Multiple Firearms Purchases

When it comes to buying multiple pistols at one time, it is a good to understand the regulations. This DOES NOT apply to multiple rifle purchases, only pistols. Below are the guidelines to help you understand what your FFL will need to do when you buy more than one pistol within a five-business day period. 

Reporting Multiple Firearms Sales

The Gun Control Act of 1968 requires Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) to send a report to ATF when there is a sale of multiple firearms to the same purchaser within a certain time period.

ATF uses the information gathered from multiple sales transactions to investigate possible firearms trafficking cases. If one or more firearms recovered from a crime are part of a multiple purchase, this could be an indicator of potential firearms trafficking. Crime guns recovered shortly after a multiple sale is known as a short time-to-crime ratio.

Sales of Handguns

Licensees must report the sale of two or more handguns if they occur at the same time or within five consecutive business days of each other.