Yes. A licensed pawnbroker may conduct a NICS background check on a person at the time the person offers to pawn a firearm. If NICS advises the pawnbroker that receipt or possession of the firearm by the person attempting to pawn the firearm would violate the law, the pawnbroker must advise local law enforcement within 48 hours after receipt of the information.

A pawnbroker who contacts NICS about a person prior to accepting the person’s firearm in pawn must still conduct a NICS background check at the time of redemption.

[Public Law 105–277, enacted on October 21, 1998]