FTF gun sales in TX

[SATX man]

Hi I am selling a hand gun in TX to a person who doesn't have a CHL, to CYA is it mandatory to do a bill of sale?

 

[kingpin008]

Nope.

 

[heeler]

No.
But getting the guys DL number and address and name may help you sleep better.
That's what I have done in the past.
I also ask the person if he/she is a felon or has a restraining order on them.
Fwiw I live in Texas.

 

[Dokkalfar]

Nope, I've looked into this quite a bit. I was looking to purchase a handgun a while ago from a private party (and I'm under 21, no CHL) in Texas.

Legally, you need to not know they are a felon, are over 18, and a legal resident of Texas. I don't know what your liability is if you sell it and they have a restraining order, but better to be safe and make sure they don't.

Personally, I would get a bill of sale or some kind of receipt for your own records anyway. As heeler said, DL#, name, and address are nice. If the firearm is used in a crime and its traced to you, having 'proof' of sale is a very good thing to have.

 

[peyton]

I bought my last Ruger Single Six in the parking lot at HEB, northside San Antonio, just a handshake and counting money.

 

[hceptj]

As said above, no. My dealings generally are done with a hand shake, but that's probably because I deal with the fine, upstanding citizens from THR...

 

[paul]

The OP asks:

...is it mandatory to do a bill of sale?

No.
Use your best judgement.
Personally, I don't place more restrictions on myself than required by law. YMMV.

Dokkalfar said:

I don't know what your liability is if you sell it and they have a restraining order, but better to be safe and make sure they don't.

I don't know how you could possibly "make sure they don't."

p

 

[Sediment]

He could do a background check..... oh wait

 

[lanternlad1]

I only ask to see a driver's license as proof that they are residents of the same state. But I don't have the ability to do background checks, and seeing that I am not an FFL, wouldn't do one if I had the ability. I no more care what happens to that gun after I sell it than I would if it had been a car that I had sold.