Under current law, it is a felony for a federally licensed firearms dealer or for any other person to directly transfer a handgun to any person who resides in a different state than the transferor. The Brady Law includes several important exceptions to the background check requirement. This exemption is based on the theory that since a background check is performed at the time the license to possess or carry is issued, it is not necessary to conduct any further checks for the duration of the license. Under the Brady Law, state possession or carry licenses may exempt their holders from the NICS background investigation for a period of up to five years. Finally, if one customer buys two or more handguns at one time or during five consecutive business days from the same dealer, that dealer is required to submit a multiple sales report form to ATF and to a designated local law enforcement agency.
Some states impose additional recordkeeping requirements.
This ban was put in place in 1986 as part of the National Rifle Association-backed Firearms Owners' Protection Act. Since then, defense of the computerization ban has remained one of the NRA's highest priorities. There are exceptions to these rules for bequests and loans. Federally licensed dealers may transfer handguns across state lines to other federally licensed dealers. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.