Buying a firearm as a gift?

[Geology Rocks]

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

[Graves]

Assuming youre buying it from an ffl you should be able to pay for the firearm w/o a cbi and have the dealer ship directly to his ffl where it would be transferred to him. Disclaimer: I'm no lawyer.

[Mazin]

Just dont say that on the 4473 or it could be considered a strw sell if im not mistaking.

[Bailey Guns]

There's no problem with this. It's legal to purchase a gun for anyone who's legal to possess it as long as it's a bona-fide gift.

You can do the 4473 and everything if required. Just buy the gun and ship it to dad (well...ship it to an FFL where dad picks it up) or have a dealer ship it to the FFL. Piece o' cake.

[Mazin]

Wow good to know, I always buy guns for my wife and just thought i was being a criminal for once in my life. (there goes my excitement).

[tmckay2]

my best man bought me an sr9 for my wedding. he just bought it in his name and then gave it to me. sure, its in his name, but hes fairly certain i won't commit a murder with it as he has known me my whole life. it isn't any different than selling one on here to someone, in fact, its safer. or you can go through all the proper channels and have it in his name

[Bailey Guns]

Instructions for Question 11a (Are you the actual buyer of the firearm listed on this form?) say, in part:

"You are also the actual transferee/buyer if you are legitimately purchasing the firearm as a gift for a third party."

[Geology Rocks]

awesome. So I can buy it, and have it shipped right to his FFL where he will do the check.

awesome

Joe

[sniper7]

totally legal. especially since he will be doing the BG check.

as long as it is a true gift it is no problem.

if you knew he was illegal to own firearms then it would be an issue, but since it is your pops I assume you know pretty well!

hope he enjoys it!

[theGinsue]

awesome. So I can buy it, and have it shipped right to his FFL where he will do the check.

awesome

Joe

The one thing that isn't getting considered here is the whole "he lives in Massachusetts" thing.

IIRC, MA requires that you be registerd as a firearms owner, AND they have have high cap mag limits like CA. When I went to live in MA back in '03, I knew that my background (although I did have a military TS clearance, would have prohibited me from getting approved for their strict permit process. I had to leave all of my firearms here in CO instead of taking them with me.

Even if your dad already legally owns/posseses a firearm in MA, you should really check out the mag limit restrictions versus trying to send him a firearm with a mag that violates the restriction.