5 Steps to Buying a Firearm From a Pawnshop

If you want to buy a gun, your local pawnshop is a possible place to try, especially if you are a new gun holder. The pawnshop will probably be less expensive, and the storekeeper will help you make an easy decision.

Below are five steps to remember as you buy your gun from a pawnshop.

1. Research the Firearm to Get

Pawnshops stock an array of firearms, including long guns such as rifles and shotguns such as revolvers and pistols. Guns come in different sizes and perform differently. Before going into the pawnshop, gather enough knowledge about the types of available guns and the amount of money they cost.

The research will help you buy a gun with the specifications you want and inform you how much you might spend purchasing the gun. Knowing the cost of the gun will save you from paying a higher price for a secondhand firearm.

2. Know Firearm Laws in Your State

Both state and federal laws exist about owning a firearm. For instance, federal laws state that you can't own a firearm if you illegally use or have an addiction to controlled substances or have previously been guilty of domestic violence. Different states have different gun laws. For example, each state has laws restricting how openly you carry your firearm.

Some states allow you to carry a gun without a license, while others permit you to carry a gun only when you have a license. Others have limitations on when you can openly carry your gun, while other states have local governments with stricter laws than the state. You need to be conversant with federal and state laws to avoid any confusion or illegal ownership that may make you suffer serious consequences.

3. Identify the Right Pawnshop

When purchasing a firearm from a pawnshop, ensure it has a federal firearms license to buy and sell new or used firearms. You can ask the pawnshop owner to show you these licenses. The pawnshop should also have all required registration documents with the local, state, and federal governments.

Also, find out if the pawnshop has the gun you want in stock. Because most pawnshops deal with secondhand and not new firearms, they may not always have the same stock. You can also ask if they stock ammunition for the firearm.

4. Check the Quality of the Firearm

Make sure you check the firearm's quality before you purchase. Depending on the pawnshop's policy, you can check the quality of the firearm in different ways. You can ask to do a field strip of the firearm or dry fire.

A field strip is where you disassemble the firearm to its greatest extent to check all gun parts in detail. But you can only do this if you know how to reassemble the firearm and only with the help of the store attendant.

The other way to check the quality of the firearm is to dry fire the firearm. You dry fire a firearm by practicing the discharge of the firearm without the firearm having ammunition.

5. Fill All Necessary Documentation

You will provide your valid ID and permits that allow you to own a gun. The pawnshop will inquire about your history of drugs, convictions, and mental health and fill this information on a form. You will fill in additional firearm transfer documents containing the firearm's model and serial number.

Using the information you provide, the pawnshop will run a background check on the National Instant Criminal Background Check system that shows your criminal history and whether you can own a gun.

Remember to also ask the pawnshop about the duration of the waiting period for the transfer.

Getting a firearm is a delicate process that needs careful planning. Get in touch with us today. We will help you identify the perfect firearm for you and help you with all necessary transfers.