Holiday Hiring Just Got Easier
New Firearm Handler Checks Add Confidence for Dealers
As dealers gear up for the holiday buying season, staffing up is often necessary to handle increased foot traffic, firearm transfers and year-end sales promotions. Beginning later this year, a long-awaited tool will give Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) greater confidence when bringing new employees on board.
A New Layer of Protection for Dealers
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announced the publication of the Firearm Handler Check (FHC) Final Rule in the Federal Register, marking the culmination of a years-long effort to strengthen safety and security for firearm retailers.
The new rule allows all FFLs to run background check verifications on current and prospective employees through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Until now, NICS was primarily used to conduct background checks on firearm purchasers.
For dealers preparing to add seasonal staff, the change provides an important safeguard. Employers can now verify that job applicants who may have access to firearm inventory are not prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
Timing Matters for Holiday Staffing
The Final Rule becomes effective 30 days after its publication on Oct. 27, 2026. That means many retailers planning late-fall and holiday hiring initiatives will soon have access to the new screening capability.
For stores that traditionally add counter staff, warehouse personnel or inventory handlers during the busy shopping season, the new process offers another layer of due diligence when evaluating candidates.
An Industry Priority Becomes Reality
According to NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane, the rule represents a significant victory for both industry members and public safety.
“The publication of the Firearm Handler Check Final Rule is a tremendous victory for the firearm industry and greatly improves the ability of firearm industry members to keep their businesses and their communities safer by ensuring that FFLs do not hire prohibited persons from working on their premises,” said Keane.
He added that firearm retailers have long sought a way to verify whether employees who may have access to firearms are legally permitted to possess them, helping reduce risk for both businesses and the communities they serve.
Years in the Making
NSSF successfully advocated for inclusion of the Firearm Handler Check provision in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), signed into law in 2022. Since then, the association has worked closely with policymakers and the U.S. Department of Justice to move the rulemaking process forward.
The BSCA also included another dealer-focused provision championed by NSSF, allowing licensed firearm businesses to check firearm serial numbers against databases of reported stolen firearms.
What Dealers Should Do Now
As holiday hiring ramps up, dealers should familiarize themselves with the new rule and prepare to incorporate Firearm Handler Checks into their onboarding procedures once the rule takes effect.
For retailers managing increased inventory levels and larger staffs during the busiest sales period of the year, the ability to verify employee eligibility through NICS offers an added measure of security and peace of mind.
Dealers can review the published rule in the Federal Register here: Firearm Handler Check Final Rule.
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