The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: ronlday on October 07, 2009, 12:10:10 AM

Title: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: ronlday on October 07, 2009, 12:10:10 AM
my father would like to give me, one of his handguns. he lives a few states away from me. and becouse of lack of funds dont know when we will ever see each other in person. is it legal for him to send the handgun to me in the mail? or does he have to send it to a gun dealer? and then i would have to pay for a back ground check and transfer fee?
ron l day
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: Hazcat on October 07, 2009, 12:13:00 AM
Has to go through FFL (sorry).
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: ronlday on October 07, 2009, 12:27:15 AM
Has to go through FFL (sorry).

that is what i thought. but was hopping for the cheaper way. thank you for the speedy info.
ron l day
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: TAB on October 07, 2009, 09:54:52 PM
now it is legal for you to "mail" a hand gun to yourself,  since your not a ffl you must send the hang gun with a 3rd party shiping company and you must do it "over night"    I've done it a couple times, when I was on hunting trips.   its alot easier to mail the gun then it is to get on a airplane with them.
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: Ping on October 07, 2009, 11:02:01 PM
I would make a trip if I were you. Much easier. My father visited me from Missouri and expressed how he did not have a home defense weapon. I sent him home with my .38 Special Smith and Wesson Revolver. If I would have known prior to that about his dilemma, I would have made a trip down to him just to deliver it and avoid cost and hassle of dealing with a FFL.
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: bbbean on October 07, 2009, 11:09:03 PM
now it is legal for you to "mail" a hand gun to yourself,

??????
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: TAB on October 07, 2009, 11:47:27 PM
??????

lets say your going hunting at a buddys house.  you can legal mail the hand gun over night to his address, but with your name on it.  They can not open it.   
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: fightingquaker13 on October 08, 2009, 12:01:18 AM
TAB points out the grey area. I have sent pistols off for service, just overnight mail. The factory sends them back directly to me. No FFL and no dealer fees and perfectly legal. Now, I NEVER go USPS. Always UPS or Fed EX. You have to declare its a gun, and they can't mark it as such on  the package. Now, if dear old dad were to ship you a fishing reel via UPS........ ;D But you would, hypothetically speaking, be violating the law and the $50 transfer fee is a lot cheaper than a lawyer. If you want to keep it off the books, a family reunion would be the best way to go.
FQ13
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: TAB on October 08, 2009, 12:08:59 AM
if your not a FFL, you can not mail a hand gun with USPS. 
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: bbbean on October 08, 2009, 07:56:30 AM
lets say your going hunting at a buddys house.  you can legal mail the hand gun over night to his address, but with your name on it.  They can not open it.   

My understanding was that this is only legal with long guns.
Title: Re: is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?
Post by: Timothy on October 08, 2009, 08:20:19 AM
Up here in the Northeast, I can drive through 8 states in a few hours time....

check with the legal authority in both your state and your fathers.  While we have ample knowledge of all things here, your the one who will pay the price if you don't play by the rules.