Idaho Gun Laws & Firearms Safety Practice Exam

In Idaho, who is responsible for ensuring that a person is legally eligible to purchase or possess firearms before selling them a gun?

1. The individual purchaser

2. The Idaho State Police

3. The Federal Bureau of Investigation

4. The licensed firearms dealer

The correct answer is: The licensed firearms dealer

In Idaho, licensed firearms dealers have a legal obligation to ensure that a person is legally eligible to purchase or possess firearms before completing a sale. This includes conducting background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to verify that the purchaser does not have any disqualifying factors, such as felony convictions, domestic violence restraining orders, or other legal disabilities that would prohibit them from owning a firearm. The responsibility falls on the dealer specifically because they are regulated by both state and federal laws, which mandate these background checks as part of the sales process. This regulation aims to prevent firearms from ending up in the hands of individuals who may pose a risk to public safety. Other parties, such as the individual purchaser or entities like the Idaho State Police and the FBI, play roles in the background checking system, but the direct responsibility for ensuring eligibility during a transaction lies with the licensed firearms dealer.