Click here to see current summaries of all fifty states’ laws in this area.

The following material has been updated from our February 2008 edition of Regulating Guns in America – An Evaluation and Comparative Analysis of Federal, State and Selected Local Gun Laws.

Background

Gun shows are events dedicated to the display and sale of firearms and firearm-related accessories. Often held at public venues such as fairgrounds or civic centers, gun shows operate as temporary markets for the transfer of firearms. A 2007 report by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice found that the number of gun shows in the U.S. each year ranges from 2,000 to 5,200.¹ Gun shows typically attract several thousand people and a single gun show can have sales of over 1,000 firearms over the course of one weekend.²

A recent study compared gun shows in California, which has extensive regulation of gun shows and private firearm transfers, with gun shows in states with little regulation. The study found that, at gun shows in states with less regulation: straw purchases were more common, armed attendees selling guns were more common, and vendors were more likely to sell assault weapons and 50 caliber rifles.³

Summary of Federal Law

Federal law defines “gun show” as a “function sponsored by any national, State, or local organization, devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms, or an organization or association that sponsors functions devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms in the community.”⁴ A federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) may conduct business at a gun show or event located in the same state specified on the license.⁵ FFLs must conduct background checks on prospective purchasers and maintain sales records of transactions at gun shows.⁶

Persons who are not federally licensed firearms dealers are also permitted to transfer firearms at gun shows, however. Because unlicensed, private sellers are exempt from the federal background check requirement, this creates a loophole (the “private sale” loophole) that enables certain categories of persons prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms – such as felons, domestic violence perpetrators and mentally ill individuals – to obtain them. Likewise, private sellers at gun shows (and elsewhere) are not required to maintain records of sales.⁷

Gun shows are a popular venue for private sales. A1999 ATF study found that 25 to 50% of gun show vendors are unlicensed.⁸ Another ATF study⁹ reviewed over 1,500 ATF investigations and concluded that gun shows are a “major trafficking channel,” associated with approximately 26,000 firearms diverted from legal to illegal commerce. According to the study, gun shows rank second to corrupt dealers as a source for illegally trafficked firearms.¹⁰

ATF does not have a formal gun show enforcement program, and conducts investigations of gun shows only when it has law enforcement intelligence that illegal firearms activity is likely to occur.¹¹ From 2004 – 2006, ATF conducted 202 investigative operations at 195 guns shows, or roughly 3% of the gun shows held nationwide during this period. These operations resulted in 121 arrests and the seizure of 5,345 firearms.¹² Offenses included convicted felons buying guns, straw purchases, unlicensed individuals selling firearms as a business, FFLs failing to document transfers or conducting background checks on purchasers, and persons possessing prohibited firearms, including machine guns and sawed-off shotguns.¹³

SUMMARY OF STATE GUN SHOW REGULATION

(This summary was last updated August 13, 2012.)

Two states and the District of Columbia require universal background checks on all firearm purchases, including purchases at gun shows. Three other states require universal background checks on purchases of some firearms. Five states specifically require background checks on purchases of all firearms at gun shows. Nine states impose other regulations on gun shows.

Universal Background Check States

California¹⁴
Connecticut (handguns only)¹⁵
District of Columbia¹⁶
Maryland  (“regulated firearms” only)¹⁷
Pennsylvania (handguns only)¹⁸
Rhode Island¹⁹

Gun Show Background Check States

Colorado²⁰
Connecticut²¹
Illinois²²
New York²³
Oregon²⁴

Other State Regulation of Gun Shows

California²⁵
Colorado²⁶
Connecticut²⁷
Illinois²⁸
Maine²⁹
Maryland³⁰
New York³¹
Oregon³²
Virginia³³

Description of State Laws Regulating Gun Shows

1. Universal Background Checks for All Firearm Transfers: The most comprehensive approach to ensuring that sales are only made to eligible purchasers is through a requirement for universal background checks prior to all firearm transfers. California, Rhode Island³⁴ and the District of Columbia³⁵ require that, prior to any firearm transfer, any prospective firearm transferee undergo a background check. Maryland requires a background check on every prospective transferee of certain “regulated firearms” (defined as handguns and assault weapons). Connecticut requires a background check prior to any handgun transfer, and Pennsylvania requires that all handgun sales be completed by licensed dealers or through the county sheriff’s office (thereby necessitating a background check).

