Do I need to use an FFL to transfer a firearm?
In the state of Pennsylvania (per the Pennsylvania State Police) if you are transferring a firearm, either a long gun or a handgun to a family member (Husband/Wife, Parent/Child, Grandparent/Grandchild) and the recipient lives in Pennsylvania you don’t need to use an FFL. (Unfortunately, the exception doesn’t include siblings) Person to person transfers of long guns were the recipient lives in Pennsylvania you don’t need to use an FFL.
| Long Gun | Handgun | |
| Dealer to person | Yes | Yes |
| Person to PA resident | No* | Yes |
| Person to family member | No* | No* |
| Repair of firearm | No | No |
| Replacement of firearm | Yes | Yes |
*Recipient must not be a prohibited person.
This doesn’t include NFA (National Firearms Act) firearms. NFA items include SBRs (Short Barrel Rifles), SBS (Short Barrel Shotguns), Silencers, or Machineguns. All NFA items need to go through an FFL.
Note: A license to carry a firearm is not an exemption to the background checks in Pennsylvania.
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6111, et seq:
