Planning a trip to Italy this spring and was wondering if anyone had experience in importing a handgun or two back to the states? I have no idea as to regulations pertaining to this and even if it might be possible or feasable. Just thought I should be aware should the opportunity present itself. I thought I had read something about them tightening things up in regards to WWII weapons. But as I mentioned, I really am clueless as to what might really be required. If there's someone with first had experience to share, it would be really helpful.

I looked into it a couple times on my last couple trips to Germany and I ran into so much red tape and time consumption, I just abandoned the idea as not worth it. Besides there is an ample suppy of excellent firearms right here in the good old USA to bother. BTW, guns are astronomically higher over there.

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Dick

Maybe you should take a few over there to sell!

#1- File the ATF form 6, Part 1 with ATF 60 days prior to import. If approved the license is good for one year.
#2- File for entry with CBP within 15 days after arrival of the items. This can be done in person at the Customs entry office in whatever Port the item is being shipped to or you can hire a Customs Broker to take care of it for you.
#3- If the weapon is a handgun you will have to pay a FFL to pickup the weapon from the shippers' warehouse (container freight station)and do the usual transfer work.
Hope this helps. I agree with diamonback68, its a lot of work.
Dennis O

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Dennis
He's got a gun!

There are FFL dealers who will do this for you. But you will have to have the specific serial no and description for any firearm you wish to import. These dealers will arrange for shipping from the foreign source to the US. Of course the firearm has to meet ATF requirements for importation. This takes several months if everything goes OK and is somewhat expensive since the importing dealer has a lot of paperwork associated with the deal.

While flying from Athens to Rome I was paged and asked to open my wife's locked suitcase as they flagged it for something suspicious. Opening it revealed a curling iron that had shown up as something odd on an x-ray. This was not a carry on but checked luggage. Based on that experience I would not expect to get away with anything not completely above board.

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As a American Tourist can you purchase a firearm in Europe?
How difficult is this?
Carry the purchased weapon CCW?
Jimmy

Good question, wasn't thinking in those terms. Wanted to just purchase and let the dealer export it to the States. Never really taking possesion till it got here.

Went to northern Italy (Florence, Lucca, etc.) a few years ago, was looking for gun shops or any store selling firearms. Didn't see one. I'm sure they are there - somewhere. Everything is more expensive there. Watches, knives, etc are cheaper here in the states. Good luck

My understanding is you have about a zero chance of lawful carry in Europe. Even knives are severly restricted.

The only guns shops I saw in Europe were in Athens and Albania. Both had only shotguns and shotgun ammo in stock.

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