Buying handgun from private individual

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bfg9000guy

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I've found a really nice gun I'm interested in buying in a local online classified site. I'm meeting the guy tomorrow during lunch, and I'll probably need to pay cash for it on the spot if I decide to buy it. I was wondering if there's some quick way I can check the "background" by the serial number. Do police departments have some way to help me determine that the gun is not stolen if I call and give them the serial number? How can I protect myself?
 
I usually do some checking myself. Such as checking his rating if its an auction type of website where you found the pistol (you weren't specific) or if its a forum check all his posts.

Also google his username and name if you have it you'll be surprised what you find. Another big search you can do is hit forums for the type of firearm it is...for example if its a glock go to glocktalk.com there and see if there is a stolen gun thread and check the serial there.

Also found this website, but never tried it:

http://www.stolenweapon.com/
 
Good question!!

I would like to know if so!
These folks will know if there is a way!
What kind of gun are you getting?
"JJ"
 
I've bought and sold a few guns, but I'm not an expert.

I think your only option is to insist that the transaction be handled between FFLs. The seller would take the gun to an FFL. That FFL would log the sellers info, gun and SN. In my experience, that FFL would ship the gun to the buyer's FFL where the buyer's info would be documented. I guess that the same FFL could fill both roles. Each FFL would charge for their services.

Background checks are typically performed on the buyer. Not the seller or the gun. I guess the logic is that the seller already has the gun and if Uncle Sam had to trace every SN from every gun transaction, the process would be a nightmare and yield little results.

Face to face transactions are legal in some states. It puts a burden on the seller to evaluate the buyer. I like it because I can sell or give a gun to a family member or friend with the added expense or hassle.
 
Is it legal where you live? If so, great!

Remember, a public place where both feel safe and secure would work the best.

As to protecting yourself, draw up a bill of sale with both names and driver license numbers along with the serial number and price - copy for each
 
Don't be surprised if he does not want to give you all that info. it isn't rewuired in many states and I am not giving it out to anyone. In Ohio you just ask all the 4473 questions and you are good. I usually make first contact by e-mail so one of the first things I have a person do is confirm the answers to those questions.
 
Thanks for the advice. To answer "JJ", the gun in question is a Sig P229 with night sights and a custom factory trigger, including 4 14 rnd mags, all for $750. He claims that it has only 200 rounds through it, but I'll be looking at the bore carefully before committing to buy it.
 
tell the person up front before the meeting that you will require a bill of sale

with his or her information on it along with the serial number of the gun.

I've bought a number of guns from folks like this (never sold one) and several have required it and I never had a problem with it... and a few I have asked for one.

If on the very off chance the gun has been stolen, this won't help you unless the seller backs out... but it at least will leave a trail for the authorities to follow.

I'm not sure how you can tell how many rounds a gun has been fired. With a half way decent Sig it should not matter anyway... 200 is probably just starting to smooth it out... if the seller is hedging and it actually has 4-500 through it that would be even better.
 
This brings up several good questions. How do the police run checks on stolen guns. Is there a central database of stolen guns, or are records maintained by jurisdiction? If there is a central database of stolen guns, why doesn't the public have access to it?
 
If I got a "creepy" feeling when I met the guy I wouldn't do business. Otherwise, I'd exchange cash for the gun and be done with it. I couldn't name the previous owners of many of my guns and I don't loose any sleep over it either.

If you have the slightest feeling that it might be stolen just walk away.
 
This brings up several good questions. How do the police run checks on stolen guns.
Click to expand...
The police have a shared national data base they can enter things like stolen guns into (the name escapes me a the moment).
If the item is entered other police agencies can look.
 
Have not done any face-to-face purchases in over 25 years

The last time I bought person to person it was "here is the money, here is the firearm" -- but that was a long time ago; and there are lots of things I did then I don't do know (sigh).

Today:
I think I'd try to do the sale somewhere that I could have quick access to a copy machine.
Prepare a sheet indicating that on day XX, I (name) bought firearm Make/Model/Caliber/Serial number from (Name).
Leave enough room on the sheet to place two ID cards on it.

Meet the person, fill in the info on the sheet and then both persons go to a copy machine and lay drivers license down and each gets a copy showing" Who sold What to Who/Whom.

If the person says NO I won't provide picture ID/Name - I might decide to walk away.
"Might ... walk" because at a venue like a Gun Show, anybody who sets up a table has established some kind of business relationship with the people runing the show and I'd probably go with whatever he/she did with other purchasers.
On-the-Other hand -- meeting a stranger in a Burger King parking lot -- I'd prefer a record of how/when that gun got into my possession.
.
 
We just had a case here last week that went bad when a person made arrangements to meet a seller to buy a laptop computer listed on Craigslist. They agreed to meet in WalMarts parking lot on a busy Thursday afternoon. When the buyer pulled into the lot a guy came up to him and asked if he was the guy waiting to buy the computer. When the buyer said yes, the "seller" got into the passenger seat and pulled a gun on the guy and asked for the money he brought with him to buy the computer. The buyer grabbed the gun and they started wresteling for it and the buyer started yelling for help. Lucky for him there were some people in the parking lot who came over and the buyer and two other good samaritans detained the "seller" until the police arrived. Lucky the gun didn't go off or it would have ended badly. Be careful where you meet and get some information from the seller before you meet and check it to see if it's accurate.
 
Thanks for the advice. To answer "JJ", the gun in question is a Sig P229 with night sights and a custom factory trigger, including 4 14 rnd mags, all for $750. He claims that it has only 200 rounds through it, but I'll be looking at the bore carefully before committing to buy it.
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound like an exceptional deal to me; More like an average retail price.
 
WHy would someone let a "seller" into thier vehicle if he didn't have anything to sell in his hands? Stranger, cash deal.:rolleyes:

I ask for a bill of sale but I don't always take it. The big thing is how they react when you ask! I have walked away and I have went through with it. Depends on how hinky they make me feel. It's generally ok...people needing money for things. Pay attention to your hinky meter though, believe it when you feel it.
 
You can ask at the local PD but....

On a couple of occasions I have taken the serial number and a good description (make model and caliber) to the police station and asked them to check to see if a gun was stolen.
On both firearms neither came back as stolen. But I was told that this was not foolproof. Their system only lists firearms that have been reported as stolen. And that some time later either could be reported stolen and my inquiry would show up at that time.
 
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