Gift For My Brother's Wedding

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trimore

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I don't give traditional gifts for weddings. I always try to give a gift for the husband. As you know 99% of the registry gifts guys don't get too thrilled about.

So i am thinking about a handgun or maybe a really nice knife or maybe something else that is not a typical wedding gift but hoping it would have lasting value. He does not have one but has expressed interest in getting one to me. He does live in Illinois and I believe there is not CC there but they can own but have to register it.

Got any ideas, thoughts?
 
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...try to give a gift for the husband...not a typical wedding gift but hoping it would have lasting value...
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There is no concealed carry in Illinois; not for residents/citizens of the state, nor for permitted visitors.
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Find him a job posting in his career of choice and get him an application...make sure it's in a more gun-friendly state. :neener:

A nice, custom made knife always makes a nice present. Surf the knife section for some good makers...make sure it is a limited run or a one off. If you don't buy the wife a gift of equal value, that's kind of rude. I know if I received a $500+ gift for a wedding gift from a friend that was obviously bought for me and my wife received nothing from that friend...I'd be offended. I may even return the gift to you.

I bought my Groomsmen matching Benchmades. They weren't drastically expensive, $100 or so apiece back then. I bought 5 of the 500.
 
Two of my friends are getting married next fall. They have both expressed an interest in keeping a firearm for home defense, but do not own one yet. I'm thinking of getting them a Stoeger double as a wedding present.

R
 
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If you really want to give him a handgun, and I'm assuming that you DON'T live in IL, there are a few things that you both will need to do right. First, the gift will have to go through an licensee in his state in order for him to take ownership of it. That transfer will cost something. Your friend will have to have a FOID card, and of course be legally eligible to own a handgun. There is something in the IL law about the seller retaining documentation about the transaction for 10 years after the transfer takes place. IIRC, this applies to private party transactions, but I'm not sure if your out-of-state residency gets you out of that. Anyway, giving him a handgun might be a little complicated, but it is certainly possible. Find/call an FFL in his area and tell them what you are wanting to do; they should know all the answers to your questions. If they don't seem to know how the gift should take place, don't be surprised, just move on to another FFL.

I wish I had a friend like you!

BTW, I don't believe that IL has handgun registration per se, just the FOID card requirements, BIMBW.
 
man, i wish i had friends like you! a pistol as a gift?? my uncle bought me some practice rounds for my birthday once...
 
For ~$50, you can get him the well known Ka Bar fighting bowie/utility knife.

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Thanks for the suggestions..

He is my brother, not friend so that does change things a bit.

I wonder if I give him the gun in NC if that makes it any easier? I live in FL and will be traveling to NC for the wedding and then he will be going back to IL where he is working now.

All this does make it a bit of a pain doesn't it.
 
Coming from an IL resident...

He will need to get a FOID (Firearms Owners Identification Card). http://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/foidapp.cfm He will have to fill that out and send in $10. He cannot do anything legally in IL without that. Even transferring the gun to him (going through a dealer) he will have to have a FOID to accept the gun. FOIDs are also required to purchase ammo.

Picking up the gun from you in NC is probably fine...but once he gets back to IL, he needs to get a FOID
 
I give him the gun in NC if that makes it any easier?
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I'm pretty sure that would be a felony. Giving the gun to him would be transferring its ownership, and at that moment, both of you have broken federal law. If he were to then take the gun into IL, he'd be in violation of state law if he didn't already have a FOID card. Him then taking the gun to an FFL, to have it transferred back to him, would be ridiculous and I doubt a licensee would do it. Their bound book has to show where the gun came from and they don't want the same name on both ends of the transaction. If you want to give him a handgun, but you can't make the trip to IL, you need to ship it to a licensee in his state. Brother, friend, stranger, it doesn't matter when transferring firearms.

I might have a bit of that wrong, but I'll go get someone that can tell us for sure.
 
Trimore, I'm with you. I disagree that you should get the wife an equal gift. When people buy all the crap for wedding gifts, it's mostly stuff the wife wants and no one gets the husband equal gifts. And don't even get me started on bridal showers! Get your bro a nice knife and who cares what his wife thinks. If she loves him, she'll be totally happy for him.
 
TX1911fan, yes, I obviously I agree. I even looked at the three registries to see if there was anything on there for him and there was not. The closest thing is a coffee maker. She will get to open lots and lots of gifts and he will be happy but we all know that none of them will make his heart sing....

I too have often wondered why the husband does not get bridal showers as well. Another point of unequal. Just think about the wedding. The thousands of $ spent when most guys would be just as happy with a simple, small wedding without all the frills.
 
