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December 26, 2010
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Are there any established protocols when buying a gun from an individual in another state? Â I'm aware that he will have to ship it to a FFL in my state. Â I'm really more concerned that he ships it at all. Â Thanks.
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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First you have to ensure your FFL will accept a gun from a private seller; if he will, all you need is tracking info from the seller.
I've never had a problem, but if I do, the BATF will be my first phone call--I'm sure there is some law about NOT shipping a firearm after the sale.
SHOOT
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Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Be sure to pay with Postal money order with delivery conformation and signiture required.
January 8, 2011
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DWA_Midwest said:
Be sure to pay with Postal money order with delivery conformation and signiture required.
And that cost me an additional $6.75 and it's worth it on a $500 purchase. Not sure if amount of M.O. varies the cost of the M.O.
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Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Hossman said:
DWA_Midwest said:
Be sure to pay with Postal money order with delivery conformation and signiture required.
And that cost me an additional $6.75 and it's worth it on a $500 purchase. Not sure if amount of M.O. varies the cost of the M.O.
At least some protection and proof!  I have even overnighted moneys as to show good faith. Â
January 4, 2011
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I once had seller through GunBroker that would not ship the gun I purchased from him. I called the BATF and was told he had not violated any specific gun law, but by cashing the USPS MO, they were certain he had violated at least a couple of other laws.
I called the North Dakota State Police and was told once I had proof the MO had been cashed by him, he could be charged with grand theft. I also called the Postal Inspection Service and was told if he cashed the MO and did not ship the product (they didn't care that it was a gun), he could be charged with using the US mail to commit a felony.
When I conveyed this information to the seller, he was more than anxious to ship my gun.
Also, if you ship the gun yourself, you CAN NOT send a pistol USPS; a rifle they will accept. You also need to send a copy of you driver's license or state issued photo ID.
DWA_Midwest, the cost of MO's is the same all the way to $1K, but that is the highest increment in which they are issued. If you want more than $3K, however, you have to fill out a Postal form declaring what you are using the money for.
January 22, 2008
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Good information!
Â
Keep in mind that cashiers checks from a bank can be canceled and your money refunded. Â A US Postal MO is the only form of payment that I know of (besides cash) that cannot be canceled or refunded.
Â
-Wayne
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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FloridaDWCollector said:
You also need to send a copy of you driver's license or state issued photo ID.
I've bought five (if I recall) guns from private individuals out of state & have only had one guy send a copy of his driver's lisence. My FFL wasn't too worried about it, as long as I had the guy's name & address.
Beats me, maybe that's another reason to be glad I live in a (mostly) pro-gun state?
January 4, 2011
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From the ATF web site:
Federal law requires that we obtain a government-issued photo ID, Driverâs License, or an identification card issued by a State in place of a license. These forms of identification must show photograph, address, date of birth, and signature. If the buyer is a member of the Armed Forces on Active Duty acquiring a firearm in the State where his or her permanent duty station is located, but he or she has a driverâs license from another state, you should list the buyerâs military identification card and official orders showing where his or her permanent duty station is located.
Wayne, it's a little hard to cancel the cashiers check if it has been cashed. I don't think the bank backs the check if it has been processed. I would think your only recourse would be to file charges with the police. If the seller is in another state, it would have to be done long distance. I think I would just as soon let the Postal Inspectors kick down the sellers door. They have far more latitude than the police - like, they don't need a warrant or probable cause.
December 26, 2010
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Thank you all for the help. Â The LGS said they want a copy of the seller's drivers license before they will receive a gun. Â
Â
Wayne, you make a good point about the USPS MO. Â I didn't know that. Â A long time ago I had a cashiers check I didn't use (car purchase fell through). Â My bank deposited the funds back into my account once I endorsed their cashiers check "Not used for intended purpose", signed my name and gave it back to them.
Â
Geez, I just remembered I work for a law firm and some of the owners are shooters. Â I should ask them. Â I'll firm up details with my boss and the LGS. Â
Â
I feel a DW in my near future.
December 26, 2010
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Totally off topic.
The cashiers check reminded me of an experience when I helped one of my son's buy a car. Â We showed up with a cashiers check. Â I quickly realized that the seller worked for a dealership and had bought the car from them to resell it at a profit. Â His wife was skeptical of his buy and resell scheme. Â We reached a deal, got the title and gave him the cashiers check. Â He didn't know what it was and was very skeptical of it. Â His wife knew exactly what it was, was now very happy and was getting very affectionate. Â I grabbed my son and got out of there, the seller skeptical, his wife pawing him and my then 18 year old wondering what was happening. Â I explained the guy was flipping the car to make a profit, the wife had been skeptical and was now very happy and the seller didn't know what a cashiers check and thus didn't realize his wife was about to make him very happy. Â She was a hottie too. Â
February 11, 2010
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         Â
Â
I know that look, my wife gets it when I sell a gun, she see's dinner out and
a mall shopping trip  I'm way ahead when I make a trade instead of sale.
Â
-Blacktop
January 6, 2011
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"And that cost me an additional $6.75 and it's worth it on a $500 purchase. Not sure if amount of M.O. varies the cost of the M.O."
Many banks issue money orders or cashiers checks (functionally the same) at no cost to customers. Â
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I've bought many things this way, a few revolvers, lots of ammo, and not one problem. Â If you buy from some one on a site like GunBroker, make sure they have good feedback and that you know their physical address (i.e., I won't send the money order to a PO Box). Â Delivery confirmation is a good idea but them simply cashing the check is really proof enough. Â For a gun purchase a good idea, if you have any doubts (say, the seller is from a forum with no ranking or is new to GunBroker and has no feedback), is to have them ship from an FFL and send the check to that FFL. Â Then the BATF really will intervene if the FFL doesn't deliver. Â This will however cost the seller some more money (maybe $25). Â
Â
357 Maxi, 375 SM, 445 SM (blue & SS), 44Rhino & .357 Mags V15 & W12, .460 Rowland, pre-CZ Pointman 1911 .45acp, modern Guardians in 9mm & .45acp, Pointman 9mm and Razorback 10mm. Â Always on the lookout for something new! Â
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