Dealer Doing Transfer Wants *MY* License?

[Tim Burke]

A few years ago BATF put out a letter emphasizing that the FFL executing a transfer needs to be sure that they know who is supplying the firearm. Some FFLs quit accepting guns from non-licensees, some would only accept if the seller showed up in person, and some would only accept if the seller included a copy of an ID. It isn't a BATF reg, per se, but the bureau has made it clear that it is the FFL's responsibility to comply, without spelling out what constitutes compliance.

 

[pete f]

If you walk into any gun shop and want to sell them a firearm, they are going to require your ID, its real simple, the ATF requires that information be available, its the source of the firearm. You book guns into your bound book when the show up, entering in the seller, the address, the form of ID used to ID the seller. WHen you book the gun out, you do the same including the NICS # and the completely filled out 4473.

Its part of the deal, I have even private citizens demand a copy of my DL when they buy a gun from me. They just want to have a proof that I was there and sold them the gun, incase they get stuck with a hot gun or even worse, a blood gun.

 

[nalioth]

I'd assume that the penalties are rather harsh if a dealer knowingly participates in a fraudulent straw purchase.

I've yet to see a seller force an FFL holder to accede to a straw purchase from hundreds of miles away just by sending a box with a firearm in it.

1. You shipped a firearm to my business from another state.
2. I don't know you from Adam.
3. Are you over 18?
4. Is the firearm yours to sell?

If I don't ask for ID from a non-licensee, he could be a 15yr old kid selling Daddy's gun over the internet.

It's not personal and it's not about you or your (NOT) private ID.(An ID BTW that you show to cash checks, buy liquour,Tobacco etc.)

It's About ME and my personal comfort level with the transfer of a firearm.
It's About ME and my license and my Business that may be put at risk.
Basically it's My License, My Rules.
I keep lots of personal information about my customers, more than most business'.
I have DL#, SS#, all on the 4473.
I don't share that information and I won't share yours.

If the BATFE needs to trace a firearm, I want more than an address on a Box/Receipt to show where I aquired it.

Just for my peace of mind.

So what keeps your enterprising 15 year old from sending a copy of Mommy or Daddy's license?

or even worse, a blood gun.

What's a 'blood gun' and what does it have to do with anything? If it's not stolen, that's all that matters.

 

[Frog48]

What's a 'blood gun' and what does it have to do with anything? If it's not stolen, that's all that matters.

If I had to guess, I'd say that a "blood gun" is a gun used in a crime.

And yes, it matters. Even if its not a stolen gun, the rightful owner of the gun may be trying to dispose of a gun that he/she used in a crime.

If I were an FFL, I'd want to know where a gun came from. They have a vested interest in protecting their business.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Many years ago I sold a revolver to a policeman. He ran the gun serial number and my DL number through California's Criminal Identifcaton Bureau and NCIC. I had no problem with that. I have no problem with an FFL know to be reputable having my personal information. FFLs have been criticized for not taking reasonable precautions about with whom they deal. This seems only logical.

BTW. I discovered that the 1886 Winchester stolen from me in 2005 will never show up as stolen should the thief try to sell it to a legitimate FFL. There is no method of determining the status of a firearm for FFLs. That really disappointed me. A llittle extra effort by participants in a gun trade might be a good thing.

 

[karlsgunbunker]

Your points are well taken, and I don't object when my local gun shop photocopies my DL for every transaction. They must have a dozen or more copies of it by now. But ...

They don't have my SS#, and they ain't gonna get it. Filling in the SSAN on the 4473 is optional, and I don't fill out that space. If I were buying from/though your shop I wouldn't fill it out, either, and if you refused to sell to me because of that we'd be in court.

Nowhere did I say I require a SS# for a transaction.

I said I keep personal data on 4473'a including DL#'s and SS#'s.
I would prefer you not attribute things to me which I did not post.

Some people put their SS# on the 4473 and some don't, but everybody shows a valid ID, Drivers License or State ID Card, doesn't matter.

I've had enough problems accepting firearms from Private Individuals that I've considered changing my policy to Dealers Only.

If you have a problem with the way Dealers are Forced to conduct business, don't complain to the Dealer, Write you Congress Critter or Senator.

 

[mnrivrat]

It is standard practice to ID the seller, and it is required by the BATF so as others have pointed out - you'll have to live with it, or change the Gov so that the infringement stops.

 

[grimjaw]

I haven't found it to be uniform, but it's become more frequent. My local FFL requires ID with shipments from non-licensees. I don't have much of an issue with it. I'd check ID before I bought locally from an individual.

jm