Do they do background checks at gun shows or have waiting periods?

Depends on the show. The 2nd Ammendment guarantees your right to private sale of firearms - this is the so called 'Gun Show Loop Hole' you hear the press rag about. If the person selling the firearm is a FFL dealer - yes - he is required to do the NCIS background check. If the person is someone who just paid $60 for the table for two days and is selling off excess stuff - no - they do not have to.

Sounds like the antis are trolling for dirt again. Why don't you go to a gun show and look for yourself?

CA requires all sales, public and private to go through a FFL dealer. So - at a show, the licensed dealers sell just as if they were in their own shop, and any weapons sold via private deals must also undergo the NICS check. In PA there is no waiting period, but a NICS check requirement for handguns.

Gun shows are primarily comprised of dealers who would use the NICS system regardless. So backround checks will be ran.

Some gun shows allow private individuals to sell their private guns. If so, there is no law regulating these sales. I watched my sil and a friend of his both buy a gun from booths right next to each other. My sil payed the guy, filled out paper work, waited about 10 minutes and got his gun. His friend payed the guy and picked up the gun right away- no paperwork -no nothing. Both were pistols. If the person you buy a gun from has a FFL- the law requires you to do paper work and get a background check. If the person you buy a gun from does not have a FFL you are free to do as you wish. Edit: I should have read the other posts....didn't see GW's post.

Each State sets its own Gun Laws, so you should check with Law Enforcement in that State if you have questions about their Gun Laws.

From my experience, yes they do background checks at gun shows. I dont know about waiting periods, but i live in TX.

There is no gun show loophole in federal law and most state laws. It depends upon who is selling a firearm. In most states there is no requirement or possibility of a seller that is not a dealer doing a background check on the purchaser. According to federal law, a dealer must do a background check to sell a firearm to an individual whether they make the transfer in their store, at a gun show, or in a church parking lot.

BATF laws apply regardless of where the firearms are being sold by a dealer possessing an FFL--whether in his place of business or out of the back of a station wagon in another state (assuming he or she is following the protocol of the law).