2. Background Checks at Gun Shows: Five states (Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York and Oregon) require unlicensed sellers to request a background check on a prospective firearms transferee prior to transferring a firearm at a gun show. In Colorado and New York, the sellers must make such requests through licensed dealers, who are required to process the transfer (although they may charge a fee). In Oregon, a seller may choose to conduct the background check through a licensed dealer for a fee or by contacting the State Police directly. Illinois requires unlicensed sellers at gun shows to contact the State Police directly to conduct a background check on the prospective transferee.  Connecticut requires unlicensed sellers at gun shows to contact the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for the background check.

3. Additional State Gun Show Regulations: Several states impose additional requirements on gun shows.

a. Safety and security requirements: In 1999, California enacted the nation’s broadest legislation to increase oversight at gun shows. California’s statute specifies that gun show promoters must obtain a certificate of eligibility from the state Department of Justice following a background check. Promoters are also required to: (1) prepare security plans for gun shows and notify state and local law enforcement of those plans; (2) certify that they will comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws; (3) obtain liability insurance in an amount not less than $1 million; (4) ensure that all firearms brought into the shows are cleared of ammunition and tagged for identification purposes; and (5) prohibit anyone under age 18 from entering unless accompanied by a parent, grandparent or legal guardian.

b. Licensing of gun show vendors: Maryland requires all vendors of handguns and assault weapons to possess a valid state dealer license or, alternatively, a temporary transfer permit (requiring a background check on the permittee) for persons displaying a handgun or assault weapon at five or fewer shows per year.

c. Recordkeeping requirements: Several states impose various types of recordkeeping requirements on gun show promoters and/or sellers.³⁶ Colorado, Illinois, New York and Oregon require that records be maintained of all firearm transactions that occurred at gun shows. New York requires that dealers retain records for 10 years; Oregon calls for records to be kept by the transferor for 5 years. In Illinois, the record of a firearm transfer at a gun show must include the unique identification number assigned to the transfer by the State Police. The record of the gun show transfer, like all firearm transfer records in Illinois, must be kept by the transferor for 10 years.

d. Notice to law enforcement:  Virginia requires “firearms show” promoters to give notice of each show to state and local police at least 30 days prior to the show. Promoters must maintain a list of all exhibitors for the duration of the show and transmit a copy of that list to law enforcement within five days of the show’s completion. Connecticut also requires gun show promoters to give local law enforcement at least 30 days’ notice of a gun show.

e. Signage requirements:  California provides an extensive list of warnings that must be posted in a readily visible location at each public entrance to a gun show.  Promoters must also post, in a readily visible location at each entrance to the parking lot of the gun show, a sign that states, “The transfer of firearms on the parking lot of this facility is a crime.” Maine requires the posting of a sign at all entrances of an organized gun show regarding child access to firearms.  Colorado, New York and Oregon require the posting of certain signs regarding their background check requirements.

EXEMPLARY LOCAL LAW

Omaha, Nebraska³⁷

In 1980, Omaha, Nebraska enacted an ordinance regulating “firearms exhibitions.” Under the ordinance, any person promoting or sponsoring a firearms exhibition must first obtain a local permit.  Applicants for such a permit must have a federal firearms dealer license.

A firearms exhibition promoter or sponsor must provide: (1) security personnel at all exhibition entrances, who must ensure that firearms brought into the exhibition are not loaded; (2) 24-hour security at the exhibition site; (3) written notice to all exhibitors stating that all laws and ordinances must be observed; and (4) the names and addresses of all exhibitors to the chief of police.  Exhibitors must record all firearms transferred or acquired, must retain these records for two years, and must make this information available to law enforcement.

Omaha also prohibits the exhibition or sale of ammunition “in an assembled state” at firearms exhibitions.  Firearms exhibitions in Omaha may not last more than three consecutive days.

FEATURES OF COMPREHENSIVE LAW REGULATING GUN SHOWS

The features listed below are intended to provide a framework from which policy options may be considered and debated. The Law Center has not attempted to include every provision or every creative approach identified in the analysis above, nor have we addressed appropriate exceptions so that the regulation does not produce unintended consequences. A jurisdiction considering modifying existing, or developing new legislation in this area should consult with counsel to ensure its legal sufficiency and compatibility with existing codes and statutes, as appropriate.

