Opinions of a Private Seller Making Copies of ID

[wdlsguy]

Now why would the ATF suggest that?

"Each year, thousands of firearms are reported lost or stolen. The owners’ ability to adequately identify these firearms is central to law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes and losses."

http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/p33128prsnl_fa_rec.pdf

Seems that it would provide some protection to the buyer and/or seller if the firearm was ever used in a crime.

 

[c_yeager]

Personally I'm not willing to sell a firearm to a perfect stranger who isnt even willing to give me their mailing address. If something happens to that gun its going to get traced right back to my doorstep, thats a lot of trust i'm putting in someone, if they cant reciprocate even a little, then its no deal. A person doesnt have to buy a gun from me, and I dont have to sell to them. I am sure as heck asking for a lot less information than you will have to give to an FFL.

 

[fletcher]

^ I agree. IMO, a photocopy of a driver's license isn't much to ask for a FTF sale. Privacy concerns are understandable, but that's a choice the buyer and seller will have to make.

 

[spacemanspiff]

if the seller wants the buyer to do a handstand while reciting the alphabet backwards and provide ten years of tax refund info, its the perogative of the seller.

the buyer can do whatever he wants. comply, or find another seller.

i've bought/sold guns FTF without bills of sale, depends on how comfortable i am with the buyer. one gun, i insisted on seeing his drivers license and drew up a bill of sale.

 

[BostonGeorge]

I personally don't agree with many of the laws regarding firearm sales and it is not my job to enforce them. As a private seller I will not violate the law by knowingly selling to a prohibited person, but beyond that I'm not responsible.

I feel that if you are trusting the buyer is not a felon, nut, or drug user, verifying their address should be the least of your worries.

If I was that concerned I'd rather not make a sale than subject a buyer to the same garbage the government does.

That being said, the terms are the sellers prerogative, and if someone did not feel comfortable selling to me under those conditions I certainly wouldn't hold it against them.

 

[1911user]

Good thread. I've handled past sales in different ways but I like the bill of sale idea with names and towns only. That protects both parties nicely and should meet any prudent man seller requirements. I'd do the transfer/inspection at a neutral location (gun range, for example) to reduce the risk of showing a stranger where I live. I wouldn't insist upon this for someone I know, but the bill of sale is probably not a bad idea anyway.