Legal Ramification of Loaning a Friend a Gun

[Dorrin79]

to make a long story short, a close friend of mine (let's call him N.) recently separated from his wife of five years. He is staying with another friend of ours for the short term while things are decided.

His wife (a very nice person, BTW) has three drunken-redneck brothers who never liked N anyway. N is somewhat concerned that they may decide 'teaching him a lesson' is a good idea (the separation was N's idea)

Are there any legal ramifications to loaning him a gun for a while? Neither he nor the person he is staying with have anything in their past that would prevent him from possessing a firearm, he's just poor, and can't afford one right now.

Are there any potential legal issues for me if, worst case, something happens and he uses the gun in self-defense (he is very stable, and I'm not concerned about anything happening apart from a self-defense incident). He knows his way around firearms (ex-Army) and has used the gun I would loan him before.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Leatherneck]

You could always sell him the gun for a dollar. Someday in the future, your good friend might realize how much you miss your favorite gun and reverse the deal.


TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Standing Wolf]

Personally, I'd be more inclined to lend him the price of a gun than a gun itself: sad to say, there's no telling what lengths assault lawyers will go to in the endless quest for free money.

 

[David Scott]

Friendship is a great thing, but I advise caution here. If your friend has a restraining order against him, or there is any hint of a domestic violence charge (justified or not), providing him with a weapon could involve you in legal hassles.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Safest would just be to give or loan him an appropriate amount of money.

You need to insulate yourself from his domestic dispute.

Sam

 

[Dorrin79]

Good advice, all.

If he decides he needs a piece, I'll just loan him $200 and point him to the nearest Academy to get a Bersa or a shotgun.

Seems safer.

 

[Cellar Dweller]

No no no!

Lend him the cash for whatever he "wants," you don't WANT to know what it's for.

If he spends all "his" money on a Bersa or shotgun and you loaned him rent or food money after that, that should be fine.

If you loan him the money for said Bersa or shotgun, you may be opening a legal Can O' Worms (likely civil, not necessarily criminal).