Can a friend FFL mail a gun I own to me in a different state

[PMB]

A direct family member may ship them also. Father, mother, son, daughter.

Where did you get that information from?

Had a shotgun when I moved up here and was told to have my father just slap it in the mail via UPS by the FFLs I was going to deal with. After reading very carefully though the laws it seemed that way as well when it came to "transfers" in both states it was in.

Interstate transfer of a firearm without an FFL?

Where is the transfer?

I agree that the law is murky on this, or at least can be read in a few different ways. I'd assume common sense meaning and go from there. He owns it when it is here. He owns it when it is mailed. He receives it as the rightful owner.

[jdhbulseye]

Where is the transfer?

I agree that the law is murky on this, or at least can be read in a few different ways. I'd assume common sense meaning and go from there. He owns it when it is here. He owns it when it is mailed. He receives it as the rightful owner.

"ownership" and "control" or "possession" aren't always the same thing in legal definitions.

[PMB]

Where is the transfer?

I agree that the law is murky on this, or at least can be read in a few different ways. I'd assume common sense meaning and go from there. He owns it when it is here. He owns it when it is mailed. He receives it as the rightful owner.

"ownership" and "control" or "possession" aren't always the same thing in legal definitions.

Agreed. I will do as I wish within the bounds of my understanding. I am aware that much of law is not enforced by common sense, no matter how it was intended. So be it.

[jdhbulseye]

Caveat lector is all I'm saying.

[dreadi]

Perhaps I'm making up laws in my mind. I'll have to do some research because I can't recall any specific law about mailing firearms between unlicensed persons that would relate to this type of situation.

[MadPick]

You need to look at two aspects of this: State laws regarding transfers, and federal laws regarding interstate transfer of firearms.

[dreadi]

You need to look at two aspects of this: State laws regarding transfers, and federal laws regarding interstate transfer of firearms.

I agree. My thinking is that this is more of a federal issue.

[Hunter399]

This is no way advise.I don't know the laws.

If it we're me I would have somebody take your guns apart,stocks off of rifles,slides,ect.break down in two peices, then your sending gun parts instead of a whole gun.Put in package so you don't lose parts.UPS ,not usps and I bet no problem at all.

[jdhbulseye]

This is no way advise.I don't know the laws.

If it we're me I would have somebody take your guns apart,stocks off of rifles,slides,ect.break down in two peices, then your sending gun parts instead of a whole gun.Put in package so you don't lose parts.UPS ,not usps and I bet no problem at all.

The serial numbered part is still legally a firearm whether its assembled with the rest of the gun or not.

[deadshot2]

Just to toss another kink out there. Some states require that all firearms entering that state be "processed" by an FFL. Even if you own the weapon and are transporting it to your new residence from another state, the "transfer" (to yourself essentially) has to be done by an FFL in thestate of your new residence.

I believe CA has a law like that to make sure no firearms that are not on their "approved" list are brought into the state.

[Guntrader]

The CA 'Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale' is a nightmare.
Buddy in CA wanted to buy one of my Wilson Combat 1911's, but it was a no go because the exact model wasn't listed.
Most manufacturers only get a handful of models approved for sale in CA, not worth the hassle for temporary approval of everything they sell. Kahr has 40 allowed handguns, and that's not even everything they sell.

http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

Here is a list of handguns recently removed from the list because the manufacturer didn't recertify them: (61 pages!)
https://oag.ca.gov/sites/oag.ca.gov/fil ... emoved.pdf

I believe CA has a law like that to make sure no firearms that are not on their "approved" list are brought into the state.

[jdhbulseye]

Just to toss another kink out there. Some states require that all firearms entering that state be "processed" by an FFL. Even if you own the weapon and are transporting it to your new residence from another state, the "transfer" (to yourself essentially) has to be done by an FFL in the state of your new residence.

I believe CA has a law like that to make sure no firearms that are not on their "approved" list are brought into the state.

I'm fairly certain AZ does not have such a requirement. Either way any such requirement, in a sane world, would be a violation of a citizens Amendment 4 right against an unreasonable search of their effects. As well, in my mind, it constitutes an infringement on a citizens rights under the privileges and immunities clause, specifically the right of interstate travel understood to be part of said clause. But we all know we dont live in a sane world that respects peoples rights and property.

[Hunter399]

This is no way advise.I don't know the laws.

If it we're me I would have somebody take your guns apart,stocks off of rifles,slides,ect.break down in two peices, then your sending gun parts instead of a whole gun.Put in package so you don't lose parts.UPS ,not usps and I bet no problem at all.

The serial numbered part is still legally a firearm whether its assembled with the rest of the gun or not.

Ya I know.Reason for breaking down guns is so they fit in a small package .This is not advise ,this may, or may not be legal.Just was my 2 cents.

[Unicorn]

This got convoluted.

Let's start with federal law.
1. Your friend could send them to a dealer in AZ, where you'd have to do a background check to receive them.
2. You could send them to yourself. It's even ok to mail/ship them to the hotel you're staying at if hunting or competing... John Smith, C/O ABC Suites... "only to be opened by the adressee," and there is something similar about mailing to your own home. As long as you are the only one that opens the box. It's in a couple of news letters or open letters the ATF occasionally puts out to better explain the regulations when there are a lot of the same questions or mistakes.


Now add WA state law.
Option 1 is off the table since his taking possession of them is a transfer under state law.

This leaves you coming here and taking them back yourself or shipping them to yourself.

[deadshot2]

Just to toss another kink out there. Some states require that all firearms entering that state be "processed" by an FFL. Even if you own the weapon and are transporting it to your new residence from another state, the "transfer" (to yourself essentially) has to be done by an FFL in the state of your new residence.

I believe CA has a law like that to make sure no firearms that are not on their "approved" list are brought into the state.

I'm fairly certain AZ does not have such a requirement. Either way any such requirement, in a sane world, would be a violation of a citizens Amendment 4 right against an unreasonable search of their effects. As well, in my mind, it constitutes an infringement on a citizens rights under the privileges and immunities clause, specifically the right of interstate travel understood to be part of said clause. But we all know we dont live in a sane world that respects peoples rights and property.

The state I had in mind is California. If you move there, as I recall reading once, you can only bring into the state firearms on their approved list. A whole host of pistols and rifles are not on the CA DOJ list and IIRC one had to use an FFL to legally "import" even if they were their own firearms in another state.

The issue is in regards to changing permanent residence from a "Sane" state to California where sanity and reason no longer exists.