Transfer across state lines

[new_camper]

I have worked out a trade on handguns with a person from out of state (NC and SC). I am just making sure that I am legal in everything that we do. The plan is to drive to a dealer on the NC side of the border, and transfer his gun to me, and then cross the border and let a SC dealer transfer the gun to him. This follows all laws correct?

 

[Tom Servo]

I'm confused as to which party lives in which state.

 

[new_camper]

Sorry, I live in NC and we would meet at a NC dealer to transfer his pistol to me. He lives in SC and we would meet across the state line in SC at a dealer who would transfer my pistol to him. I think that clarifies it.

 

[Tom Servo]

In that case, you're good to go.

 

[Technosavant]

Yup.

So long as the handgun transfer occurs at a FFL in the state where the recipient resides, you're fine. You may wish to contact the FFLs in question first to make sure they'll receive a firearm from a non-FFL... it's perfectly legal to do that, but for some reason some FFLs won't do that.

I've transferred a handgun in exactly that manner before- drive it across the state line to a FFL in IL, I handed the firearm to the FFL, he entered it into his bound book and gave me a receipt, then he started the process with the buyer. Easy.

 

[carguychris]

You may wish to contact the FFLs in question first to make sure they'll receive a firearm from a non-FFL... it's perfectly legal to do that, but for some reason some FFLs won't do that.

I can't imagine there would be any problem with this if the transferor is presenting the firearm in-person, he or she has a valid state-issued photo ID, and there is nothing hinky about the firearm (e.g. it's not illegally modified, or unlawful to possess in the receiving state).

For the OP... FWIW the main issue with a FFL receiving firearms from a non-licensee has to do with record-keeping when the transaction isn't conducted face-to-face. The receiving FFL is required by federal law to record the transferor's name and address, and this can be problematic if the FFL receives a firearms shipment and this information is missing, illegible, or bogus. Additionally, most FFL's don't want to be stuck holding the bag if the firearm turns out to be stolen or illegally modified, or is unlawful to transfer to the intended recipient due to state law. These issues have prompted some FFL's to categorically refuse delivery of packages from non-licensees, but are usually not an issue in a face-to-face transaction, because the FFL can inspect the transferor's firearm and ID before conducting the transaction.