HOW TO PAWN YOUR FIREARM PROPERLY & SAFELY

Choose a Pawn Shop You Can Trust

Pawn shops have to follow strict regulations at both the local and federal levels. Pawnbrokers are required by federal law to have a special license to buy and sell firearms. Before taking in your firearm you want to pawn or sell, make sure the shop you go to accepts them!

Safety First

The most important rule of firearm sales is to make sure it’s unloaded. All guns should be unloaded with the chamber cleared before you bring it into your chosen pawn shop. If you have a gun case, secure it and carry the gun in the case. The pawnbroker will also verify that it is not loaded. This is for the protection of the shop and the people inside.

Always point the gun down and away from people. Loaded or not, guns should always be treated as if they have a bullet in the chamber. Keep your finger away from the trigger. It is best to treat a firearm like it is loaded and take safety precautions even when you know it is unloaded. Once the broker has verified the firearm is unloaded, they will place a safety zip strap through a part of the firearm to make sure it cannot be loaded as an extra safety precaution.

When you return to pick up your pawned firearm from a pawn shop, the pawnbroker is required by federal law to do a background check. This is the same background check that happens when you purchase a new firearm.

How to make the entire background check process easier:

Have the required forms of ID on your person. First, you will need to have a state-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or a state-issued non-driver’s identification. The state-issued photo ID is required to do both the pawn itself as well as the background check.

Make sure your current address is on the state-issued photo ID. If your current address is not on your photo ID, you will still need to have an official form of paperwork from a state-issued agency with your current address on it for pawn shops to process your background check. If your current address is not on your photo ID, you may also use a valid pistol permit, fishing license, or vehicle registration.

After the Background Check

Once the form is filled out, the background check is done through the FDLE. The FDLE will respond one of three ways: 1) proceed, 2) delayed, or 3) denied.

Proceed. you can walk out with your firearm right then and there, the same day.

Delayed. You have to wait to hear from them again before releasing the firearm to you. A delay status can happen if:

  • You have a very common name

  • You had a top-secret security clearance in the military at any point in time

  • Your social security number or name is close to that of a convicted felon

  • You have unpaid speeding or parking tickets

In this case, your pawn shop will have to wait for approval from the FDLE before releasing your firearm to you.

Denied. The firearm cannot be released to you. This happens if you have been convicted of a felony. A felony offense such as domestic violence, a dishonorable discharge from the military, being adjudicated as a mental defective by a court of law, or if you renounce your U.S. Citizenship, this can result in a denied response.

If you are denied, the pawnbroker can refund the money you paid to get your firearm out of pawn. You can also choose to complete an appeal form and contest the denial with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Need some quick cash? Remember the Alamo, on Transmitter Road! We provide quick confidential loans on firearms and just about anything of value.

Pawn loans are a quick and easy way to borrow money without a credit check or hassle. Loans are based on the value of your collateral, not your credit rating or pay schedule. A typical pawn loan has a term length of 30 days, plus a 30-day grace period. If you cannot pay back your pawn loan in full, including any applicable grace period, we offer extensions to give you extra time. You may also choose to surrender your collateral as payment in full.

If you would like to sell your firearm instead of receiving a pawn loan, we are always looking for new inventory! Remember when you sell your item to us, you may not pick it up later like a pawn loan.