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ffl?

spas12spas12 Member Posts: 571 ✭✭✭✭
edited July 2013 in Ask the Experts
I sold a gun and the ffl that the buyer wants it shipped to says that they don't give copies of their ffl to non ffls.
I believe that it is alright if I only get there license number so I can run the check, am I correct?
Second I've never dealt with an ffl that wouldn't send a copy of their license, is there any reason to be suspicious?

Comments

  • spas12spas12 Member Posts: 571 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I HAVE ALL THE GUNS I BUY OFF THE INTERNET SENT TO A PAWN SHOP BY MY HOUSE..YESTERDAY THE LADY TOLD ME SHE WOULD SEND ALL OTHER GUNS BACK TO THE SHIPPERS UNLESS THEY SENT A COPY OF THERE FFL WITH SHIPMENT..DO I HAVE TO GET THEM TO SEND THERE FFL WITH GUN?OR JUST THERE RETURN ADDRESS INFO WILL BE GOOD?OR SHOULD I GO FIND SOMEONE ELSE AND TELL HER TO BITE ME?THANKS,BRIAN!
  • spas12spas12 Member Posts: 571 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is the fflkit or other help products worth getting or should one just go about the proccess without these aids.
    Scott-
  • spas12spas12 Member Posts: 571 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm thinking of getting an FFL. I just want to save money on my own gun purchases which will only be 1 OR 2 here and thier. Do you guys think it's worth the process and the expense. And how tuff is it to get one?
  • BeeramidBeeramid Member Posts: 7,264 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Was it stated in your auction that the buyers FFL must be willing to accept a gun from a non-FFL? If so then its the buyers problem for not sorting it out ahead of time. You can always offer to have your FFL ship to his FFL, at his expense.
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,883 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It has become more common lately, as paranoia sweeps the country.

    Actually, it's worse than in your case; many FFL's now say that they will not accept a firearm from a nonlicensee, period. But, I suspect, if you walked into their shops looking to sell your collection of old Colts & S&Ws, they wouldn't throw you out.

    You are absolutely correct, all you need is the dealer's FFL number. You would then look it up on FFL EZ-Check to verify it, & make a printout for your records. The dealer could reasonably ask you for a photocopy of your drivers license. If he still refuses, you would be justified in telling the buyer to find another dealer.

    Neal

    EDIT: Many FFL's do not want to give out copies of their license for fear that it will be used by an unscrupulous person to buy firearms. Some even write or stamp "FILE COPY" on copies to prevent that. They will give a photocopy to another dealer, but not a nonlicensee. It's still paranoid, because there's ZERO documentation of license fraud in cases like this.
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If he won't send you a copy of his FFL. Or at least give you the number to run on the BATF's web site. How the heck do you know who you are dealing with? It might be one of the free lance pharmaceutical salesmen on MLK, hustling guns to diversify his business.
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    While a licensee does not have to provide a copy of his FFL to a non licensee, he must give you the FFL number so that the license can be verified. Until the arrival of the FFL EZ-Check system it was not possible to verify an FFL (we are NOT talking about C&R FFLS so all of you just back away from your keyboards) without making a phone call to Atlanta but now this can be accomplished in under a minute by going online.

    He MUST provide you with the FFL number, it is specified in the regulations.
  • spas12spas12 Member Posts: 571 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    To clarify the problem isn't that he won't accept the shipment, it's that he doesn't want to send a copy of his ffl and that seems suspicious.
  • bk0331bk0331 Member Posts: 525 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It is unlikely, but possible, that the buyer is trying to get you to send the firearm without shipping to an FFL. If he won't provide you with a copy of his FFL or his FFL number, do not ship the firearm or you may open yourself up to criminal charges.
  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by spas12

    I believe that it is alright if I only get there license number so I can run the check, am I correct?
    Second I've never dealt with an ffl that wouldn't send a copy of their license, is there any reason to be suspicious?


    As others have already noted, yes, you are correct, you just need the number -- or just the parts of it to enter into the ATF's eZcheck system -- to verify that the address you will be shipping to is licensed to receive the shipment.

    As for an FFL not wanting to give a copy of his license out -- as nmyers has already pointed out, it is paranoia since there is no evidence of fraud in this area.

    If he's concerned someone might try to walk into a shop of another FFL somewhere with the license and try to buy over the counter, he can eliminate that risk by writing (or putting a watermark image over, if this is an electronic copy) saying "not for counter sales" -- that way, the copy of the license can only be used for shipping a firearm to his location.

    Again, there is no evidence that there are con-artists out there who are using "stolen, fake or altered" FFL licenses trying to buy firearms from unsuspecting FFLs, so this is really a non-issue, but considering the headaches a license holder would probably have to deal with IF someone did misuse his license, a certain amount of caution is not unreasonable.
  • llamallama Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My FFL cheerfully gives out copies of his paper to non-FFLs but the number is obfuscated so you only have parts required to run ez-check.

    Just a simple sharpie marker or exacto knife away.....

    Edit - Neal - didn't LF have an issue of someone using her FFL in a not good manner?
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    spas12,

    I would tell the buyer to find another FFL. Or, he can pay for the one on your end. If the law doesn't state he has to have it shipped to him by an FFL then the FFL is really doing the whole firearms trade a disservice. He's adding to the paranoia that is keeping the gun trade from running.

    Now, if the state the buyer is from requires an FFL to ship to, and you didn't state anything beforehand, then it's on you.
  • JIM STARKJIM STARK Member Posts: 1,150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The main purpose of having a FFL copy, or at least the # to do EZ check is...YOU MUST SHIP TO THE ADDRESS ON THE LICENSE....
    JIM..........
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