It is commonplace in the Orient for pawn shops to have a metal grate between patron and proprietor. The proprietor is seated above the patron and the items/cash is passed through a small hole. It is almost like a confessional. The whole idea is to protect the identity of the patron. When I was in Hong Kong and Ropongi among other places, I would trade at these types of shops.
Here in the States, I have been in a couple of pawn shops that had metal grates between patron and proprietor, for other, more familiar reasons. I have also traded items for guns, but as Zundfolge said, you still go through NICS in the United States.
Pawn shops have a lot to lose by violating the law. Not only are they FFL holders, but they are also liscensed financial institutions and hold state licenses for pawn broking. Of course, they also hold a business license. These licenses are very lucrative, and someone who has them would be a fool to jeopardize them fencing stolen merchandise. It's simply not necessary. When you consider that most sheriff's offices have a pawn detail that does periodic checks of pawn shop inventories in their jurisdiction, very few businesses get scrutinized like a pawn broker.
But yes, there are places where you can hand a ring through a grate and use it to get a gun. You might trade a 18K ring for a Lorcin, and you will have to go through NICS, but if you want to, you can find the deal.
They galdly will take your
