Would you be concerned about selling to someone like this??

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JLStorm

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Guys, feel free to jump all over me and call me an idiot for even allowing myself to think like this...but something just has me not feeling quite right about this scenario, I would really appreciate your input.

I am selling some body armor on a gun auction website and for some odd reason I just got a weird feeling about the only bidder...I have no idea why. Well, I decided to check their feedback and this person has bought at least 60 different parts in the last 3 months (much higher than their traditional buying rate), most of which are for two types of rifles. They have bought several parts that will allow them to convert these weapons into full auto. They also have bought several machine gun manuals and receiver blue prints.

Now, this is perfectly legal and shame on me for even second guessing someone who wants to be a well armed citizen and who most probably has all the BATF paperwork they need...BUT...thats a lot of cheap purchases in a very short time aimed at making 2 - 3 fully automatic weapons.

I have this unfounded fear that I could be contributing to something illegal. It is not my place to even fathom such a thing, but...would you be wondering the same thing if you were in my position, or am I just being completely irrational?
 
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Selling a car, you may be selling to someone intent on making a car bomb. Selling a knife, you may be selling to a slasher.

If they're legal to own armor, what they do with it is their business.
 
I don't think you are being irrational. The guns I have listed in the past for sale, I always get idiots who want to bypass sending the gun to a FFL. To me, they want to bypass the NICS for some reason. I just had some knucklehead email me about a rifle and giving a song and dance about how a bolt action rifle isn't an EBR and can be shipped directly to a person out of state LOL. So these type of unscrupulous people are out there. You have the right to choose who you sell your products to so if you don't feel comfortable selling to this person, then don't sell it to them. What are they going to do, contact the BBB?
 
Well you have a conscious - congratulations - not many do these days I am said to say.

You have a binding contract I assume if you used GB or similar. I am afraid if he meets his end of the contract, makes a winning bid, sends you payment you don't have much legal reason to refuse to sell. It is a risk of using an auction site as opposed to Fun Shows or other FTF methods.

I have to admit that some 'shady characters' have approached me a fun show and I get rid of them by tripling or quadrupling my asking price. I have yet to have one whip out cash after that, but if they did I would say I need to tell you that this ... malfunctions and is broken.

I would not recommend that you 'report' anything unless you absolutely have talked or communicated to him personally and he mentioned that his intention is to break the law.

If you wanted to try to get out of it, you could research to see if what you are selling is not permitted in his locality. I bet places like California and Nazi Jersey have some regulations. That might get you out. But still, you might have to fight a non-performance incident with the auction site.

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people talking to FFL's at shows trying to work around not being able to check the appropriate 'go' boxes on the yellow sheet.
 
Always listen to your gut, if it tells you something isn't right then something isn't right. Anytime you have to think more than twice about doing something then dont do it.
 
He may just have that sheepdog mentality, and wants to do his best to be in a position to protect his family.
His multiple recent purchases, could be because he is a latecomer to preparedness, and is now hurriedly doing what he can to catch up.

That said, I would still defer to what jnyork posted...
Always listen to your gut, if it tells you something isn't right then something isn't right. Anytime you have to think more than twice about doing something then don't do it.

"Discernment of Spirit" is your friend. ;)
 
Respect your gut instinct. If you feel the need to pull the plug on the auction, pull the plug on the auction.

Express your concern confidentially to the auction site and I'm sure they'll respect and honor your judgment. The bidder can't leave feedback unless he actually wins the item. If it's bothering you, losing the listing fee is a small price to pay for your peace of mind.
 
JLStorm said:
Guys, feel free to jump all over me and call me an idiot for even allowing myself to think like this...
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Okay, you are an idiot. :) <== you asked!

Yeah, and the place you bought the armor thought you were a little hicky as well. Buying body armor for God's sake. They thought they were your mother and wouldn't sell it to you. What would you have thought then?

Flame Red said:
Well you have a conscious - congratulations - not many do these days I am said to say.
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It isn't about conscience, it is about freedom. Conscience is when you don't use it for nefarious deeds, not when you pre-judge others.

Flame Red said:
I have to admit that some 'shady characters' have approached me...
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You know nothing about these people but are judging them not worthy. Pathetic. Sounds like you should take the civil service exam and go work for the government. Sorry if this was harsh, but it's the truth.

