Would you ever use a FFL for a local FTF gun sale?

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iScream

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I was exchanging messages with another member today about a gun he has posted for sale here. It didn't look like we were going to come to an agreement on price anyway but I found out that he would want to involve a FFL in the sale even though we would be meeting face to face.

I have no interest in documenting a private sale with an FFL but I thought I would see what the general thoughts are here on the subject.

Do any of you feel the need to have an FFL do some kind of paperwork to sell a gun to someone locally?

Would it be a deal killer for anyone else?

BTW, to the guy I was dealing with today, if you happen to read this post, it is in no way intended as anything negative against you. It's your gun and your right to conduct the sale in any way you wish. There are no hard feelings on my part at all, it just made me curious as to how common it may be to do local private sales through a FFL.

-Chris
 
As a private individual has no way of performing a background check of any kind, they feel more comfortable involving an FFL. I've assisted in several such sales.
 
Would you ever use a FFL for a local FTF gun sale?
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No, I would not.

Either I want to sell something to you, or I don't. Laundering the transaction through an intermediary doesn't somehow make it 'cleaner'.
 
Yeah, the guy is a namby-pamby. If your state permits FTF sales, what's the beef? When I sell a used car to some guy, I don't run it down to the local car dealer so they can add their x% and then resell to you. What's up with that?
 
I could understand it. At least he isn't profiling you specifically. If it's negotiated into the price I don't think it would stop me.
 
If there was no legal responsibility to go through an FFL, I would most certainly not go through one. I'm not fond of giving away money, or unnecessary barriers to legal activities.
 
If it's negotiated into the price I don't think it would stop me.
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It wasn't part of the price but even if it was it would have killed the deal for me. I've had the background check done 5 or 6 times over the last two years between Cabelas and Bass Pro so there is no concern with that. I just don't want my purchase documented for the next 20 years and subject to federal inspection.
 
I'd like to have an FFL be a part of an FTF transaction with a stranger I met on the internet. Regardless of what legal responsibility they may or may not have, I'd have some peace of mind knowing I sold it to someone who is not a prohibited person, not to satisfy the law but my conscience.
 
I had a guy do that a while back. He payed the FFL fee and I guess it just made him more comfortable doing it that way, I found the gun in a classified ad btw. I would have preferred to keep everything off paper but it did not bother me too much either way.
 
I'd have some peace of mind knowing I sold it to someone who is not a prohibited person, not to satisfy the law but my conscience.
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I can understand that, and it is why when buying FTF at a show, I'm happy to show a CC permit to demonstrate both state residency and non-prohibited status.

But honestly, bringing the gun to a FFL doesn't really add anything to the transaction for either party, beyond meeting in a public place. It seems a bit silly to me, I would have to be unable to find the gun anywhere else for a comparable price before I went along with such silliness, but then OH is a shall-issue state, so I don't have a lot of sympathy for a gun owner without one, so if I were to get a sleazy feeling and there was no CC permit to see, I might cancel the sale. (this is all theoretical, I don't really sell guns very often)
 
If he pays for it, why not?
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Mostly because I'm not a criminal and I don't expect to have to prove that to make a legal purchase from another individual. And the federal government has no business knowing I made the purchase.

-Chris
 
I can understand that, and it is why when buying FTF at a show, I'm happy to show a CC permit to demonstrate both state residency and non-prohibited status.
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yeah, something like a CC permit would satisfy my conscience as well. It would demonstrate to me that they have been background checked and are not criminal or mentally ill. I would be OK with an FTF if the person showed a CCW.
 
I might. We have a three-day waiting period for handguns, and it does apply to private sales. I'm not really willing to hand someone some money and then hope he shows up three days later with my gun.
 
Mostly because I'm not a criminal and I don't expect to have to prove that to make a legal purchase from another individual. And the federal government has no business knowing I made the purchase.
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I can understand this attitude. But as the seller, I would probably bow out of the sale in this case because I would be suspicious at this point.
 
I might. We have a three-day waiting period for handguns, and it does apply to private sales. I'm not really willing to hand someone some money and then hope he shows up three days later with my gun.
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This one I probably undertand.

I'm actually very surprised at the responses so far. It's hard to believe so many people are OK with this.

-Chris
 
I am quite opposed to a state requirement to have a FFL handle private sales so a NICs check can be done such as in PA. But as the seller, there is some responsibility involved and you have to follow you gut. That is all you really have unless you use a FFL.
 
Some people are afraid of getting sued if they sell to a weirdo who hurt someone.

Cop friend told me you assume liability for subsequent use of the gun when you sell it. Lawyer friend says this ain't true. He suggest having both parties sign a bill of sale with words, "Seller warrants he is legally allowed to purchase this weapon under state and federal laws."

Both parties keep a copy.

Tom
 
Not a deal killer if its a good enough deal. Heck, you can ship a long gun in state for a private transaction, so why use an FFL for a FTF transaction, long gun or pistol? Why wouldn't a bill of sale be enough?
 
I'm the guy to whom iScream is referring. And, no I am not offended by him bringing this up. I only ask for the FFL transfer because I want to get any firearm that I had to originally purchase via a background check out of my name to take me out of the loop should the firearm ever be used for illegal purposes. Not necessarily by the person I sell it to, although that is a concern, but also for anyone else who may purchase it down the road. I once sold a 270 cal rifle to a guy who ended up in prison for meth dealing. If that rifle had been used in a crime, they could have come back to me as I was the registered owner. This is a good thread. I know Texas does not require background checks for private transactions, but what is the liability for me if I sell one w/o doing the FFL transfer and someone gets killed or maimed with that weapon? I would rather be safe than sorry unless someone can guarantee me immunity for the rest of the life of that firearm.

The point about someone already being a CHL holder is a good one. I have a CHL, so I might feel comfortable selling to a fellow CHL holder w/o the FFL transfer, but that only gives me comfort as long as he owns the firearm. How do I know the next guy will not be a bad actor? Am I making too big a deal out of this? Again, great thread.
 
danbrew said:
Yeah, the guy is a namby-pamby. If your state permits FTF sales, what's the beef? When I sell a used car to some guy, I don't run it down to the local car dealer so they can add their x% and then resell to you. What's up with that?
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Interesting, but poor analogy. Guns are purchased with the knowledge that the main purpose is to kill some one if necessary. Cars... not so much.
 
Sleepyone,

I'm glad you posted up. I wouldn't have mentioned your name otherwise.

I've done a total of two FTF gun transactions. The first was a shotgun I sold to a guy I had known for years and who helped me choose the gun in the first place. We did a handwritten bill of sale.

The second was trading a CZ 75B for a rifle. This was with another member of this forum and we just met and swapped hardware. Thinking back, I kinda wish we had done a bill of sale.

I understand, and share, the concern of liability. Were I doing a private sale I would be satisfied with a written bill of sale listing the serial number of the gun and signed by the buyer.

-Chris
 
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I had a Mexican friend with a green card that legally allowed him to own firearms in the US. When I left Calif. he talked me out of my mini-30. I made that sale through an FFL. Just in case that rifle wound up in Mexico.
 
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