FFL issue: Handgun from TX to MI...

[TireFryer]

I am buying a handgun from TX which will be shipped to MI.

From my understanding of the FEDERAL LAW, ANY AND ALL over-the-state-line sales have to go from the seller's FFL to the buyer's FFL...am I correct in reading the law properly or not?

Can the seller just ship the handgun through FEDEX/UPS/DHL/... straight to my MI FFL?

I called and talked to 6 FFL's in my area and they all said if the seller shipped the gun himself w/o going through an FFL at his end, none of them would accept the shipped package.

HELP! What is the RIGHT, LAWFUL way to go through this transaction? I have MO ready in an envelope to be shipped out, but have to clear up this FFL issue first... NEED TO KNOW BY NOON on Fri 3/31.

If you are from MI and have purchased a HANDGUN from TX, please chime in your procedure by which you took physical possession of the gun.

Thanx a bunch in advance.

Basam

P.S. if not already evident, I am a newbie to THR, and loving it on the learning curve though...

 

[Monkeybear]

The person who bought the gun you are shipping should have a FFL already, he is the person you need to call. Do whatever he tells you to do.

 

[Graystar]

Federal law allows a US citizen of any state to ship a handgun via common carrier to an FFL in any other state. However, even though this is so, the laws of the states involved may place additional restrictions on FFLs, making such a transfer impossible.

Michigan registers handguns. Michigan gun dealers are required to record Michigan licensee information when making transfers to non-FFLs. They are NOT required to record such information when dealing with other FFLs.

Though I can’t be 100% sure, it appears that this situation is similar to New York. No FFL in New York will accept a handgun shipped from a citizen outside the state because the FFL would be unable to record the authority under which the handgun was possessed (a New York State bookkeeping requirement.)

As I said earlier, Michigan has a similar law requiring the licensee information to be recorded when a transfer is made. My guess is that since the FFL can’t record licensee information from a citizen outside the state, they simply can’t accept the handgun.

If the FFL (that you’ve chosen to receive the gun) says that the gun must be shipped from an FFL, then he’s probably right. Just have the seller go to his local FFL and drop the gun off for shipping. You’ll have to call the seller’s FFL and give him your FFL’s phone number so that the two FFLs can exchange licenses. You’ll also have to pay for the entire transaction, which could be 40-50 bucks (20-25 FFL fee + UPS/FedEx shipping charge, and don’t forget your FFL’s charge for receiving on top of that.) The FFL can save you money and use the US Mail to send the gun, but I believe that requires a trip to the P.O. If the FFL doesn’t do that regularly, most likely he’ll just want UPS/FedEx to pick it up (if he has an account, that is. Otherwise it’s still a trip to the shipping center.)

Shipping guns is a pain, and expensive when you live in New York (and, apparently, Michigan.) Might be cheaper to buy one from the dealer’s case! In any case, good luck!

Firearm Laws of Michigan
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/firearms.pdf

 

[louisdove]

I live in MI and am in the process of buying a gun from CO. I called probably a dowzen FFLs before i found one to accept it form a non-ffl person. In order to talk him into it i had to give him a webstie and he still after reading it went ahead and called the ATF. For some reason ffls around here just were not aware of the law or were too stubborn to care. If you live around Oakland County the man i went through is Glen Avers he is out of MI he charges $35 but is very friendly and takes care of EVERYTHING. him number is 866.899.4867. Good luck with finding someone and working it all out.

Louis

 

[waterhouse]

Where is the gun in TX (what city)?

 

[TireFryer]

houston, TX

 

[Trebor]

Contact Ken at Global Military Gunsmithing. He's in Farmington Hills. His phone is 248-888-1005.

http://globalmilitarygunsmithing.com/index.html

He's a good guy and has done transfers for me in the past. I don't think he requires the pistol to be shipped from a FFL. Ask him yourself to be sure.

Feel free to mention my name. He should remember me.

Rob

Btw, glad to see you found your way over here from MGOUC

 

[Ramjet]

Don't know whether Ken will accept from a non-FFL either, but I too have dealt with him in the past and concur that he's great to work worth.