Shipping rifles

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KBP

New member
Is it legal to ship a rifle in PA to a private person in the same state? How do I do it without breaking any laws or getting ripped off? :confused:
 
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rbursek

New member
One trick a gun dealer in CO told me when shipping a rifle and shotgun to my son in CO and I live in WI is to take the bolt out of the rifle and the barrel off of the shotgun, ship them seperate and now you are just shipping gun parts to each other which is legal since they are not any longer concidered a fire arm. I hope this helps. They went Fedex or Brown but I think it was Fedex.
Bob
 
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docnyt

New member
rbursek said:
One trick a gun dealer in CO told me when shipping a rifle and shotgun to my son in CO and I live in WI is to take the bolt out of the rifle and the barrel off of the shotgun, ship them seperate and now you are just shipping gun parts to each other which is legal since they are not any longer concidered a fire arm. I hope this helps. They went Fedex or Brown but I think it was Fedex.
Bob
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I wouldn't advise this if I were you. You're walking a slippery slope when it comes to Federal firearms law.
 
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Don H

New member
rbursek said:
One trick a gun dealer in CO told me when shipping a rifle and shotgun to my son in CO and I live in WI is to take the bolt out of the rifle and the barrel off of the shotgun, ship them seperate and now you are just shipping gun parts to each other which is legal since they are not any longer concidered a fire arm. I hope this helps. They went Fedex or Brown but I think it was Fedex.
Bob
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The receiver (or the component with the serial number) is legally considered a firearm whether it has a barrel on it or not, whether the bolt is in it or not. That's why a new AR stripped lower or a new 1911 frame has to be transferred through a FFL.

18 USC 921 defines a firearm as:
The term “firearm” means
(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
(B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
(D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.
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Notice the Act specifies a receiver as a firearm and says nothing about an assembled rifle or shotgun. The Colorado dealer misinformed you and you committed a federal crime.
 
K

KBP

New member
Shipping firearms within PA

Thanks for all the insight but the question was "IS IT LEGAL TO SHIP A LONGGUN FROM PA TO ANOTHER PERSON IN PA?" My local Postmaster said NO to shipping USPS! Another postmaster in a nearby town said YES! Regardless of weather you can ship thru USPS, the most important question is; IS IT LEGAL? I think it is, but the jails are full of people that thought things they were doing were legal! :confused:
 
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dogtown tom

New member
KBP Thanks for all the insight but the question was "IS IT LEGAL TO SHIP A LONGGUN FROM PA TO ANOTHER PERSON IN PA?" My local Postmaster said NO to shipping USPS! Another postmaster in a nearby town said YES! Regardless of weather you can ship thru USPS, the most important question is; IS IT LEGAL? I think it is, but the jails are full of people that thought things they were doing were legal!
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1. There is no Federal law or USPS regulation that requires you to notify the ANYONE that you are shipping a rifle or shotgun.
2. Postmasters are not authorized to render legal decisions regarding the shipment of firearms.
3. The USPS will not know you are shipping a rifle or shotgun unless you tell them. Don't invite unneeded, unnecessary or illogical drama into your life.
4. USPS regs on shipping firearms: http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1198527
 
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dogtown tom

New member
rbursek One trick a gun dealer in CO told me when shipping a rifle and shotgun to my son in CO and I live in WI is to take the bolt out of the rifle and the barrel off of the shotgun, ship them seperate and now you are just shipping gun parts to each other which is legal since they are not any longer concidered a fire arm. I hope this helps. They went Fedex or Brown but I think it was Fedex.
Bob
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You just admitted to a Federal crime.:eek:
You could dice that gun into a million little pieces and it is still a firearm.

It is always safest to VERIFY THE RULES YOURSELF.

It isn't hard to find firearms laws and postal regulations. Google is your friend.
 
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csmsss

New member
Though the odds of getting caught and prosecuted seem slim, why risk a federal prosecution for the sake of saving a few bucks in dealer fees? Do you know what it costs to defend yourself once the feds decide to take an active interest in you? Even if they don't prosecute?
 
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blume357

New member
Back to the original question...

I believe it is perfectly legal for you to mail a long gun to another individual in your state of PA. Simply because it is legal for you to mail a long gun via USPS... and private sales of long guns (and short) are legal in the state of PA, between residents of the same.

As for 'safe'.... Well, I would for sure get and secure payment first if you don't know the person you are mailing the rifle to real well.
 
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natman

New member
If both the seller and the buyer are residents of the SAME state, it is perfectly legal on a FEDERAL level to sell a gun without the transfer going through an FFL. Some states, such as CA, require most sales to go through an FFL even between two CA residents. I don't know if PA has any such laws.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-usps

Q: To whom may an unlicensed person transfer firearms under the GCA?

A person may sell a firearm to an unlicensed resident of his State, if he does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law.
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Assuming that PA does not have any restrictions, it is perfectly legal for you to ship the firearm to a buyer in the same state. You can only MAIL long guns.

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?

A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.{emphasis added}
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Here's the postal regs:

http://www.cgwgun.com/shipping/usps.aspx

Be sure to point out this one to the postmaster who refused to ship:

11.4 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms

Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of rifles or shotguns. Contact the nearest office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for further advice.
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