How do I sell my Makarov to my son in another state?

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

DG45

New member
I own an East German Makarov pistol that I purchased about 20-25 years ago when they were first imported into the USA. My adult son (6 year Navy veteran; gainfully employed, married with two small children; clean criminal record) works at night and wants it for home protection. (His neighbors home was recently broken into at night.) I don't need it and always planned for it to go to him someday anyway. I'd like to go ahead and give it to him now, but we live in different states and #1, I want to be sure that whatever I do is strictly legal, and #2, once its out of my hands, I don't want any future personal liability from it.

I'm thinking that if my sons buys a C&R license, he can just send me a copy of the license, plus a check written for $1 as payment in full for the gun and then I can ship it to him, and after that it'll be his and I'll be out of it, and that's all that's neccesary. True? false?

If this isn't the best procedure to follow what is? Any help will be appreciated.

DG

PS This inquiry isn't about whether a Makarov is the right gun for HD or not. I know all the pros and cons of that, but this is the gun he prefers. (He also has a 12 ga. shotgun, but his wife is scared of that.)
 
Don't know what states you're in , but it all depends on your respective states laws. Does his current state of residence require registration? In some states , a parent can give a firearms as a gift with no paperwork involved. You could always give it to him as a gift when he comes home for a visit. Or maybe ya gave it to him years ago before he moved?

A few states do not even allow C&R holders to receive handguns directly. Best way is to have an FFL in your state ship it to an FFL in your sons state.
 
mkk41 said:
Don't know what states you're in , but it all depends on your respective states laws. Does his current state of residence require registration? In some states , a parent can give a firearms as a gift with no paperwork involved. You could always give it to him as a gift when he comes home for a visit.
Click to expand...
Some states may have such laws but federal law takes precedence in interstate transfers and there is no such provision for transfers between family members. Gifting or selling a firearm to someone who lives in another state, even if a family member, without the transfer being made through an FFL, is a federal crime.

mkk41 said:
Or maybe ya gave it to him years ago before he moved?
Click to expand...
Might want to check the forum rule about "Knowingly and willfully advocating violation of a standing federal or state law (any state)". The mods seem to take that one fairly seriously. :)
 
The FFL to FFL transfer is probably the cheapest and most convenient solution, as suggested.

I wonder if it's also OK to just bring the Mak over to him when you visit and have it transferred at an FFL in his state? Assuming it's legal to drive through any intervening states on your drive.
 
I own all of the guns in my father's house. He gave them to me years ago when I was still a resident of his state. One day, I'll go and get all of my guns but I'm not in any itching hurry.
 
Under federal law, all transfers of a firearm from the resident of one State to a resident of another (with a few narrow exceptions, e. g., a bequest in a will) must be done by an FFL. In the case of a handgun, it must be an FFL in the transferee's home State. (18 USC 922(a)(3) and 18 USC 922(a)(5))

The easiest thing for the OP to do is to have his son find a local FFL who will do the transfer. The OP, or an FFL on his behalf, can then simply send the gun to son's transfer FFL who will transfer the gun. It would be legal for the OP to send the gun directly to the transfer FFL, but some FFLs will not, as a matter of business practice, accept a gun for transfer directly from an individual.

Doing all this will cost a little money and be a bit of a hassle, but it may be easier overall than having the sun apply to ATF for a C&R license. I'm sure it will take less time.

BTW, the OP doesn't have to sell the gun to the son. It can be a gift. However, there's no exception under federal law for an interstate transfer that's a gift, even if intrafamilial.
 
Last edited:
Good answer, Fidddletown. Yep, this is a transfer like any other. Just ship it to a willing FFL near your son, and you're legal-schmeagle.

Off topic comment:
Have you fired that Makarov much? Is it a reliable self defense choice? Doesn't it use the 9mm Makarov cartridge? Make sure there's good defensive ammo available for it and then test it with that ammo. Some guns designed pre-hollow-points won't feed them. There's nothing more dangerous than a SD gun that fails at the crucial moment.

Off-topic button disengaged.

Good luck to your son.
 
If you gave it to him while he lived in your state, he can take it [to his new] home[, when he moves.] any time he wants.

ETA: Tto show the difference in lawful and unlawful. - Al.
 
I have a problem with "I want no more liability for it"? Do you have a state that has a registration system (a la NY?). In free state, FTF is legal to anyone who is a resident of your state. (including residents that are in the military but are not physically present in your state)

If you do live in a non-free state, the only way is to FFL to FFL.

If you live in a free state, and you son is still in the Navy? what is his home of record? If you son is still in the Navy, and his HoR is in your state, you can give it to him. If he is still in the Navy, and his HoR is still in your state, then he is legally still a resident of your state.

If not, FFL is the simplist way.
 
I have a problem with more than one poster suggesting that the transfer be backdated.

Isn't one of the rules of this site that we NOT advocate illegal activities? Ah, yes -- Rule #5, next-to-last bullet.
 
Isn't one of the rules of this site that we NOT advocate illegal activities?
Click to expand...
Yes, and I have already deleted one post for doing that.

Since the OP got his answer, and the correct legal answer, in the first couple of posts, I'm going to close this before anyone else comes up with a creative way to get around the laws of the land. They may be laws we disagree with, but they are still the law, and until changed we won't be advocating the breaking or skirting of them.

Closed.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top