Gun Shop: Common Rules And Regulations
Posted on: 14 December 2022
With more attention being paid to gun safety, navigating local rules and regulations can make it tough to purchase a firearm during the holiday season.
Here are some steps to take to negotiate the rules and regulations before heading to your local gun shop.
ID Verification, Background Checks, and Waiting Periods
Regardless of how you might feel about gun control, your local gun shop has rules and regulations that govern how firearms are bought and sold in your state, county, or city.
- ID Verification: to demonstrate that you are legally able to purchase a firearm, you must produce state- or federally-issued identification. An expired driver's license or other forms of identification will not be accepted. Some gun shops can only accept Real ID verified cards. These forms of identification are designed to be tougher to counterfeit and include additional features like radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips. If you've been putting off updating your license to a Real ID card, you might need to take this step before heading to the gun shop.
- Background Checks: with new red-flag laws taking effect across the country and other provisions designed to keep guns out of the hands of individuals with criminal backgrounds, you might need to complete a background check before you can purchase a firearm at your local gun shop. You can often pay a little extra to have your background check expedited. Additionally, if you have completed a background check for your employer, you can sometimes include that documentation to satisfy the background check requirement.
- Waiting Periods: certain types of firearms can also require a waiting period. Although not an application to purchase the gun, it acts as a buffer to prevent impulsive purchases made during times of crisis. If you hope to purchase a firearm from your local gun shop before the holiday season, you should do so with a few days to spare before holiday hours and closures can make it difficult to get the firearm.
Accessories
Gun safety rules and regulations can also impact the types of accessories offered by gun shops.
- Bump Stocks and Magazine Extenders: if you're hoping to upgrade a hunting rifle for sale, you might want to add a bump stock or magazine extender. Be sure to make sure the gun shops you're shopping at are allowed to legally sell these types of accessories. In some cases, you might need to look for gun shops in different locales.
For more information, contact a gun shop near you.
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