(1) One has to agree in principle with a gun dealer or an individual on the handgun that one wants to purchase.
(2) Go to the county sheriff’s office (or the County Police Headquarters in St. Louis County), and get the “Permit to Transfer” forms.
(3) Take the forms and yourself back to the seller.
(4) You fill out your half, the seller fills out his or hers, which includes serial number of the gun, make, model, caliber, etc., not to mention personal information about yourself and the seller.
(5) You take the paperwork back to the county sheriff’s office.
(6) Wait five business days, probably more in certain jurisdictions.
(7) Return to the sheriff’s office, and if you passed the background check, your permit will have been approved.
(8) Take the approved paperwork back to the dealer, and then you can legally take possession of the gun. You keep a copy, the dealer keeps a copy, and the sheriff’s office keeps a copy.