Summary:

When a federal firearms licensee (FFL) – a licensed gun dealer – sells a firearm, he/she must conduct a criminal background check on the buyer to ensure that the buyer is not a felon, domestic abuser, minor or other prohibited purchaser. However, unlicensed sellers who sell firearms from a “personal collection” do not have to conduct background checks. Venues for non-dealer sales include gun shows, flea markets, estate sales, firearm sales over the Internet, and firearm sales through classified ads in newspapers. It is estimated that about 40 percent of all firearm sales are non-dealer (secondary) sales.

IPGV supports efforts to extend the Brady background check requirement to all secondary firearm sales in order to prevent prohibited purchasers from buying guns from unlicensed sellers.

Currently, IPGV is focusing on three venues for secondary gun sales: newspaper classifieds, auctions and gun shows.