Civilians Buying Law Enforcement Guns: Is It Possible?

In the US, law enforcement officers are not required to complete a background check when purchasing firearms for official use. However, they must provide a certification on agency letterhead that they will use the firearm in official duties and that they have no convictions for misdemeanour crimes of domestic violence. Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person can buy in a given time period, but federal firearm licensees must report multiple sales of handguns to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other law enforcement agencies.

Law enforcement officers can buy guns from licensees in any state without a background check

In the US, law enforcement officers can buy guns from licensees in any state without a background check, as long as they are purchasing firearms for official use. To do so, they must provide the licensee with a certification on agency letterhead that the officer will use the firearm in official duties and that a records check reveals the purchasing officer has no convictions for misdemeanour crimes of domestic violence. This certification must be signed by a person in authority within the agency, such as the director of public safety or the chief or commissioner of police. The disposition of a firearm to an officer must be entered into the licensee’s acquisition and disposition record, and the certification letter used to purchase the firearm must be retained in the licensee’s files.

Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person may buy in any given time period. However, federal law does require federal firearm licensees to report multiple sales of handguns to ATF and other specified law enforcement agencies. This reporting requirement was created to enable law enforcement to monitor and deter illegal interstate commerce in pistols and revolvers by unlicensed persons.

Officers must provide certification on agency letterhead that the gun will be used for official duties

In the US, law enforcement officers purchasing firearms for official use must provide a licensee with a certification on agency letterhead that the officer will use the firearm in official duties. This letter must be signed by a person in authority within the agency (other than the officer purchasing the firearm) and must state that a records check reveals that the purchasing officer has no convictions for misdemeanour crimes of domestic violence.

The following individuals are considered to have sufficient authority to certify that law enforcement officers purchasing firearms will use the firearms in the performance of official duties: in a city or county police department, the director of public safety or the chief or commissioner of police.

Officers purchasing a firearm for official duties may purchase the firearm from a licensee in any state, regardless of where the officer resides or the agency is located. Disposition of a firearm to an officer must be entered into the licensee’s acquisition and disposition record, and the certification letter used to purchase the firearm must be retained in the licensee’s files.

In California, sworn members of federal law enforcement agencies, the military or naval forces of the state or of the US, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Division of Investigation of the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance are permitted to purchase non-roster handguns for personal use.

Officers must have no convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence

In the US, law enforcement officers purchasing firearms for official use are not required to complete an ATF Form 4473 or undergo a background check, as long as they provide a licensee with a certification on agency letterhead that they will use the firearm in official duties and that a records check reveals they have no convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. This certification must be signed by a person in authority within the agency, other than the officer purchasing the firearm. The officer purchasing the firearm may purchase it from a licensee in any state, regardless of where they reside or where the agency is located.

The following individuals are considered to have sufficient authority to certify that law enforcement officers purchasing firearms will use them in the performance of official duties: the director of public safety, the chief or commissioner of police, or a person in authority within the agency.

Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person may buy in any given time period. However, federal law does require federal firearm licensees to report multiple sales of handguns to the ATF and other specified law enforcement agencies. This reporting requirement was created to enable law enforcement to monitor and deter illegal interstate commerce in pistols and revolvers by unlicensed persons. From 2016 to 2020, over 5.5 million pistols and revolvers were reported in Multiple Sales Reports.

In California, sworn members of federal law enforcement agencies, the military or naval forces of the state or of the United States, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Division of Investigation of the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance are permitted to purchase non-roster handguns for personal use. They may also generally sell or transfer the non-roster handgun to any firearm-eligible purchaser at a licensed firearm dealer.

Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person can buy in a given time period

Law enforcement officers purchasing firearms for official use are not required to complete an ATF Form 4473 or undergo a background check. They must, however, provide the licensee with a certification on agency letterhead, signed by a person in authority within the agency (other than the officer purchasing the firearm), stating that the officer will use the firearm in official duties and that a records check reveals that the purchasing officer has no convictions for misdemeanour crimes of domestic violence. The law enforcement officer purchasing the firearm may purchase a firearm from a licensee in another state, regardless of where the officer resides or where the agency is located.

In a city or county police department, the director of public safety or the chief or commissioner of police is considered to have sufficient authority to certify that law enforcement officers purchasing firearms will use the firearms in the performance of official duties.

In addition, sworn members of federal law enforcement agencies and the military or naval forces of the United States may purchase non-roster handguns for personal use and may generally sell or transfer the non-roster handgun to any firearm-eligible purchaser at a licensed firearm dealer.

Federal law requires federal firearm licensees to report multiple sales of handguns to law enforcement

Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person may buy in any given time period. However, federal law does require federal firearm licensees to report multiple sales of handguns to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other specified law enforcement agencies. This reporting requirement was created to enable law enforcement to monitor and deter illegal interstate commerce in pistols and revolvers by unlicensed persons. From 2016 to 2020, over 5.5 million pistols and revolvers were reported in Multiple Sales Reports.

Licensees must report the sale or other disposition of two or more handguns if they occur at the same time or within five consecutive business days of each other. They must fill out three copies of ATF Form 3310.4, Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers.

Law enforcement officers purchasing firearms for official use are not required to complete an ATF Form 4473 or undergo a background check. They must, however, provide the licensee with a certification on agency letterhead, signed by a person in authority within the agency (other than the officer purchasing the firearm), stating that the officer will use the firearm in official duties and that a records check reveals that the purchasing officer has no convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.

In a city or county police department, the director of public safety or the chief or commissioner of police is considered to have sufficient authority to certify that law enforcement officers purchasing firearms will use them in the performance of official duties.

Frequently asked questions