How does a company buy a gun?

[.455_Hunter]

My company needs to purchase a .22 rifle on a ballistic research contract from the federal gov't. How do companies like security firms purchase weapons? There must be a different process from individual citizen purchases.

 

[btg3]

It likely varies depending on state law. Suggest you contact a gun dealer in your state.

 

[Badlander]

If you are incorperated In Fl. you can buy machine guns. A .22 should be no problem.

 

[kd7nqb]

Not sure, I know the NFA guys often put their guns in a trust so I suppose there must be a way for a trust to buy a gun, the same should work for an LLC or Corporation.

 

[HeavenlySword]

what sort of research are they conducting?

 

[.455_Hunter]

what sort of research are they conducting?

Sorry, I can't really say.

I guess I can can call our ATF rep. to get their take on the situation...

 

[makarovnik]

I talked to a manager at Big 5 Sporting Goods. All the managers have to be an FFL. If something goes wrong with the transfer he and he alone is responsible.

So I gather at least in Wa. that a company can not purchase a firearm, only an individual.

I wonder if it the same for the local police department?

 

[Aw4g63]

A police department must be able to buy guns. I mean, they're issued to officers. Seems like it's their property.

 

[atomchaser]

Trusts and Corporations can purchase NFA items and one would assume regular firearms. Suggest you find a dealer who does alot of police business. He is more likely to know how to do it or inclined to call the ATF to ask.

 

[woodsoup]

It's a long gun for crying out loud. The owner goes to the store and buys it.
The company does the testing.
Then raffle it off for charity if it's still usable. Or just sell it. Or keep it.
After all it is HIS gun that he's letting his company use for this project.

 

[Hostile Amish]

If it's just A .22 rifle, just go out and buy it.

If it's .22 rifleS, contact a dealer or manufacturer.

If it's NFA items you need contact the ATF

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

I have your solution. Give me money. I will go buy a .22 rifle. I will then loan it to you to do your testing. Once the testing is over you then return the rifle to me. Deal?

I'm serious, even though it sounds funny

 

[.455_Hunter]

I will go buy a .22 rifle. I will then loan it to you to do your testing. Once the testing is over you then return the rifle to me.

We are probably looking at a break open single shot, like a H&R or Rossi. It probably will not be much use as a rifle once we are done with it.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

I can always use parts for rifles, but you might have to pay my travel as well to make this happen, unless you want to pay shipping for it?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I talked to a manager at Big 5 Sporting Goods. All the managers have to be an FFL. If something goes wrong with the transfer he and he alone is responsible.

So I gather at least in Wa. that a company can not purchase a firearm, only an individual.

I wonder if it the same for the local police department?

That doesn't sound right. Companies can hold a FFL, ours did for many years. If you can register a Ma Deuce to a company you can register a .22. It probably wouldn't go on a form 4473. I'd suggest contacting the ATF and find out what needs to be done.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Corporations (companies) cannot have private collections of Title I firearms. Title II firearms are allowed for corporate ownership. Companies can not possess a C&R FFL as it is a private FFL and corporations cannot possess private firearms collections.

For a Title I firearm it either goes on a 4473 to a natural person or to an FFL.

 

[evan price]

How does your company purchase cars or other items? Write a PO for it and your buyer goes to get bids. The winning bidder provides the firearm. A member of your board or someone else who is listed on your Articles of Incorporation would be a good choice for an "owner" on paper.

Be aware that all NFA rules apply- if you are making the rifle into one which would require an SBR tax stamp, it will be necessary- even if the rifle won't be used as a "gun" per se (let's say, modifying a rifle to fire a seismic testing charge, for example) it is still a "firearm" in the eyes of ATF and any modifications need to fall under the NFA (I assume your company is not a Class III sot because you are even asking the question...)

 

[freakshow10mm]

Again, a company cannot own a Title I firearm. Only a Title II.

 

[danprkr]

This is one I'd kick to my corporate attorney. I hate using them, but they're a necessary evil. I'm in real estate, and anytime I'm thinking I have to do something that's not covered by the tiny segment of law that I know I call mine up and make him earn his retainer.

Also, it occurs to me that a call from an attorney's office asking these questions will set off fewer bells than one from an individual.

Of course the best thing to have done would have been to have written into the contract that the feds supply the gun, then they'd simply hand it to you, along with a mountain of paperwork to acknowledge your receiving it, and you'd be safe. Of course it'd have to go back to them when you finished it, but you wouldn't have this mess.

Good luck, and let me know how it turns out. I may use the info later in my company.

 

[danprkr]

Again, a company cannot own a Title I firearm. Only a Title II.

Here in Texas (at least 5 years ago when I last worked the industry. There were hundreds of rent a cop companies that issued their commissioned officers side arms, and in some instances shotguns. In my case I had to carry their crappy shot to pieces .38 even though I had much better choices in my safe. They said it was to ensure that I wasn't using the 'wrong' type of gun, and putting them in a potentially libelous situation.

And, make no bones about it, they had a locker full of this stuff, and you had to sign yours out by serial number. They owned it. Therefore there has to be a mechanism for corporate ownership.

 

[jfh]

Egad, call the ATF. They will know--I'm sure (as the posts above show) this isn't a new question.

Jim H.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Ask an ATF agent, you'll get 7 answers.

 

[danprkr]

[qoute]Ask an ATF agent, you'll get 7 answers.[/quote]

Or, more, and then they'll hold you liable for not knowing which one was correct. Gotta love bureaucrats.

 

[CleverNickname]

Again, a company cannot own a Title I firearm. Only a Title II.

Where are you getting that? The law clearly states the following:

(a) As used in this chapter—
(1) The term “person” and the term “whoever” include any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or joint stock company.

Even if you didn't look up the law, it would be obvious that a company can own a title I firearm. Do you think FFLs are only given to real people? Just look at all the guns Walmart sells. Do you think that it's selling guns that it doesn't own? Do you think there are no security companies that own guns?

 

[CWL]

I would imagine that armored car and armed security companies in your state has had to deal with this. Try calling a local company and see if somebody won't mind telling you where to start.