Shipping guns to yourself...

[9c1 lover]

I'm moving a few states away, if I leave my firearms here with a friend and move, can he then send them directly to me with no FFL involved?

Would it be smarter to just use an FFL?


Thanks

 

[safearm]

Generally speaking, you can ship long guns to yourself by US mail, for example, you're going on a hunting trip and ship them ahead. You pick them up at the mail drop and you're on your way. Handguns require a different process, and depending on the state you're going to, you may not be allowed to legally possess them.
Having someone else from the state you're leaving ship them to you opens up a can of worms regarding who "possesses" the guns at the time of shipment.
If you have a reputable FFL, he/she can help you through the process, and their fees are well worth it. Better to pay them to take the risk than you being arrested by BAFTE for an "innocent" mistake.

 

[JCS&W]

I agree with safearm. You really do not want to be on the wrong side of those alphabet departments.

 

[Alpo]

What you described, no, I don't believe so. YOU can ship them to yourself. YOU can send them to YOURSELF, in care of your buddy Bob, in your new town, telling Buddy Bob that he cannot open the boxes. That's legal.

But your buddy Frank, here in your old town, cannot ship them to you. YOU can ship them to you, but as I read the law, someone else cannot ship them to you.

ATF Online - Firearms - Frequently Asked Questions - Unlicensed Persons

#9 >May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity? Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.<

Problem is, while you can mail, through the post office, your rifles and shotguns, your pistols have to go common carrier. And UPS/FedEX have a bad habit of requiring an FFL on the receiving end. Even though the law says you can ship them to yourself, quite often FedEx/UPS won't let you.

 

[truckemup97]

You could ship them yourself, to yourself, in care of the Postmaster, who should hold them for you until you come to the P.O. to pick them up.

 

[bushmaster1313]

You can only ship long guns via United States Post Office

Ship then to yourself insured signature required.

Post Office will leave a slip at your new mail box and hold them for you at the post office for at least 3 days.

Check ahead to see how long they will hold them.

 

[labworm]

Would it be smarter to just use an FFL?

Thanks

I vote for the FFL, pay a few bucks and eliminate any legal problem you otherwise may encounter.

 

[novalty]

Stupid question, but if you are moving a couple states away, is there an issue with just bringing them with you? If the state you are moving to doesn't have any crazy firearm laws, and you are transporting them through states without accessing, I don't see what the issue would be. Don't know about you, but I'd want to keep my guns with me without adding the chance of the USPS possibly loosing somewhere.

 

[Rule3]

What he said^^^^

 

[madmikeb]

I'm moving from Maine to Arizona in a couple years and I just plan on boxing up my collection and throwing them in the back of the truck and hitting the road. It's my understanding that if it's legal for you to possess guns in the state you're leaving and the destination state than it's legal for you to transport them from one to the other. I figure once I hit Pennsylvania I'm good to go anyway, just got to get out of the New England states!

 

[Tyrod]

I'm moving from Maine to Arizona in a couple years and I just plan on boxing up my collection and throwing them in the back of the truck and hitting the road. It's my understanding that if it's legal for you to possess guns in the state you're leaving and the destination state that it's legal for you to transport them from one to the other. I figure once I hit Pennsylvania I'm good to go anyway, just got to get out of the New England states!

You would be correct. But, just to be safe, avoid New Jersey. NJ is known to harass citizens transporting guns through their state even though it's federally legal.