Trying to sell a handgun...need advise

[TEB12345]

Hypothetical questions:

I live in Illinois near the Indiana border. A Hoosier wants to buy my handgun. Can I drive to Indiana and transfer my Handgun to an Indiana FFL holder?

Can I ship my handgun by common carrier to the FFL holder?

Do I have to use a Illinois FFL holder to ship the handgun to the Indiana FFL holder?

New to stuff thanks in advance.

 

[mekender]

Yes
Yes
No

since you are shipping to a FFL, you can use UPS, FedEx, DHL ect... you are not required to declare it as a firearm contrary to popular thought... you would only have to use an IL FFL to ship if the receiving FFL will not accept incoming shipments from a non-ffl...

 

[rbernie]

1) Dunno - good question.

2) UPS and FedEx Overnight only, as far as I know, if you're not an FFL holder. Dunno if any other common carriers will take it. USPS is a no-no for non-FFL holders.

3) Not if the receiving FFL does not require it.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Yes
Yes
No

since you are shipping to a FFL, you can use UPS, FedEx, DHL ect... you are not required to declare it as a firearm contrary to popular thought... you would only have to use an IL FFL to ship if the receiving FFL will not accept incoming shipments from a non-ffl...

I believe this advice is incorrect. The BATFE FAQ says exactly the opposite:

(B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier? [Back]

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]

 

[Gator]

Yes
Yes
No

since you are shipping to a FFL, you can use UPS, FedEx, DHL ect... you are not required to declare it as a firearm contrary to popular thought... you would only have to use an IL FFL to ship if the receiving FFL will not accept incoming shipments from a non-ffl...

"mekender" is correct. You are only required to notify the shipper if you are shipping to other than an FFL.* The ATF FAQ is wrong, and ATF has admitted it is wrong. However, it is the shippers policy that you tell them, and if you don't they may not pay an insurance claim if your package is lost.

One minor quibble though, you will have to ship UPS; FedEx only does FFL to FFL (although you may get a clerk who does not know this) and DHL will not ship any guns, period.

*(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;...