If you’re buying a gun in Broward County, the process is straightforward — but only if you know what to expect. Florida has specific ID requirements, a mandatory waiting period, and a background check for every firearm purchase. At Advantage Pawn & Gun in West Park, we’ve walked thousands of Broward County residents through their first — and fiftieth — firearm purchase. The Florida background check (FDLE) is run through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Florida Instant Check System (FICS) — typically returned in minutes.

Looking to buy a firearm in Broward County without driving to Miami or Palm Beach? Advantage Pawn & Loan in West Park is a fully FFL-licensed dealer right on State Road 7 — serving Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and all of Broward County for over 30 years. Whether you want to purchase from our in-store inventory or transfer a firearm you bought online, our team walks you through every step. Visit our location page for directions, or keep reading for the complete West Park FFL process.

Two Ways to Buy a Firearm in Broward County

In-Store at a West Park Gun Shop

Walk into our West Park pawn & gun shop, browse our inventory of handguns, rifles, and shotguns, pick the one you want, complete the federally required paperwork, pass the background check, wait the mandatory waiting period, and pick up your firearm. Simple, straightforward, and we walk you through every step.

Online Purchase → Ship to FFL (the “Transfer” Process)

Buy a firearm from any online retailer — GunBroker, Palmetto State Armory, Bud’s Gun Shop, or any other dealer — and have it shipped directly to our FFL (Federal Firearms License). We handle the legal transfer: paperwork, background check, waiting period, and handoff. You never have to leave Broward County.

Many Broward buyers — from Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Pembroke Park, Hallandale Beach, and Fort Lauderdale — end up driving south into Miami-Dade for an FFL because they don’t realize there’s a family-owned, FFL-licensed pawn & gun shop right on State Road 7 in West Park. You don’t have to drive to Miami.

Florida + Broward Requirements at a Glance

Minimum age — 21 years old for all firearm purchases in Florida (both handguns and long guns under current state law)
Residency — Florida residents can purchase handguns and long guns; non-residents can purchase long guns only (federal law)
Waiting period — Florida imposes a mandatory 5-day (excluding weekends and holidays) waiting period between purchase and delivery. Broward County enforces this strictly.
CCW exemption — Holders of a valid Florida Concealed Weapon License (CWL) are exempt from the waiting period
Prohibited persons — Federal law (18 USC § 922) prohibits certain persons from possessing firearms, including convicted felons, domestic violence offenders, persons under certain court orders, and others. These are covered on the ATF Form 4473.

Note: Florida firearm laws (Chapter 790) are subject to legislative changes. We verify current requirements at the time of every transaction.

Before You Start: Documents You’ll Need

Valid Florida driver’s license or state ID with your current address
Secondary ID (if your primary ID has a recent address change or doesn’t match your current address)
Florida Concealed Weapon License (if you have one — exempts you from the waiting period)
Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement) if your ID address is outdated

Step-by-Step: FFL Transfer at Advantage Pawn West Park

Step 1 — Buy Online and Provide Our FFL Info

Purchase your firearm from any online retailer. During checkout, you’ll need to provide our FFL information (name, address, license number, and contact). Call us at (954) 981-0551 before you ship so we can send our FFL details directly to the seller and confirm the transfer fee.

Step 2 — Seller Ships the Firearm to Us

The online seller ships the firearm to our West Park location via FedEx or UPS (only FFLs can receive firearms by mail). Typical shipping time is 3–5 business days.

Step 3 — We Contact You When It Arrives

Once we receive and log the firearm, we’ll call or text you to schedule your pickup.

Step 4 — Complete ATF Form 4473 and Background Check

Come into the store with your ID. You’ll fill out ATF Form 4473 (we’ll help you with every line — hablamos español if Spanish is easier). We then submit the FDLE background check electronically.

Step 5 — Wait the Required Waiting Period

Florida law requires a 5-day waiting period (excluding weekends and legal holidays) between the purchase date and firearm delivery. If you hold a valid Florida Concealed Weapon License (CWL), you may be exempt from this waiting period.

Step 6 — Pick Up Your Firearm

Once the waiting period has passed and your background check is clear, come back to the store with your ID and take your firearm home. That’s it.

