FFL transfer question, please...(CA)

[Gary O]

I am a private party trying to sell a rifle to another private party here in California. Niether of us are FFL dealers. He has sent me the funds along with a signed FFL license from his dealer of choice. So far, so good. The part that confuses me is that his FFL dealer has stamped the signed copy with the words "FOR TRANSFER FROM DEALER TO DEALER ONLY". Question: is that the law now in California? I have sold many firearms without useing an FFL dealer on my end in the past. What say you? Thanks....

 

[kingpin008]

It may or may not be the law, but the dealer in question has the right to decide whether or not he accepts transfers from non-FFL individuals, so you'll probably be stuck regardless of the law, if that's how he chooses to do business.

 

[cdrt]

I would call the FFL dealer, but it sounds like he stamped the FFL copy so someone could not use it to go in to a gun store, gun show or whatever and buy a firearm using his FFL. I'm sure he's okay with you shipping him the gun, or else the party you're dealing with, would not have used him.

I'm sure a phone call could clear it up.

 

[kingpin008]

but it sounds like he stamped the FFL copy so someone could not use it to go in to a gun store, gun show or whatever and buy a firearm using his FFL

How would someone do that? And why?

If an individual walked into a gunshop and produced a copy of a dealer's FFL, trying to use it to buy a gun, I'd imagine that the dealer who owns the shop would be dying to know why that individual didn't just order one from their own distributor, seeing as how they're a dealer too.

And even if the dealer was a complete moron, a quick check of ID would reveal that the person trying to use the other dealer's license is trying to pull a fast one.

What it sounds like, and what the most likely reason for the thing to be stamped as it is, is pretty clear - he's interested in accepting transfers from only from other dealers which is quite a common occurrence.

 

[spitfyre]

Yep, some dealers only take shipments from other dealers. I asked my FFL about that (while arranging to receive a handgun from out of state), and he said his concern is about stolen guns.

If you live close enough, it might be worth it to do a face-to-face transaction. You'll still have to go through an FFL, but he can only charge a maximum of $10 for his services (in addition to DROS). From what I've read, with mail-order gun transactions the FFL can charge as much as he wants.

 

[cdrt]

kingpin008

How would someone do that? And why?

I was just throwing something out there, since this situation doesn't make much sense.

If the FFL dealer doesn't want non-FFls shipping to him, why did he provide a copy to the guy buying the rifle, without first finding out what FFL Dealer would be shipping the rifle??

It would be nice if Gary O gave us an update and told us exactly what is going on and if he called the FFL dealer who provided the stamped FFL.

 

[Birukun]

Be sure to also check Calguns.net.

The site contains ALL the information you as a gun owner in California need to know.

 

[Art Eatman]

BATFE regs are Sticky #5 of the Legal Forum.