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Gun Dealer Reform

    Gun Dealer Reform

      What does this solve?

      Laws on how gun stores conduct their business have not been strengthened since the 1960s. Congress should pass comprehensive gun dealer reform.

      Gun dealer reform should include requiring updated best practices for store security, record keeping, training, and ensuring that gun dealers who violate the law and endanger public safety can be swiftly held accountable. In addition, the federal agency that regulates gun dealers, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), needs the resources and authority to protect the public.

      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

      How it Works

      Comprehensive gun dealer reform would help stop guns from getting into the wrong hands.

      Gun dealers can stop firearms from getting into the wrong hands. They can do this with best practices in selling firearms and securing stores. Common-sense laws can ensure that all gun dealers are protecting the public and that gun dealers that ignore the law can be held accountable.

      There are nearly 78,000 gun dealers in the United States, more than the number of McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, and Wendy’s locations in the country combined. The laws regulating these sellers are outdated. The ATF—the federal agency responsible for regulating gun dealers—is under-resourced and hampered by restrictions written by the gun lobby.

      As a result of these restrictions and shortage of resources, only a small number of gun sellers are inspected each year. In fiscal year 2020, ATF inspectors found violations in just under half of inspections.1ATF, “Firearms Compliance Inspection Results FY 2020,” last reviewed May 9, 2023, https://bit.ly/3VWJtP8. These violations range from the failure to keep full and accurate inventory and failing to complete the required forms necessary for crime gun tracing, to a failure to conduct background checks. Additionally, gun dealers must be required to use security practices that will ensure they are not susceptible to theft.

      By the numbers

      Myth

      There is nothing a gun dealer can do to stop a criminal from getting a gun.

      Fact

      Laws requiring record keeping, videotaping and store security, and regular inspection can help make sure gun dealers are not susceptible to straw purchasers or gun traffickers. Intrastate gun trafficking was 64% lower in places with strong gun dealer regulations and oversight.

      Featured Resources

      Gun Dealer Reform

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      Did you know?

      Nearly 40 percent of crime guns recovered in states with the most gun dealers per capita were bought at a dealer less than ten miles from the crime.

      Everytown Research analysis of ATF, “NFTCA, Volume II: Crime Gun Intelligence and Analysis—State Reference Tables.”