Shipping a gun to yourself?

[Rain_Man]

Well, I have heard you can easily ship a gun to another state without going through a firearms dealer as long as you will be the only person who opens the package... Hmm, this is extremely interesting, its sounds almost too easy to ship a gun to an individual without getting caught.

How can the law be sure the gun will not be taken and used by another individual, especially in a state like georgia where firearm registration is not neccessary? Exactly how is something like this done anyway, do you have to file some forms, do police come to check the package after a certain number of days? Or what? I find it laughable that if I wanted to ship a gun to a relative or someone, I can just pack it in a box, and tell the government I am 'shipping it to myself' for hunting or sport shooting and tell grandma to go ahead and open the package when it arrives , how the hell could the law find out about it?...

(and no, I made this thread to discuss what I think might be considered a 'loop hole' for anyone who doesn't like paying a $20 transfer fee to claim a $40 gun, I do not plan to ship a gun using this method, so don't flame me for it )

 

[karlsgunbunker]

Only legal for Long Guns. Do it with handguns and you get a free trip to Club Fed.

 

[EOD Guy]

Only legal for Long Guns. Do it with handguns and you get a free trip to Club Fed.

There is no restriction as to type of firearm. You can legally ship a handgun to yourself. Good luck in finding a carrier that will do so, however.

Since you would be shipping to an unlicensed person, you would be legally required to declare the contents of the package to the carrier.

You may be thnking of mail restrictions. An unlicensed person cannot mail handguns.

 

[Freeze N]

Go to the BATFE, Firearms section, Frequently asked questions. (FAQ). They address it there. Handguns can be shipped to yourself.

 

[kirkcdl]

As long as no transfer of ownership is occurring you may ship any gun you like,subject to the shippers rules.UPS and FEDEX require next day shipment,US Postal Service require an FFL for concealable firearms.Those are their rules,NOT the law.ATF only cares about ownership changes.I'm not sure about DHL and others...

 

[Jim K]

You are legally required to declare the contents to the carrier for ANY shipment of a firearm to ANYONE, whether interstate or intrastate. That includes USPS when mailing long guns. (Only a dealer can mail handguns.)

Some have said on this site that even though they are not licensed, they often mail handguns to non-licensees and either lie to USPS or simply don't offer the information. More and more, USPS and some other carriers are x-raying suspicious packages, and telling a "little" lie can cause a lot of problems. The extra dollars involved in making a legal shipment is small potatoes compared to fines that can go six or seven figures, not to mention a jail term.

In addition, shipping to yourself is legal only where ownership of the firearm is legal in the destination state. You could not, for example, buy a pistol from a friend in GA and mail it to your home in NY, since it would not be registered and would not be legal for you to own in NY.

How would "they" find out? Maybe "they" read postings on sites like this.

Jim

 

[Fun2Shoot]

I just went thru a big fiasco shipping a handgun and rifle across state lines to myself. FedEx is less restictive that UPS. You must delcare it to be a firearm with UPS/FedEx. You can ship a gun to a manufacturer or gunsmith for repair thru UPS/FedEx yourself and it can be shipped to you directly back from repair. I have done that with Ruger repairs. Don't even consider using the US postal system unless you understand it well. Why risk Fed trouble. I ended up using an out-of-state FFL to ship to my local FFL with the handgun and rifle, just to stay out of trouble, Cost $40 for both guns to be shipoped and $20 per gun at my FFL for the transfer.

Here's an idea that may be a legal and an easy way to ship to yourself without FFL needed. Break the firearm down into main it's components and ship it in two separate boxes on different days. It's not a functioning arm in that condition, just pieces. I sent a slide to a shop for night sights that way. It's not a gun, just a part. They sent it back to my home after the sight installation.

Edit. I have learned from another thread that a frame w/serial numbers is considered a "gun" and not just a part. Live and learn.

 

[Rain_Man]

They are having an active discussion of it here... and from what I have read... It is the carrier's rules that require you to state that you are shipping a handgun, Not federal law, so it would not be illegal... Then again, i'm not entirely sure.

Here's an idea that may be a legal and an easy way to ship to yourself without FFL needed. Break the firearm down into main it's components and ship it in two separate boxes on different days. It's not a functioning arm in that condition, just pieces. I sent a slide to a shop for night sights that way. It's not a gun, just a part. They sent it back to my home after the sight installation.

Nope, that would not work, the reciever with the serial number is what declares it as a firearm. I could take 10 guns apart and ship them as parts with no trouble, but the recievers must still go through a dealer.

 

[thatguy]

The shipping of firearms continues to be a big headache with no relief in sight. While it's legal, as far as I know, to ship a gun to yourself (no transfer of ownership involved) the carriers (UPS & Fed-Ex) have their own policies and each individual station seems to interpret the regulations and policies differently.

