ATF

[austintexas]

I went to two gunshows in central Texas in the last three weeks and there were ATF agents at both shows. They had a table at one this today and there was an agent standing by the entrance at another three weeks ago. Two vendors at the show today said they had ATF show up at their homes with letters instructing them to cease and desist selling firearms that they had purchased to sell at gunshows.
SWCA 892

 

[.455_Hunter]

Wouldn't buying firearms with the specific intent to sell them at gun shows fit the definition of a dealer?

 

[Greyman50]

There was a guy at shows around here that got the “ Visit”. He now hangs out at shows with “ another” guy that does the same. I’m all for free sales/ trades but some Really go way out with buying and selling like they are licensed dealers.

 

[Oldengineer]

I believe that there is legal activity within ATF to crack down on dealers without licenses.

 

[pawngal]

I believe that there is legal activity within ATF to crack down on dealers without licenses.

True, crack down on the "gun show loophole" as some call it.
ATF is also looking for FFLs that sell a number guns to these unlicensed "dealers"

 

[Simson-Suhl]

Several years ago, in my interest it the Makarov pistol I met a seller from Texas at the Tulsa show. He was retired and attended several gun shows.
Being a table seller he was able to purchase pistol/revolvers from other dealers before the show opened. All of the ones he purchased at a show he placed under his table and sold them at the next show. Maybe this is what the AFT boys are looking into?

 

[noonster]

The “rule of thumb” years back was: don’t sell on the day you buy it… or better: don’t sell at the same show you buy it (that weekend). That gets a bit too obvious. I never did as I was always looking for cool stuff to try out. (If I lost $$$ on it, I chalked it up to “rental fee” of the item). Anyway, I suppose they’re under orders to shut down as much firearm traffic as they can (get away with). They seemed to try to get away with as much as they could (under various presidents … no names, of course). I was a TX resident back then, I’ll add.

 

[Kinman]

I bought an ex-LEO HK USP from a guy who told me his story. He had worked as an armorer for a large California police department. When he retired and moved to this state he knew about the LEO firearm deals and would buy a few pieces, go through them and sell at very reasonable prices, which is how he met me, a great price. He had picked up a number of Glocks, went through them and put them up for sale in the local paper, which is how I found him. He had a guy buy a Glock from him, the guy said, "Can you get any more of these, if so I will buy them as investments" The guy sold five Glocks to this character and one day gets a knock on his door, its the FBI...it seems the guy was selling those Glocks to Canadian gang bangers using his old mother to drive them across a rural border crossing. He was told as a private citizen he could only do around fifty private gun deals before it started raising red flags, this was at least ten years ago. He cooperated with them and told them everything he knew about the guy, etc. He was not in any trouble with the FBI but ended up having conversations with ATF and Homeland Security who left him with unsettling news. They told him because of the different gun laws in Canada, he wasn't off the hook completely because if someone wanted they could bring civil action against him. This was why he changed his gun dealing habits and asked me all the questions including seeing my driver's license and CC permit.

 

[LVSteve]

Several years ago, in my interest it the Makarov pistol I met a seller from Texas at the Tulsa show. He was retired and attended several gun shows.
Being a table seller he was able to purchase pistol/revolvers from other dealers before the show opened. All of the ones he purchased at a show he placed under his table and sold them at the next show. Maybe this is what the AFT boys are looking into?

Let's see if I have this right. This non-FFL seller had transported handguns across state lines and was making face-to-face sales with no FFL involved in a state where he wasn't resident? How many Federal laws does that break? My understanding is that once crossing state lines is involved, **** can get real very quickly.

 

[Dave.357]

I buy and sell guns a gun shows but only
To people from my state .
And I ask the required questions.
I have refused to sell on occasion ,
If something does not look right
Why chance it’s. Not hard to obey
The law.

 

[Greyman50]

Another Reason I require to see a Florida drivers license and Florida CCW when selling. By chance they don’t have CCW I see their vehicle registration and insurance card to CONFIRM same address. If they balk, I walk.
Knew this guy back in Va. that had a “ gun show” at the local flea market every weekend. One day 2 guys asked him about a certain pistol and he said, oh yea, have one at home, you want it? They all went to his house and he showed them about 30 assorted guns he had for sale. He got 5 years and lost everything he had. Seems “ some” of his sales were used in crimes and ATF started “ looking”.
Just not worth it.

 

[Xfuzz]

TDL(Texas Driver's License) AND an LTC(License to Carry)
before any transaction takes place.

 

[Beemerguy53]

...I suppose they’re under orders to shut down as much firearm traffic as they can (get away with). They seemed to try to get away with as much as they could...

They're not "under orders" to shut down firearms traffic. They're doing their jobs, which is to enforce Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR) and the various other laws that regulate the buying and selling of guns.

One of the toughest Battalion Chiefs I ever worked for in my FD career was known as a "book man"...he enforced the rules to the letter, and there were no verbal warnings. He had a favorite saying: "I can't beat you over the head if you don't give me the stick to do it with."

If you obey the law and follow the rules, you'll have no problem at all with the ATF. If you make an innocent mistake, violate the CFR unintentionally, they'll work with you so you can get into compliance (I know this from experience). But if you try to pull a fast one, or be slick, or get around the law...they're going to come after you, as they should.

Legal gun ownership is under constant attack in this country. We gun owners and the dealers we patronize have to be aboveboard in what we do.
We have to do things the right way...and we should have no sympathy for those among us who suffer the consequences of their actions when they break the law or flout the rules.

eCFR :: Title 27 of the CFR -- Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms