Is it legal to keep a friend's gun at my house?

[Sandman]

My friend is 20 years old, and wants to legally purchase a shotgun or a rifle to plink with me at the local range. His parents dont like guns and wont let him keep it at home so he wants to keep it at my house a couple blocks away.

Would this be considered a straw purchase if it were kept at my home instead of his?

PS. I live in South Florida, if that helps any.

 

[Peetmoss]

I would say if he buys it, and it is really his, and you are legal to posses fire arms then you would be ok. However I am not a lawyer and may be wrong.

 

[jobu07]

So long as your friend is the one who goes through the nics check and is cleared to buy said firearm, i dont' see why it's any of anyone's concern where he stores it when not in use. I'd say it's probably legal.

 

[George S.]

You might ask him to provide you with a signed letter where he states that you are in possession of his firearm for the purpose of secure storage when he is not using it. Include a description of it along with the serial number.

When I took a vacation, I left all of my guns with relatives along with a letter that authorized them to be in possession of the weapons for lawful use. I inlcuded a list of them with the serial numbers so that if they would ever be questioned by law enforcement, they could show the letter to a LEO. I also included my cell phone number for contact. May have been overkill but I told my relatives they were free to take any of the guns to their range if they wished and didn't want them to have to have any hassles if they would be stopped for any reason.

 

[crewchief]

As George said a letter would be wise, but I would also add in the letter a statment releasing you from liability if something were to happent to the firearm such as theft, fire or something. Also that the firearm is not covered under your insurance and that he understands that. Equally he should get a statement from you saying that you will not hold him liable if someone in your house gets ahold of said weapon and misuses it or gets in an accident with it. Although I know there is no such things as accidents with firearms, just poor gun handleing and judgement.

 

[Amish_Bill]

Way too much drama for a simple situation.

I don't believe Florida is one of those states with screwed up gun laws that would make this illegal. (I almost said "prevent" instead of "make illegal"... big difference there)

If he hands it to you and asks you to hold on to it for a while, that's good enough for me. If you give him money to go buy you a gun, that's a straw purchase. "Hey, can I store this here" is not a transfer of ownership.

Of course, I do remember talking to someone from a really, realy screwed up state... They told me that even if a hubby and wife own matching pistols, one cannot carry the other's.
With this in mind, Your Mileage May Vary.

 

[Highland Ranger]

NJ is, "temporary transfer" is legal only under certain conditions here . . .

 

[rayra]

Save both of you some grief, and require he buys a locking case for it. That way no one farts around with it when it is out of his possession.

 

[Sunray]

It depends of Florida law. The NRA's site has a link to State laws(www.nra.org), but I suspect you're ok. Go here and send an e-mail. http://myfloridalegal.com/

 

[kernal_panic]

Dude you live in florida unlike those on the west coast or north of the mason dixon line, we are a free state. I had 2 freinds do they very thing you talk about. as long as you both aren't felons or wife beaters its ok.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Funny you should mention this...

Back in the day when I lived in the dark & fascist state (of NJ), we were under the microscope, being examined by a social(ist) worker with respect to adoption proceedings.

During this, I had to grit my teeth and endure one of the most uninformed gun safety lectures I've ever heard.

In the course of this, she suggested that I store my guns in the shed. (Bad idea ma'am, you don't want the neighborhood kids getting into it there) or at a friends house who didn't have any kids.

This was the one and only time the oppressive gun laws of the d & f state ever gave me any pleasure, as I informed her that if I took her advice, it would in fact be a FELONY.

"I'm sorry, {_name_} the laws of the state of NJ place pretty severe restrictions on where it's lawful for me to posess and store my firearms. I'd suggest that if you're going to be in the business of giving advice on this topic, that you do a little more research, before you get someone less well informed thrown into jail."

That was the end of the gun discussion.

 

[grislyatoms]

"I'm sorry, {_name_} the laws of the state of NJ place pretty severe restrictions on where it's lawful for me to posess and store my firearms. I'd suggest that if you're going to be in the business of giving advice on this topic, that you do a little more research, before you get someone less well informed thrown into jail."

That is too cool! Good for you, man! I love it when a pompous, snide little know it all gets put in their place!

When I got my first handgun, my anti Mother refused to let me keep it in the house. So, I rented a small storage unit (one of those open 24 hour places) and kept it in there. It was a pain to have to go get it out but it was still worth the hassle. I would rather have a friend do that than take responsibility for someone else's property. If it gets damaged, stolen, whatever there is the risk for liability (just establishing the liability under the circumstances would probably cost an arm and a leg, not to mention it may not be legal) and may destroy a friendship. I would politely refuse, and state the above as my reasons for not wanting to do it.

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

Dude you live in florida unlike those on the west coast or north of the mason dixon line, we are a free state.

*cough*

Many states north of the Mason Dixon line have as few restrictions on firearms as Flordia, if not fewer restrictions. Like Alaska, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Hamphire, Maine, Indiana, and more.

In any case, I'd be worried about the legalities of letting a friend keep your firearms, but as long as private transfers are allowed, I can't see how the cops could do anything.

 

[c_yeager]

No different from leaving a pair of shoes or a change of clothes at someones house.

 

[Highland Ranger]

No different from leaving a pair of shoes or a change of clothes at someones house.

Not quite. Hard to hold up a liquor store with your PF Flyers . . . . .

As someine suggested above - locking case and he keeps the key.