: Once the form is completed, the dealer must contact the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) . This system, maintained by the FBI, cross-references the buyer's data against databases of prohibited persons. 2. Federally Prohibited Persons
A significant nuance in U.S. law is the distinction between commercial and private sales. Federal law generally only requires background checks for sales conducted by licensed dealers (FFLs). In many states, private individuals can sell firearms to other residents of the same state without a background check or Form 4473, provided they do not knowingly sell to a prohibited person. However, many states have moved to "Universal Background Check" laws that require private transfers to be facilitated through a licensed dealer. 5. Compliance and Safety Standards gun buying requirements
: Anyone convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. : Once the form is completed, the dealer
: Individuals fleeing from justice to avoid prosecution. Federally Prohibited Persons A significant nuance in U
: In California, buyers must generally pass a written test and obtain a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) before acquisition.
: Persons "adjudicated as a mental defective" or involuntarily committed to a mental institution.