What if?

[BPTactical]

The minute a firearm leave the ownership of the individual who last filled out a 4473 on said firearm the papertrail is broken.
You think a BOS is a joke?
Just wait until you get a phone call from a detective asking about the disposition of said item and if I knew "Mr X" and said firearm was used to commit a crime.
Unless you have a document stating it went to "Mr Y"" on Z date you open yourself up to a very uncomfortable period of time answering questions if said item is used for ill purposes.

[BushMasterBoy]

The minute a firearm leave the ownership of the individual who last filled out a 4473 on said firearm the papertrail is broken.
You think a BOS is a joke?
Just wait until you get a phone call from a detective asking about the disposition of said item and if I knew "Mr X" and said firearm was used to commit a crime.
Unless you have a document stating it went to "Mr Y"" on Z date you open yourself up to a very uncomfortable period of time answering questions if said item is used for ill purposes.

I think I would have to say "Ask my lawyer!"

[Great-Kazoo]

I think I would have to say "Ask my lawyer!"

Yeah mmmmmmmmm No, not the route to take.

[Danimal]

This is something that I have thought of often. As long as you follow all laws regarding personal firearms sale and use your best judgement of the character of the person that you are selling to that is all that you can do. If something does not seem right, then don't go through with the transaction.

All that it comes down to is that we all need to do our part to keep our country safe, and that might involve refusing to sell a gun to someone that has questionable motives. If they really need to buy a gun, then they can go through a background check, or act like a reasonable rational human being that I would consider selling to.

The truth is that even a bill of sale will do you no good if you are being investigated. It might be another lead for them to chase down, but it will not absolve you of all involvement and you will have to prove to them that you know and followed all laws during the sale. By selling the firearm privately without the use of an FFL transfer you as the initial transfer recipient of the gun have no legal proof that you did not fake the bill of sale. Even if you copy their drivers license it could be a fake license, and you will have nothing but a pick that looks similar to the guy you sold it to.

[mevshooter]

The minute a firearm leave the ownership of the individual who last filled out a 4473 on said firearm the papertrail is broken.
You think a BOS is a joke?
Just wait until you get a phone call from a detective asking about the disposition of said item and if I knew "Mr X" and said firearm was used to commit a crime.
Unless you have a document stating it went to "Mr Y"" on Z date you open yourself up to a very uncomfortable period of time answering questions if said item is used for ill purposes.

I completely understand what you are getting at here, and I do not dispute the validity of it.

I choose to live a life above this kind of reproach that would vindicate my name if anything like this ever happened.

Get a warrant, check my phone records, whatever you need to do. I'll be found innocent. And having a B.O.S. doesn't guarantee they won't tear your life apart if they REALLY felt like it.

Edit: I re-read your first line. When YOU are the one who filled out the 4473, I would imagine the whole B.O.S. thing is a different story. When I buy a firearm second hand from a guy who bought it second hand, not too worried about it.

[GilpinGuy]

If I sold a legal firearm to a legal buyer I would think that I wouldn't have any remorse if he/she did a horrible crime with it. But I admit that I would feel a little weird about it.

I'd think "Did I miss something that I should have seen?", etc. I wouldn't want to change any laws or anything, but it would stick with me a little.