JLStorm said:
Now, this is perfectly legal and shame on me for even second guessing someone who wants to be a well armed citizen and who most probably has all the BATF paperwork they need...
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You are not this person's mother and you shouldn't try to be. For christ's sake, sell the man your armor.
 
I don't care if someone buys armor and makes machine guns. Why do you assume he's evil? Because he may be defying an unconstitutional law? If Obama gets his way ALL gun owners may be breaking a new law. Relax Francis.
 
It bothers me that I see purchased blue prints for receivers and machine gun manuals along with the parts. Im not saying Im right, Im probably wrong and being a bad person. I just wanted an outside opinion.
 
Respect your gut instinct. If you feel the need to pull the plug on the auction, pull the plug on the auction.

Express your concern confidentially to the auction site and I'm sure they'll respect and honor your judgment. The bidder can't leave feedback unless he actually wins the item. If it's bothering you, losing the listing fee is a small price to pay for your peace of mind.
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+1 on that.
 
If you don't feel good about it, don't sell.
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Absolutely +1

They have bought several parts that will allow them to convert these weapons into full auto.
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Depending on what the part is. And assuming he doesn't have a taxed, transferable firearm it fits. That, in and of itself, can possibly be a felony right there.

I am afraid if he meets his end of the contract, makes a winning bid, sends you payment you don't have much legal reason to refuse to sell.
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If you're that nervous about it, things get lost in the mail all the time. Or he could somehow get the wrong address? Easiest would be to shut down the auction, if that's still an option.

Wyman
 
Could this be a Class 2 SOT that is getting some supplies to make some machine guns for their inventory?

ETA: And no, it's not me. I read my post and thought it was leading.
 
No I doubt it about the class two. too many side steps and work arounds that a class two wouldnt need to deal with.
 
Maybe he's one of these guys looking towards a future of civil unrest or zombie infestation and is preparing for when the SHTF :)

If it ain't illegal I'd sell. It's not my place to second guess someone's foibles.
 
A bad feeling?

Have you ever sold a firearm & afterwards had "a bad feeling" about the sale? Anything happen?

Maybe you should've thought about the possibility of a "BG" buying what you are selling BEFORE you listed it on GB. Personally, I wouldn't sell body armor to ANYONE unless it was FTF.

JLStorm, I'm not trying to flame you... , really... but if the guy's got the funds & you didn't know his "history".... you would sell to him... right?

Go w/ your gut & don't forget... future bidders WILL & DO check your listing/selling history, & might possibly not bid on your items (in the future) for fear of you wasting their time by ending/pulling the auction early for "whatever" reasons.

Either way, good luck w/ whatever you decide to do! :)
 
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If you feel strange about it, tell him it sold locally at the last minute and you didn't have time to pull the auction. Honestly, any time you sell a weapon or something related, there stands a chance that it could be used for evil purposes.
 
As long as the parts he purchased are legal to own in his state of residence, there really is no reason to cry foul. If he is trying to circumvent registering a full auto, eventually he will get caught.

On the other hand, if any part that he purchased that will allow him to convert is not legal in his state, I would have zero problems picking up a phone. Whether his state law is wrong or right in accordance with the 2nd is not the issue, the fact that he is doing something hinky is.
 
JLStorm said:
It bothers me that I see purchased blue prints for receivers and machine gun manuals along with the parts. I'm not saying I'm right, I'm probably wrong and being a bad person. I just wanted an outside opinion.
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Hypothetically, let's assume he has already built 3 full auto weapons, and has them sitting in his living room.
Imagine that you sold the armor, and he is pulling it out of the shipping box, strapping it on, and standing next to those dangerous guns ... are you responsible for what he does next?

Selling a car to someone could allow them to run over grandmothers in the street next Sunday, would you be responsible?


That being said, it is your body armor, and is yours to dispose of or employ in whatever fashion you wish. If you don't want to sell it to this character, it is your right to tell a white lie* and politely decline the sale. Of course, you may be morally wrong NOT to sell him the armor ... perhaps the buyer is in fear of his wife's ex-boyfriend, and will end up being gunned down in his driveway in front of his children now that he won't have the body armor (see how one can make up a hypothetical situation out of thin air?)



*How about:
"Just wanted to confirm that you wanted this, your screen-name implies a lack of 'female chest accessories' and this IS female-shaped armor"
or
"You know this is costume armor from a cop movie, right?"
or
"Sorry, the department asked me what had happened to this stuff, apparently it wasn't listed as destroyed like I thought"
 
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