AlexanderA
Member
The 2020 Virginia legislative session passed a law that, for the first time, required private gun sales to go through a background check. The normal way this would be done would be for both private parties to take the gun to an FFL dealer and have him run the check (by contacting the State Police). As stated above, the fee would be up to $15 for this service. (That's just for the State Police check alone -- if the dealer logged the gun through his inventory, his normal transfer fee would apply, in addition to the background check fee, and the total could be much more.)
As an alternative, the legislature provided that the pre-existing VSP program to have a presence at every Virginia gun show, and to provide voluntary background checks for private sellers, could be used to satisfy the new background check requirement. Clearly this is cheaper and more efficient, if gun shows were available on the scale they were pre-COVID.
Whether or not the federal Form 4473 is used, the state equivalent form (which actually requires more information) certainly is. (This form is used, in tandem with the 4473, in normal sales at Virginia FFL's.)
Bottom line: a $2 fee is better than a $15 (or more) fee. (The difference could just about pay for the admission to the gun show.)
As an alternative, the legislature provided that the pre-existing VSP program to have a presence at every Virginia gun show, and to provide voluntary background checks for private sellers, could be used to satisfy the new background check requirement. Clearly this is cheaper and more efficient, if gun shows were available on the scale they were pre-COVID.
Whether or not the federal Form 4473 is used, the state equivalent form (which actually requires more information) certainly is. (This form is used, in tandem with the 4473, in normal sales at Virginia FFL's.)
Bottom line: a $2 fee is better than a $15 (or more) fee. (The difference could just about pay for the admission to the gun show.)
