I’ve always been told they couldn’t and a background check only checks the person purchasing the gun and not the gun itself. I find used guns I want in classifieds and just want to make sure I am not buying a stolen weapon. I just spoke to an FFL/Class III dealer in my area that told me he can run serial numbers to check for stolen guns but two other gun dealers told me they can not. Who should I believe? According to one FFL I spoke to only the PSP can run serial numbers and they only do so if a gun is used in a crime. I even called my county sheriff to ask him if he could and he told me he won’t. I don’t understand why such information is so heavily guarded. Ohio and Florida have a stolen gun database anyone can access but Pa offers nothing. I don’t know if Ohio’s and Florida’s systems are tied into NCIC or not. They may only be records from within those states.