Handguns passed from Parent to Child

[rtmpgh]

here is a question that was posed to me the other day and I am not sure of the
answer .. maybe some of you can give me some info ...

a buddy of mine who I have know for 30 plus years .. ( neither my buddy or his
father have or belive in the internet stuff but that is an entirely different story
all together ) ...

well his father is getting up there in age and wants to pass along a couple handguns to him .. said father lives in another state ...

so my question is what is the protocol since his father purchased these handguns ...
does his father have to goto a dealer that has an FFL and send them to him
and make the transfer of ownership that way and at the same time does the son have to go thru a Background check to see if he can legally own the gun ...

thanx in advance for any input that will be helpful and insightful ...

[PisnNapalm]

I believe that the father could simply transport the firearms to PA and then hand them to his son PROVIDED his son is legally allowed to own the handguns. He could also send them to a FFL here and his son could pick them up. I think...

Parents are allowed to gift handguns to their children.

[fultonCoShooter]

nothing has to be done his Father can just give him the guns

i wouldn't ship them if i were the son id go pick them up in person

[PisnNapalm]

I thought the transfer had to take place in PA. It might be illegal in another state.

[Steve in PA]

If the parent or child live in different states (one in PA, the other somewhere else) the transfer must go through a FFL.

[imashooter2]

If the parent or child live in defferent states (one in PA, the other somewhere else) the transfer must go through a FFL.

This is my understanding as well.

[knight0334]

All interstate transfers, except bequeaths, have to go through a FFL.

[Pa. Patriot]

All interstate transfers, except bequeaths, have to go through a FFL.

+1. That simple (for non-licensees obviously)

[str8shooter]

I believe that the father could simply transport the firearms to PA and then hand them to his son PROVIDED his son is legally allowed to own the handguns.

+1. The statute does not mention anything about the State of residency for giver or givee. It's the PA law that a parent can give to their child, period. Challenging how someone comes into possession of a handgun that's not in the PA purchase database is moot, because there is no wrong answer. PA cannot enforce another state's law if it differs from PA, so as far as possessing a gun PA has no record of, it just doesn't matter. I have guns I've purchased or traded for all over the country. If for some reason a PA LEO asks me where I got my gun, which I can't think of any reason they would, and I said from a friend when I was visiting him in Florida, is there anything wrong with that? Would the LEO follow up to see if the transfer was legal in Florida? What would be the use, he couldn't do anything about it even if it wasn't legal per FL law. It's not like I have to REGISTER every handgun I bring into the state with proof of purchase. Personally, I like the fact that the paper trail of the guns my grandfather and father have given me is a dead end.

[Pa. Patriot]

+1. The statute does not mention anything about the State of residency for giver or givee.

Fed law does.