louisiana — —
Maine — —
Maryland No Yes
Massachusetts Yes Yes
Michigan — —
Minnesota — —
Mississippi — —
Missouri — —
Montana — —
Nebraska — —
Nevada — —
New Hampshire No No
New Jersey Yes Yes
New Mexico — —
New York No Yes
North Carolina — —
North Dakota — —
Ohio — —
Oklahoma — —
Oregon — —
Pennsylvania No No
Rhode Island No Yes
South Carolina — —
South Dakota — —
Tennessee — —
Texas — —
Utah — —
Vermont — —
Virginia — —
Washington Yes Yes
West Virginia — —
Wisconsin — —
Wyoming — —
Show Citations and Footnotes 
Source: Ala. Code § 13A-11-78; Cal. Penal Code § 26500, 26915, 26710; Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-401.5, 18-12-407; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-28(a), 29-37d, 29-37f; Del. Code Ann. tit. 24, §§ 901, 904(b); Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-31; 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 68/5-15(a), 68/5-40, 68/5-50; Ind. Code § 35-47-2-14; Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-106, 5-145.1; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 172M, ch. 140, § 122; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:8;  N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58:2, N.J. Admin. Code § 13:54-3.3(d); N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(2), N.Y. Gen. Bus. § 875-b; 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6112; R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-38; Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.110(5), (9).

64%: Daniel W. Webster, Jon S. Vernick, and Maria T. Bulzacchelli, “Effects of State-Level Firearm Seller Accountability Policies on Firearm Trafficking,” Journal of Urban Health 86, no. 4 (July 2009): 525–37, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-009-9351-x.

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