How Are Firearms Shipped Out of State?
- Thread starter goodguyry
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Jyezahn
US Veteran
Depending on the laws in the particular state, the seller sends the firearm to an FFL near the buyer. Buyer must pass a background check at the receiving FFL (and most likely pay a transfer fee) in order to take possession. Payment arrangements are made between the buyer and seller.
I purchased a CS45 from a member, earlier this year. I mailed him a money order, and e-mailed a copy of the FFL license for the local gun dealer to have gun shipped to. When he received the money order, he took the gun with the copy of the FFL license I sent to a licensed FFL gun dealer in his state, who shipped by USPS to the FFL gun dealer in my state. Gun dealer in my state called me when gun arrived. I stopped in, provided my carry permit and state ID, filled out the form, paid my $5 (fee this gun dealer charges for transfers), and took the gun home.
finesse_r
Member
First the buyer has to furnish two things to the seller. A Copy of his dealer’s FFL license and the payment in a form specified by the seller and agreed to before the deal is finalized.
The seller can ship the gun one of two ways.
1. He can ship the gun himself along with a photo copy of his driver license or state I. D. card so the receiving FFL dealer has something to base the transfer on. The receiving FFL dealer will then transfer the gun to the buyer.
NOTE: Not all FFL dealers will accept guns mailed by the individual so make certain that the receiving dealer will accept a direct shipment from a non-FFL seller BEFORE you ship the gun. This is the buyers responsibility, but it is the seller's responsiblitly to let the buyer know how the gun will be shipped and that he needs a FFL dealer that will accept shipments from a non-FFL sender. I would estimate 95% of all FFL dealers will accept from an individual, but there are a few who refuse to accept a firearm from an individual that is not an FFL dealer. This needs to be worked out before the price is finalized.
Or 2. He can have a local FFL dealer ship the gun for him. Most FFL dealers charge a fee in addition to the shipping costs for this service. The shipping FFL dealer will send a copy of his license along with the gun to the receiving FFL dealer who then transfers the gun to the buyer.
The safest form of payment is a US Postal Money order as they are very difficult to counterfeit and they have a 1-800 number that you can call to verify the money order was actually issued. Most sellers will hold personal checks until the check clears and funds have actually been transferred before shipping the gun. Some sellers accept certified bank checks as good as US Postal Money Orders, but some do not. Some hold any payment other than a US Postal Money Order until the funds clear.
I suggest you learn as much about the seller as possible before sending them money. There are several basic steps to help reduce the risk of buying on line, but it always involves some risk.
Also it is legal as long as the seller agrees, to email or FAX a copy of the FFL license rather than mailing it.
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Good info!
If I might add, an individual can only ship a handgun via UPS and the seller must drop the package off at what they call a UPS Customer Center, which is essentially a hub. UPS retail stores can not accept packages containing firearms.
I would also add a couple of important points:
1 - don't have any visible markings on the package identifying the contents as a firearm;
2 - mark the ship to address on all six sides of the package. In the sorting process, the workers are monitored via video systems. If there is only one ship to label on the box, it is very easy for the person doing the sorting to cover that label with a bogus label, diverting the shipment to a different, pre-established address. With ship to labels on all six sides of the package, this possibility is pretty much negated.
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