Federal law requires firearms dealers to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), although resource limitations prevent the ATF from properly overseeing all its licensees.
Texas does not require firearms dealers to obtain a license or otherwise significantly regulate firearms dealers, though its firearms dealers are required to post certain warnings regarding the safe storage of firearms.1 See the Texas Child Access Prevention section.
A pawnbroker may not display a pistol for sale in a storefront window or sidewalk display case or depict in a sign or advertisement in such a way that the pistol, sign, or advertisement may be viewed from a street.2
For laws applicable to both licensed and private firearm sellers, please see the Texas Universal Background Checks section.
Texas has no law requiring dealers to conduct a background check on prospective firearm purchasers, although the federal background check requirement applies.
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