I think the gift of a gun is a nice thought. Since mixers and electric griddles are considered gifts for the new couple's home and to be shared equally by both, why not a gun for defense of their new home.
 
CoRoMo is exactly correct. In order to transfer a handgun to a resident of a different state, that handgun must go through an FFL in the recipient's state of residence. It does not matter if the gun is a sale or a gift, and it does not matter if the recipient is a complete stranger or a brother, son, or your mother.

If the gift occurs without going through an FFL in the recipient's state of residence, the giver violates 18 USC 922 (a)(5) and the receiver violates 18 USC 922 (a)(3) and both have committed felonies.

If the gun is a long gun, the only thing that changes is that the FFL may be located in just about any state, so long as the transfer complies with both the laws of the state the FFL is in and the state of residence of the recipient, but it STILL must go through an FFL or the same two statutes above are violated.
 
BTW,

I am getting married tomorrow in a tiny civil ceremony and my big church wedding is July 31st. I am registered at Wholesale Sports and Holiday Sports in Burlington, WA. My wish list is easy... anything that goes bang!
 
Since neither of you are residents of NC, you'll both probably be in violation of the law. Just get him something off the registry and stop trying to reinvent the wheel.
 
"I think the gift of a gun is a nice thought. Since mixers and electric griddles are considered gifts for the new couple's home and to be shared equally by both, why not a gun for defense of their new home. "

He already has a nice shotgun otherwise that Stoeger coach gun would be real nice.

My brother is 34yrs old and his to be wife is about 30. They really already have all that common electric griddle type stuff. The registry items are mostly fine china, towels and high end electric items like expresso makers... I have no interest in spending my money on stuff that will break in a few years or be thrown aside when something new comes out.

This is not something new for me. I have done this many times and each time, there has been confirmation from the wife and husband that it was greatly appreciated. When my sister got married, I bought her husband a smoker. Not a typical wedding gift. Many a boston butt has been cooked on that smoker with enjoyment.

Also, think of this. Do you think if my brother has any boys as children, that those boys will be fighting over the crystal when it is time to pass it one. No they will be fighting over the gun that was given to their father as a wedding gift by their uncle. I am just trying to even the playing field a bit.... :)
 
Whoa. You are talking about groomsmens' gifts, not gifts for the couple. You should give the couple something "they" can use. Something like a Surefire light for the nightstand would be much better, though probably not what his bride has in mind.

If you want to give your bro a knife or handgun just give him one. When you present a knife as a gift, get a penny from your brother so that you don't cut your friendship (an old tradition).
 
"Whoa. You are talking about groomsmens' gifts, not gifts for the couple. You should give the couple something "they" can use. Something like a Surefire light for the nightstand would be much better, though probably not what his bride has in mind. "

Who says she can't use it too?

A surefire light is not a bad idea. Maybe a matching pair of black and pink... Do they make anodized pink?? :)
 
Trimore, I'm with you. I disagree that you should get the wife an equal gift. When people buy all the crap for wedding gifts, it's mostly stuff the wife wants and no one gets the husband equal gifts. And don't even get me started on bridal showers! Get your bro a nice knife and who cares what his wife thinks. If she loves him, she'll be totally happy for him.
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Not to be disagreeable, but I disagree with your disagreement.

Wedding gifts may be considered "bride-centric" (coffee makers, linens, silverware, etc.) but this is ALL stuff that the groom ultimately benefits from -- and that's how all the wedding guests are going to look at it, too.

Trimore -- If you buy him a handgun, you can present it to him at the wedding in NC, but then tell him that you will ship it from your own FFL to an FFL in Illinois, where he can take possession once his FOID is in his hands.

If you really love your brother, you will love his wife, too... no matter what. What about matching handguns? I know that's big money, but you could get matching .38 snubbies or .380 autos. Glocks and XD's are priced so that you could get two for under a grand.

Aw hell, get him a knife. But get one for the wife, too!
 
All this does make it a bit of a pain doesn't it.
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Absolutely. It's all just a bunch of idiocy, but don't let it dissuade you. A gun from a brother would be the highlight of his day/week/month/year! Oh... well... other than the marriage. :D I think you should definitely get him a gun; just don't get in trouble in the process.

NavyLT
I am getting married tomorrow...
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Dude!! Congratulations!! (and thanks again for your help)
 
"If you really love your brother, you will love his wife, too... no matter what. What about matching handguns? I know that's big money, but you could get matching .38 snubbies or .380 autos. Glocks and XD's are priced so that you could get two for under a grand."

I do love his wife... That is why I am buying him a handgun so he can defend her.... :)

I would consider matching handguns but that is definitely out of the price range.
 
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