Federal law requires firearms dealers to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), although resource limitations prevent the ATF from properly overseeing all its licensees.

Texas does not require firearms dealers to obtain a license or otherwise significantly regulate firearms dealers. Firearms dealers are required to post certain warnings regarding the safe storage of firearms.¹ See the Texas Child Access Prevention section.

A pawnbroker may not display a pistol for sale in a storefront window or sidewalk display case or depict in a sign or advertisement in such a way that the pistol, sign, or advertisement may be viewed from a street.²

For laws applicable to both licensed and private firearm sellers, please see the Texas Private Sales section.

Texas has no law requiring dealers to conduct a background check on prospective firearm purchasers, although the federal background check requirement applies.

See our Dealer Regulations policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Tex. Penal Code § 46.13(g). [↩]
2. Tex. Fin. Code § 371.179. [↩]