Step-by-Step: In-Store Purchase at Our West Park Counter

The process is the same as a transfer, minus the shipping:

Browse our inventory and pick your firearm
Complete ATF Form 4473
We run the FDLE background check
Wait the mandatory waiting period (CWL holders may be exempt)
Return to pick up your firearm after the waiting period

We keep a rotating inventory of handguns, AR-15 platform rifles, shotguns, and more. Ask what’s in stock — inventory moves fast.

The ATF Form 4473 — What You’ll Fill Out

The Firearms Transaction Record (Form 4473) is a federal form required for every firearm purchase from a licensed dealer. It asks for:

Your full legal name, address, and date of birth
Your residency status (state and country)
A series of “yes/no” questions about prohibited-person categories (felony convictions, domestic violence, drug use, mental health adjudications, etc.)
Your government-issued photo ID information

Don’t let the form intimidate you. It’s two pages, mostly straightforward, and we help every buyer fill it out correctly. First-time buyer? No judgment — everyone starts somewhere. Hablamos español — we can explain every question in Spanish.

The FDLE Background Check

After you complete the 4473, we submit your information to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Firearm Purchase Program. The check typically comes back in minutes, but can sometimes return a “delayed” status, which means FDLE needs additional time (up to 3 business days) to process.

There is a small FDLE processing fee (currently $5 for the background check). This is a state-mandated fee, not a store markup.

If your check is delayed, don’t panic — it’s common and usually resolves within 24–48 hours. We’ll contact you as soon as we get the result.

Transfer Fees at Advantage Pawn West Park

Our FFL transfer fee covers the paperwork, logging, storage, and FDLE background check submission. Contact us at (954) 981-0551 for current transfer pricing — we offer competitive rates and lower fees for multiple firearms in the same transfer.

Selling, Trading, or Pawning a Firearm

We don’t just sell — we also buy and loan against firearms. If you have a firearm you’d like to sell outright, trade toward a different model, or use as collateral for a pawn loan, bring it in (unloaded, in a case). All transactions comply with Florida law and FDLE requirements.

Learn more about our full firearms and ammunition inventory and services.

Ammo and Accessories — What We Keep in Stock

We maintain a deep inventory of popular calibers:

Handgun: 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .357 Magnum, .38 Special
Rifle: .223 Remington, 5.56 NATO, .308 Winchester, 7.62×39, .22 LR
Shotgun: 12-gauge (buck, bird, slug), 20-gauge

We also carry holsters, cleaning kits, gun cases, eye and ear protection, and select optics. Stock rotates — call ahead if you need a specific caliber or accessory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my CWL to skip the waiting period?

A valid Florida Concealed Weapon License (CWL) exempts you from the state-mandated waiting period. Bring your CWL along with your government-issued photo ID.

Can I transfer a firearm to my spouse?

Private transfers between spouses (both Florida residents, both legally eligible) do not require going through an FFL under Florida law. However, if you prefer to have it documented, we can facilitate the transfer.

What if my background check is delayed?

A “delayed” result means FDLE needs more time. This typically resolves within 1–3 business days. We’ll call you as soon as we have a result. This is normal and doesn’t mean there’s a problem.

Can a non-resident buy a long gun in Florida?

Yes. Federal law allows non-residents to purchase long guns (rifles and shotguns) in any state, provided the sale complies with both states’ laws. You’ll need a valid government-issued photo ID from your home state.

¿Hablan español?

Sí. Hablamos español. Podemos explicar todo el proceso del formulario 4473 y la verificación de antecedentes en español. Pase sin cita.

How long can you hold my transfer if I’m out of town?

We hold transferred firearms for a reasonable period (typically 30 days). If you need extended storage, just let us know — we’ll work with you.

Visit the West Park Gun Shop Today

Whether you’re a first-time buyer who wants someone to walk you through the 4473 line by line, or an experienced owner doing your tenth online transfer, we’re here to make it simple. 30+ years. Three generations. Family-owned. Hablamos español.

Advantage Pawn & Gun — West Park
2031 S State Rd 7, Suite A&B, West Park, FL 33023
(954) 981-0551

Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9 AM–7 PM | Wed 9 AM–6 PM | Sat 9 AM–5 PM | Sun Closed

Bring your ID and we’ll handle the rest. Call before you ship a transfer so we can give you our FFL info and confirm the fee.

We serve West Park, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Pembroke Park, Hallandale Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.

Buying a Firearm in Broward County: The West Park FFL Process Explained