Gun Control Act 1968 (GCA)
Definition
US federal statute establishing the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) system for commercial sales, the Form 4473 record, and the prohibited-person categories under 18 USC section 922(g). The Brady Act 1993 added the NICS background-check requirement to the GCA framework.
- Jurisdiction
- United States, federal
- Established
- FFL system, Form 4473 record, prohibited-person categories
- Statutory basis
- 18 USC section 922(g)
- Later addition
- Brady Act 1993 added NICS background checks
Common questions
What does Form 4473 actually record, and why does it matter forensically?+
Form 4473 is completed at the point of sale by a licensed dealer, recording the buyer's identity and eligibility declarations along with the firearm's make, model, and serial number. It creates a traceable paper record that investigators use to link a recovered firearm to its original purchaser.
How did the Brady Act change what the GCA required at point of sale?+
The original 1968 GCA relied on the buyer's self-certification of eligibility with limited real-time verification. The Brady Act layered on the NICS background check, requiring licensed dealers to run an instant check against federal databases before completing most sales.
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