Help! Rifle Shipping Questions

[TarpleyG]

I want to buy this rifle

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48000

from another forum member. He is in N. Florida and I am in S. Florida. I believe that he can simply mail the rifle via USPS to me or use FedEx or another carrier. No FFL required since we are in the same state. I am trying to avoid a 5 hour drive. Can anyone point me to the relative bATF, state, or other federal code regarding this type of transaction.

GT

 

[Engineer]

From the ATF Firearms FAQ:

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b8


(B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U. S. Postal Service?

A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another state. The Postal Service recommends that longguns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms.

 

[TarpleyG]

Thanks Engineer. I must've spent 2 hours looking for that exact paragraph last night.

GT

 

[Bill Hook]

You may also want to go to the USPS site and look for the Domestic Mail Manual (section 3?) to find the postal regs, as dealing with postal clerks is the hardest part.

 

[TarpleyG]

The seller was able to confirm, although the clerk told him no at first. Once he quoted him ATF regs, he crumbled. I guess if you're more knowledgeable than most, you can do it. Otherwise SOL. Seems like everyone should be treated the same.

GT

 

[rayra]

Not so much a question of unfair treatment as it is employees of the shipping firm not knowing their own regs.
I recently shipped a handgun via Fedex, to an FFL, and my first exploratory call to their 800 number, and to the local Fedex office got negative answers. I had to steer them to the appropriate sections of their own regulations.
And once at the shipping office, they came up with another regualtion that the firearm must be "disabled", with no further explanation of that word. I told the clerk I could simply remove the cylinder from the SuperBlackhawk. He said 'sure, that sounds fine, want to do it here?'. I'm in Los Angeles. I gave hiim a 'are you kidding?' look, told him 'how would it look to any customers coming in from the street, or your coworkers coming from in back, to see me standing here with a handgun in my hand?? - him - 'um yah, that would be Bad'. Told him I lived close enough to take care of it at home.
Did so, returned, shipped with no further trouble.
No point making a fuss, or being 'Right' or 'Winning', took the steps necessary to exercise my Rights and Freedoms, adhere to the Laws & Regs, and finished my business. Most you can do on a face-to-face basis in this Anti- hellhole.