Beware POSSIBLE gun buy sting.

[Daniel T]

Tim,

There certainly could be a state with a law forbidding the private purchase of a handgun by someone under the age of 21. I don't know of any in particular, outside of states that already essentially outlaw private sales, but it's possible.

...but in any case, even if there were a state law, then it would be the state enforcing it, not the ATF.

Thus the use sarcasm to show how silly it is to proclaim the situation a "BATFE sting".

 

[Rumble]

Daniel, I don't know if you'd consider this "outlawing" private sales*, but handguns in PA must be sold via an FFL, even if it's ostensibly a "private" transaction. Since FFL's are bound to stick to the 21-year-old rule, in PA private handgun sales to people under the age of 21 are a no-go.


* I assume it would, because--it's not private if it goes through an FFL.

 

[Daniel T]

Yes Rumble, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

I assume that the OP isn't in a state that forces NICS on all sales, because then he would have been breaking the law anyhow, and I doubt that's the case.

 

[leadcounsel]

Bad on me, good on me...

I am, currently, in TN. I did look up the statute and it does say 18 years of age. I just moved to TN.

I've lived in other states where I was under the impression that a person had to be 21 to own a handgun. Bad on me for not looking at the law here and just assuming the age to purchase is 18 from a private seller. I may very well have pi$$ed someone off.

Good on me for believing I was following the law. I didn't anticipate this being an issue and when presented with it, at a gas station, under unusual circumstances, I went with my gut and did what I believed to be the legal thing. I was also very suspicious that he was trying to get me to sell it to his friend, who would clearly be a middle man. I did not feel comfortable with that.

The last thing I'm wanting to do is get arrested, even if cleared later. And I'm also not interested in selling to someone shady b/c if used in a crime the private sales are the next "loophole" to be attacked by the left.

Honestly, the laws are so absurdly complex, illogical, and vary so much that it's difficult to transact with people sometimes. I may owe this guy an appology.

For those of you that are overly critical, I think you're being unfair. Put yourself in a similar situation where you're not sure about the law and I guarantee you you'll take the safe bet and walk away.

Yes, I am an attorney but I haven't memorized the entire legal code and, quite honestly, wasn't expecting this guy to be 19 or I would have looked that up. I've only sold guns to people in their 20's and 30's and this has never been and issue b/c they are all clearly over 21, which is what I thought the law was here before I actually read the statute.

 

[longwatch]

I think its a common misconception, but now you know and knowing is half the battle. Even better a lot of other people know now too.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

no such thing as too safe saying you owe him an apology speaks volumes about your character. all good

 

[Daniel T]

Honestly, the laws are so absurdly complex, illogical, and vary so much that it's difficult to transact with people sometimes.

Absolutely. I don't think anyone faults you for leaving when you got a bad feeling and were uncertain. It doesn't have to be a sting for Bad Things to happen.

 

[bogie]

Screw the "letter of the law." If I don't like your face, I ain't gonna sell you squat. That's _all_ I need.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

For those of you that are overly critical, I think you're being unfair. Put yourself in a similar situation where you're not sure about the law and I guarantee you you'll take the safe bet and walk away.

Oh, I'm sure most would. I guess that if the buyer told me to look it up to be satisfied, I would get his number for the future sale, but in the meantime, I'd feel safer. Better to err on the side of caution.

 

[LAR-15]

If you were uncomfortable with the sale you did the right thing.