Originally Posted by cyphertext

The clerks in both of your scenarios were poorly trained.

In the first scenario, where you picked out the gun, filled out the form, and then your boss pulled the money from his wallet should have been treated as a classic straw purchase and the transaction stopped.

In the second scenario, if your mother was not there at the store, he should not have stopped the transaction simply because you stated you were giving it as a gift. That is allowed. If your mother was there and picked out the gun and then you went to do the paperwork and pay, that could be construed as a straw purchase. This is why I recommend that she goes to the store to make the purchase without her husband... I also recommend keeping the conversation with the clerk to "I would like to purchase x" as there is no requirement for you to declare it is a gift to the clerk, and it just keeps it simple.