• For all firearm transfers, private sellers at gun shows are subject to similar requirements as licensed dealers, including background checks and recordkeeping requirements:
  •  The most comprehensive option requires all firearm transfers to be conducted through licensed dealers, so that background checks will be completed on all purchasers (including purchases from unlicensed sellers), and sales records will be maintained (California, District of Columbia)
  •  If the jurisdiction does not require that all firearm transfers be conducted through licensed dealers, private sellers at gun shows are required to:
    • conduct background checks through a central law enforcement agency (or licensed dealer) that has access to federal and state databases of prohibited purchasers (Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Oregon);
    • retain records of all firearm transfers for a lengthy period (Illinois and New York require records to be retained for 10 years); and
    • report all such transfers to state and local law enforcement
  • If gun show vendors are not licensed dealers, they are required to obtain a permit, including a background check, to sell any weapons (Maryland requires a permit but only for vendors of handguns and assault weapons)
  • Gun show promoters are required to obtain a permit (California, Omaha) after undergoing a background check (California), and/or be a licensed dealer (Omaha)
  • Safety and security requirements are imposed on the promoter, requiring, for example, that:
    • A list of exhibitors is maintained and provided to law enforcement (Virginia, Omaha)
    • There is a security plan and state and local law enforcement are notified of the plan (California)
    • All firearms brought into the shows are cleared of ammunition (California, Omaha) and tagged for identification purposes (California)
    • Entry into gun shows by minors is restricted (California)
    • The promoter has a specified minimum level of liability insurance (California)
    • There are trained law enforcement personnel on site

1. Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Investigative Operations at Gun Shows i (June 2007). [↩]
2. Id. at 6; U.S. Department of Justice & Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Gun Shows: Brady Checks and Crime Gun Traces 4-7 (Jan. 1999). [↩]
3. Garen J. Wintemute, Gun Shows Across a Multistate American Gun Market: Observational Evidence of the Effects of Regulatory Policies, 13 Inj. Prevention 150, 154-55 (2007). [↩]
4. 27 C.F.R. § 478.100(b). [↩]
5. 27 C.F.R. § 478.100(a)(1). [↩]
6. 27 C.F.R. § 478.100(c). [↩]
7. Additional information on the “private sale” loophole is contained in our Private Sales policy summary. [↩]
8. Gun Shows: Brady Checks and Crime Gun Traces, supra note 2, at 4. [↩]
9. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Following the Gun: Enforcing Federal Laws Against Firearms Traffickers xi, 1, 12 (June 2000). [↩]
10. Id. at 12. [↩]
11. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Investigative Operations at Gun Shows, supra note 1, at iii. [↩]
12. Id. at iv-v. [↩]
13. Id. at v. [↩]
14. Cal. Penal Code §§ 27545, 27850-28070. [↩]
15. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-33(c). [↩]
16. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02. [↩]
17. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-101(r), 5-124. In Maryland, “regulated firearms” are defined to include handguns and assault weapons. [↩]
18. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6111(b), (c), (f)(2). [↩]
19. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-35 – 11-47-35.2. [↩]
20. Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 12-26.1-101 – 12-26.1-108. [↩]
21. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-37g, 29-36l. [↩]
22. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/3, 65/3.1. [↩]
23. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §§ 895 – 897; N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00. [↩]
24. Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 166.432 – 166.441. [↩]
25. Cal. Penal Code §§ 16800, 26805, 27200-27245, 27300-27415. [↩]
26. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-26.1-102. [↩]
27. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-33, 29-37g. [↩]
28. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/3. [↩]
29. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 15, § 455-A(1-A). [↩]
30. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-106, 5-130. [↩]
31. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §§ 895 – 897. [↩]
32. Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 166.432 – 166.441. [↩]
33. Va. Code Ann. §§ 54.1-4200, 54.1-4201.1. [↩]
34. In Rhode Island, the background check requirement does not apply to persons licensed to carry a concealed handgun. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-35.1, 11-47-35.2. [↩]
35. The District of Columbia generally prohibits firearm sales unless either the seller or the purchaser is a licensed dealer.  Federal law requires licensed dealers to perform a background check on each purchaser of a firearm. [↩]
36. Federal law requires licensed dealers to maintain firearm sales records indefinitely. 18 U.S.C. § 923(g)(1)(A). [↩]
37. Omaha Municipal Code §§ 19-383 – 19-392.2. [↩]