Legality of Ordering a Gun Online for a friend?

[HK G3]

Hey all,

I just wanted to check if this was legal, it seems like it should be, but I wanted to know for certain.

My friend's bank account was recently locked due to potential abuse (some thief may have gained access to it), and they told him that he won't get a new card for about a week, and he really wants to go out to a big range trip that was planned for this weekend with that gun.

He wants to know if I could order a gun online for him, and when it arrived at the FFL, he would be the one to complete the 4473, and would be the actual owner of the firearm.

I'd just be paying the seller on his behalf - he has cash, but obviously a USPS MO would take time to get to the seller, and he'd miss the range trip, so basically, he'd give me the cash, and then I'd pay the seller with my credit card. Again, it seems like it should be okay, but I wanted to make 100% certain.

Thanks!

 

[nalioth]

The law is only concerned with the person who fills out the 4473 not perjuring themselves.

You're fine.

 

[chevyforlife21]

good question. it might be fine if he fillls out the form and passes it.

 

[ricklin]

No Problemo!

You are not buying a gun for him you are just loaning him the money.

 

[nalioth]

You are not buying a gun for him you are just loaning him the money.

He is?

I'd just be paying the seller on his behalf - he has cash, but obviously a USPS MO would take time to get to the seller, and he'd miss the range trip, so basically, he'd give me the cash, and then I'd pay the seller with my credit card.

Looks like he's just doing a money transfer for him, to me. Same as a debit card from your bank does (wonder why the banks don't get in trouble?).

 

[HK G3]

Yeah, I'm just transferring the cash on his behalf. I wouldn't be doing a loan

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Right Wing Wacko]

Your biggest problem is convincing the FFL that HE is not illegally buying a gun for YOU. The transaction has all the signs of a Straw Purchase, even if it isn't.

 

[N003k]

Well...wait....is your friend having the gun ordered in his name, but with the payment information/billing address in yours?

I don't think that would be a problem at all...

If it's ordered in your name and all, it's just a matter of making sure the FFL understands what's going on beforehand so he doesn't think it's a straw purchase when your friend fills out the form...

Either way should be doable fine legally, biggest potential hurdle is making sure the FFL understands fully what's going on.

 

[Oro]

The transaction has all the signs of a Straw Purchase, even if it isn't.

No, not at all. See the informed posts above.

 

[RobNDenver]

Look, I don't mean to sound insulting, but the "account is locked" story seems suspicious to me. When I had a fraudulent charge on my debit card I still could write checks, and when my credit card number was used for suspicious transactions (I travel internationally a lot) the bank had a new card FedEx'd to me the next day.

Sound like your friend wants to join the big range trip with a gun purchased with your money. Seems odd, that's all.

I don't think there is anything illegal about you paying for the gun so long as he is the purchaser on the 4473.

 

[scottaschultz]

IMHO...

If you order a gun online from XYZ Gunshop, they are going to ship it to an FFL dealer in your area. Once the credit card clears and they have verified the FFL status of the dealer, they are pretty much out of the loop. By the same token, the FFL dealer is just processing the NICS form for a gun that has already been paid for... by someone.

As long as the 4473 is in order and your friend has proper identification, he should be OK. The FFL dealer isn't going to check his bank records. Just make sure he doesn't pay the transfer fee with his credit card!!

Scott

 

[travellingJeff]

The payor isn't the owner of the firearm. The 4473 applicant at the FFL is the owner of the firearm. A very few exclusions exist, such as gifting and such, or at least in PA, gifting or selling to a resident under the age of 21 but over the age of 18.

Long story short, you can pay, he's gotta sign the "I'm not crazy" form.

HTH

 

[mgkdrgn]

Your biggest problem is convincing the FFL that HE is not illegally buying a gun for YOU. The transaction has all the signs of a Straw Purchase, even if it isn't.

Nope. So long as the guy filling out the 4473 is the one that ends up with the gun, the transferring FFL doesn't care a whit (and has no way to know) who paid the seller.