Buying a Firearm
The purchase of a firearm should not be taken lightly. There are many Federal, State and Local laws that apply, particularly to the transfer of the firearm. We are here to help you with your purchase and will happily answer any questions that may not be answered here or in our FAQs webpage. Be sure to visit that webpage and read below before you contact us.
Firearms Education
While we don't want to see it required by law, we believe a minimum amount of training and knowledge is necessary for a new firearm owner to safely own, operate and store their firearm. Skills are then honed and improved by additional training, practice and marksmanship. Accidental firearm deaths, injuries and property damage are easily avoidable by getting educated.
The Florida CWP course offered by many vendors is an excellent start if you are thinking of getting a handgun. This also eliminates the 3-day waiting period for a handgun once you have the CWP card in your hand. The Florida Dept. of Agriculture administers the program and more info can be found at this LINK.
Similarly, the Florida Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has a free online course you can take in preparation to get your hunting license. The actual license will require additional fees. The course itself is an excellent source of info regarding the possesion, operation and storage of long guns such as rifles and shotguns. The course is developed and administered by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and is free to Florida residents. Here is the LINK.
The Transfer Process
The Gun Control Act of 1968 mandated that interstate commerce in firearms be regulated by the Commerce Dept. and established the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to regulate such commerce. Interstate and other transfers of firearms is handled by persons or businesses called Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs).
FFLs maintain a "chain-of-custody" by recording the serial numbers of a new or used firearm every time it enters inventory. FFLs also record the recipient of the firearm in their firearms logbook when the firearm leaves inventory. The serial number is assigned by the manufacturer, an FFL, who then transfers the firearm to the wholesaler/distributor/importer, also an FFL, to the dealer, an FFL, who may transfer it to another FFL or transfer/sell it to the end-user/buyer. The serial number and recipient/buyer information is recorded in the selling/transferring dealer's firearms logbook. If the dealer is buying firearms for inventory, the buyer section remains blank in the logbook until the firearm is sold at which point the buyer information is entered. The ATF has the right and obligation to inspect an FFLs logbook at any time to assure proper records are being kept.
Dealers commonly transfer used firearms in a similar fashion, particularly from state-to-state. If you are buying a firearm from a party in another state, it will have to be transferred from an FFL in that state to an FFL in your state. Common venues for out-of-state firearms for sale are Gunbroker.com and Armslist.com. Gunbroker (for example) maintains a list of FFLs able to assist in firearms transfers of which we are one.
We are considered a "dealer" and FFL by the ATF. The FAQs webpage may include additional information on the process of using us to transfer a firearm to you from out of state. It is not very complicated but the transferring dealer will need a copy of our FFL license and we will need a copy of theirs. Copies are commonly emailed or faxed between FFLs who will then put them "on file" for future use. As we do more transfers, we will obtain copies of more dealer's FFL licenses which will in turn expedite transfers between them and us in the future.
When you buy a firearm from someone from out of state and arrange for us to be the receiving FFL, you pay them for the purchase and shipping, FFL licenses are swapped between them and us, they ship the firearm to us and record the transfer "out" in their logbook. When we receive your firearm, we log it "in" verifying the actual serial number of the firearm before recording it in our logbook. We will then arrange for you to come pick up your firearm. Even if the gun is new, we will still have to open up the packaging to verify the serial number. We will usually not inspect the condition of the gun for you unless specifically requested--even then, any descrepancies will be between you and the seller...
Before you can take possession of your firearm at our location, you must pay the transfer fee in cash, fill out an ATF Form 4473 truthfully, completely and provide current, valid identification. We will then call in your information to the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement (FDLE) who will check your background info and ability to legally own the firearm being transferred. NOTE: the minimum age to buy a firearm is now 21 in Florida. In most cases, the background check will be approved, we will log the firearm "out" with your information as the recipient and you will walk out with your firearm. You could also purchase additional services or products from us at that time.
Important Things to Consider...
Note that buying a firearm for a prohibited party such as a convicted felon is called a "Straw Purchase" and is ILLEGAL and will make YOU a felon as well. We will not knowingly participate in such law-breaking and will contact law enforcement if it becomes apparent this is what is happening...
With current federal law, a private party is not required to record the sale OR gifting of a firearm to another private party. If selling a firearm to a private party, we do recommend you record the info off of their ID or preferably a CWP to cover your butt. In some states, ANY firearm transfer MUST be handled by an FFL, even if you are gifting the firearm to a family member. This is commonly called a "Universal Background Check" (UBC) and we do NOT support it even if it would bring us more business. A UBC is a clear infringement of personal property rights and of the Second Amendment, as well.
Keep in mind that selling a firearm to a party that lives out-of-state is technically "illegal" even if they are standing in front of you. It is also illegal to knowingly sell a firearm to a prohibited party such as a felon or other person deemed not suitable to own a firearm by the courts.