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How to tell if dealer at PA gun show is bona fide FFL?

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Only a FFL can access the NICS system. If you are planning to transfer a gun to someone through a FFL, him making the call to NICS would be enough to ensure he is the real thing. I don't really think it is a risk though; I've never heard of someone at a gun show pretending to be a FFL.

Sunray said:
"...sell it at the gun show..." Suspect that'd create some kind of legal issue.

Not if he sells it to a FFL or transfers it to a PA resident through a PA FFL.
 
It's been my experience that FFL's display a copy of their license at gun shows. That might just be in Ohio, but that's what I see at local shows.
 
But how do I tell he is accessing the NICS system?
He's buying a gun (from you) as an FFL. Why would he be accessing NICS anyway? An FFL doesn't run a check on himself when buying a gun as a licensee.

Ask to see his license. Pretty simple, really. If he won't show you a copy, just walk away. You don't HAVE to sell a gun to him.
 
And, when you see his license, you can run the license number through ATF's E-Zcheck system and it will tell you who has that license at what address.
 
Why is this an issue? I don't know PA/NJ laws, but transferring to an FFL should only matter if shipping the gun interstate.
I travel for a living and have sold handguns out of state without any issues.
Every gun sold at a gun show in Colorado has to have a background check. Private sellers/buyers just stand in line and pay a $10 fee to run the checks. Anywhere else in Colorado, you can sell without a background, as long as, you do not reason to believe the buyer is a prohibited person.
 
Why is this an issue? I don't know PA/NJ laws, but transferring to an FFL should only matter if shipping the gun interstate.

Not so.

He's concerned because if he sells a firearm to someone from another state who DOESN'T have an FFL (in other words, anyone who isn't a licensed dealer) both that person AND HE commit federal felonies.

He's asking how to be sure a person who claims to be a gun dealer -- thus legal to sell his firearm(s) to outside of his home state -- really is one.

I travel for a living and have sold handguns out of state without any issues.
Certainly, but you sold them to DEALERS, correct? Selling them to a private individual outside of your home state would have been a federal felony.
 
Yes it happens that I did, but I always thought it was an interstate shipping issue. Is this an NFA or GCA issue? Looks like I need to read up a bit.
 
bushmaster1313 I can legally take a handgun from my NJ home to a PA gun show. But If I want to sell it at the gun show how do I determine that the dealer is a bona fide FFL?
ATF requires a licensee to display both his FFL and the Youth Handgun poster at his licensed premises and at any gun show where he sells.
 
ATF requires a licensee to display both his FFL and the Youth Handgun poster at his licensed premises and at any gun show where he sells.
I did not know that! Very cool. Thanks!
 
It is scary to think so many people do not know the federal(much less state) gun laws. There must be a majority of gun owners who would(ignorently)sell or buy illegally and risk going to jail.
This is an informed site and most people here are a better informed group and we get "legal" questions all the time.
 
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