Buying your first firearm should be fun and exciting, not nerve racking. It also should not be way out of your budget. The good news is that you can purchase firearms from places other than directly from the gun maker. Believe it or not, you can buy rifles, shotguns and handguns from pawn shops in Olathe, KS, as long as they follow state and federal regulations on gun sales.
Here are some things to keep in mind before walking into a pawn shop to purchase your first gun.
Get familiar with gun sale laws
It’s important that you know your state’s laws pertaining to gun sales before buying a gun from a pawn shop. For one, pawn shops need to have the proper license and firearms knowledge to legally sell guns. States enforce regulations or restrictions on private gun sales, such as waiting periods and keeping detailed maintenance and sales records, but most states don’t require a background check when the seller is not a licensed firearms dealer.
Research prices
Whether or not you have a vast knowledge of guns, scanning through current gun price listings will give you an idea of fair pricing. The pawn shop will have their firearms priced to make a little profit, but not so grossly overpriced that no one can afford to buy guns from them. Ultimately, how much you should pay comes down to how much the gun is worth to you.
You get what you pay for
A low-priced gun is probably cheap for a reason. For instance, it may shoot poorly or lack the reliability of a better model. A legitimate pawn shop that deals in firearms won’t sell top-quality, good-condition guns for cheap—they know what they have, and will price it accordingly.
Ask about the shop’s return or refund policy
There is always some risk associated with pawn shop gun purchases, namely ending up with a lemon. The risks are exacerbated by the fact that many pawn shops don’t offer warranties on the used guns they sell. With this in mind, before buying any gun from a pawn shop, be sure to inspect it and inquire about the shop’s return or refund policy.
Know how to examine the gun
When examining a firearm at a pawn shop, be aware of the rules of the shop, ask questions and look at all components for any damage. Abide by safe gun handling techniques—take a beginner’s course on safe firearm handling prior to buying your first gun. Always verify that the gun is not loaded, keep the muzzle pointed away from people and leave your finger off the trigger. If you want to test it or break it down for inspection, ask permission first.
At Harrison Street Pawn, we sell a variety of items—not just new and used handguns in Olathe, KS. If you’re in the market for a gun, need ammunition or would like to have your gun cleaned or repaired, our firearms experts are ready to help. Call us or visit our shop today!