My father wants to buy a firearm. He currently has a .38 special that he carries and shoots but he wants something bigger and more fun to casual shoot. I told him an M&P, but he cant justify the $480 or so right now.

What I was thinking is buying him a firearm as a gift. Is that legal? One issue is he lives in Massachusetts which requires thumb safeties and all that other crap.

I would buy it and ship it to an FFL in Mass where he would pick it up and transfer to his name.

Thoughts?
Joe