is it legal to mail a handgun to a family member?

[ronlday]

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

[Hazcat]

Has to go through FFL (sorry).

[ronlday]

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

[TAB]

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.

[Ping]

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.

[Sponsor]

[bbbean]

now it is legal for you to "mail" a hand gun to yourself,

[TAB]

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.   

[fightingquaker13]

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........ 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

[TAB]

if your not a FFL, you can not mail a hand gun with USPS. 

[bbbean]

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.