I live in Pennsylvania; handguns here can only be transferred through an FFL, though long arms can be sold privately.Hans Gruber:
So many people still believe that FFL businesses' records are stored indefinitely, deep inside an "X-Files" type of ATF computer building, which will one day be used to allow Men In Black to fast rope onto their backyards and confiscate their guns.
They actually believe that the general concept is going to happen. This is why many only buy ammo with cash. Paranoia is an industry these days.
The reason I used Armslist for about eighteen deals was that it allowed a gun or ammo to be seen by many eyeballs. And so many guns offered by other people were never available in our stores or lousy, small gun shows (recent years).
I have a good friend who had some rifles stolen in a break in around 12 years ago. The state troopers who showed up to take his report had a list of every firearm he’d ever bought through an FFL. They went down the list and asked him if he still had each one in his possession or if it was one that he was reporting as stolen.
Make of that what you will.