Apparently one is supposed to "declare" that the package contains a firearm but has anyone ever heard of this actually being an issue at any time? The last time I sent a handgun via Fed-Ex I wrote "1911-A1 92557" on the line describing the contents (92557 was the actual serial) and the clerk never asked about it. Seems to me I did declare the contents, didn't I?

Last time using UPS (knowing the problems one can expect with them) I put two old pocket knives in with the gun and wrote "collector pocket knives" on the contents line. That was true, they were in there. I declared the gun verbally but I spoke softly so as not to be overheard by others waiting in line behind me. Didn't want to cause a panic, you know? I hope the clerk heard me but she was way over at the far end of the counter when I made the declaration so maybe she didn't. That's the problem when you write a law as vague as "must declare contents to be a firearm" and then not define what constitutes a valid declaration.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

and from what I have read... It is the carrier's rules that require you to state that you are shipping a handgun, Not federal law, so it would not be illegal... Then again, i'm not entirely sure.

Nope. Federal Law.

§ 922. Unlawful acts


(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/2000_ref.htm

but has anyone ever heard of this actually being an issue at any time?

Explain to UPS/Fed Ex of the package contents when it fails to show up on the other end and you want them to cough up the money. Then explain to ATF after they report you for violating federal law.

 

[EOD Guy]

Nope. Federal Law.



http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/2000_ref.htm




Explain to UPS/Fed Ex of the package contents when it fails to show up on the other end and you want them to cough up the money. Then explain to ATF after they report you for violating federal law.

You are only required to declare if you are shipping to an umlicensed person. If you are shipping to an FFL, you are not legally required to declare the contents.

 

[EOD Guy]

You are legally required to declare the contents to the carrier for ANY shipment of a firearm to ANYONE, whether interstate or intrastate. That includes USPS when mailing long guns. (Only a dealer can mail handguns.)

Some have said on this site that even though they are not licensed, they often mail handguns to non-licensees and either lie to USPS or simply don't offer the information. More and more, USPS and some other carriers are x-raying suspicious packages, and telling a "little" lie can cause a lot of problems. The extra dollars involved in making a legal shipment is small potatoes compared to fines that can go six or seven figures, not to mention a jail term.

In addition, shipping to yourself is legal only where ownership of the firearm is legal in the destination state. You could not, for example, buy a pistol from a friend in GA and mail it to your home in NY, since it would not be registered and would not be legal for you to own in NY.

How would "they" find out? Maybe "they" read postings on sites like this.

Jim

Sorry Jim, but you are wrong on a couple of points.

There is nothing in the regulations that addresses ownership. All BATF cares about is possession.

Also, the regulation don't require you to declare that you are shipping a firearm unless you are shipping to an unlicenced individual. As long as you are shipping to an FFL, there is no legal requirement to declare the contents.

 

[MountainPeak]

This thread, and the responses, are proof positive that our government, and its regs. suck. Trying to get information is confusing to consumers, and to shippers/carriers. The carriers are trying to protect themselves from our government. Our government hasn't improved in the last 5 years either!!!! Hell, why was I so stupid, to think it might? :banghead:

 

[Open Carry]

Another good reason to get a C&R license (03 FFL).

 

[ulflyer]

C&r?

How would a C&R be of use unless the firearm qualified as curio and relic, basically over 50 years old?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

You are only required to declare if you are shipping to an umlicensed person. If you are shipping to an FFL, you are not legally required to declare the contents.

Yep, but the thread and the guy I was replying to were both talking about shipping to nonlicensees. "thatguy" states he ships guns all over the place without declaring them.

 

[Graystar]

...US Postal Service require an FFL for concealable firearms.Those are their rules,NOT the law.

That particular one IS law.

 

[thatguy]

Yup, I have "shipped guns all over the place" and again I ask if anyone has ever had a problem or known anyone to have a problem because of not declaring the contents?

Declaration must be in writing? Fine. On my way to the UPS center I will drop a note in the mail addressed to the company HQ declaring the contents of the package I am about to ship. Good enough? What do they expect you to do, write a note and hand it to the clerk. I can just see that now.

"I have a gun."

Any note you write with the word "gun" in it might cause a panic with the clerk.

Stupid, stupid laws and regulations. I liked it much better before 1968 when guns could be mail-ordered at will. We had less crime then, too. My first hunting rifle came directly from Herters.

Jeez, I am old, aren't I?

 

[LAR-15]

So if you have a C&R FFL you can ship your own guns to yourself with no declaration even if not C&Rs?

 

[EOD Guy]

So if you have a C&R FFL you can ship your own guns to yourself with no declaration even if not C&Rs?

No. A C&R FFL has no standing with firearms that are not C&R.