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June 13, 2016, 12:47 PM | #1 |
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Accused "straw purchase"
Hi, new here. I wanted to know what your thought is on this. I went to fleet farm Friday night to buy a gun, would have been my third from there. I got all the paperwork filled out, all was good, approved as usual, got up to the register and my fiance got his card out to pay for everything (we had other purchases as well) and they told me I had to buy it with my own money. I told them I'm unemployed and he is the supporter of our family. They said they couldn't sell it to me because it would be a straw purchase. My other two guns from there have also been purchased with his money. I asked if I could come back with cash and buy it and the manager said it would have to be my own cash. Maybe I should have shut up? I don't have my own cash. I argued with him. I was under the impression, at least by the atf's definition, that a straw purchase is buying for a prohibited person, which 1, it was not for him, and 2, he is not a prohibited person, he just bought a gun from them last week. Am I wrong? When I asked the manager specifically if I'm allowed to buy a gun there again, he skated around the answer. My dilemma is, now they know who I am, did they put me on some kind of "don't sell to her" list, because the dude I normally work with went though all the trouble of mounting the scope on gun for there for me already and I'd really like to have it. But if I go in there with cash, are they also going to look at me funny that maybe I'm "doing the straw purchase again" since they know me and they know I don't have an income. I shouldn't have to walk in there with a freaking pay stub to buy a gun. What are your thoughts please.
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June 13, 2016, 01:15 PM | #2 | |
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Quote:
If this transpired precisely as you've described, this sounds like you had a hypervigilant clerk who didn't grasp what a straw purchase is. That your fiance is the one paying for the item doesn't make him the transferee. Thread on the ideas involved: http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...straw+purchase Consider which is harder: 1. fighting your way to the correct answer, or 2. taking in the money your fiance has gifted to you and buying the gun.
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June 13, 2016, 02:59 PM | #3 |
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I've seen the same type transaction refused for the same reason at a local gun store. The owner said it was a straw purchase and asked the two people to leave the store. He stated he would not risk his FFL license for allowing such a purchase.
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June 13, 2016, 03:03 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
Last edited by Lohman446; June 13, 2016 at 03:17 PM. |
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June 13, 2016, 03:18 PM | #5 |
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Not too long ago I was at the counter of my local Sportsman's Warehouse asking some questions about powders when a couple walked up and in short order decided to buy a gun (don't remember now make/model). They went through the paperwork and then the girl piped up and said that the gun was going to be for her, but her boyfriend was going to pay for it. The sales rep, told them that her BF should 'buy' the gun, fill out the relevant paperwork, etc., and then gift her the gun or sell it to her, or whatever.
She insisted two more times that the gun was to be hers, but that her BF was going to pay for it. At that point, the sales rep pulled the gun back off the counter and told them that he couldn't sell either of them the gun. They left in a huff, but it seemed to me that the sales rep did everything he could to understand how the process needed to work; they just didn't get it. I asked the rep that was working with me about powders what happened, and he told me that the company policy was that the name on the paperwork had to be the same as the name on the credit card. Whether that's new or not, I don't know. I guess this policy is becoming more widespread though. |
June 13, 2016, 03:27 PM | #6 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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June 13, 2016, 04:43 PM | #7 |
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Husband-Wife: No Problem
Unrelated* Adults: Red Flag/Big Problem I would have done the same as the clerk at that point. *Until you're actually married and/or Common Law established/documented, you ain't related. |
June 13, 2016, 05:54 PM | #8 |
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Here's what I don't understand. If the "not related" part throws up a big flag, why did they say they would have okayed it if I was on the check card account too (related or not)? Even if I was on the account but it was his card at the time, they were being extremely inconsistent in what they were saying. Name on the account or not doesn't prove whose money it is. Bottom line is, I know a business has the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason, especially if they feel it's a good one. I understand trying to keep people from straw purchasing. Who, though, when doing a straw purchase, actually brings the person into the store they're illegally buying a gun for? Maybe it's happened. Idk.
Still wondering though, do they call anyone and say "hey I just had an attempted straw purchase" and if so, how do you clear your name? |
June 13, 2016, 05:59 PM | #9 |
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Read the last line op cit above.
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June 13, 2016, 08:26 PM | #10 |
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R and Q come into a gun shop. At the counter Q picks out a gun and fills out the 4473. R hands the clerk money to pay. What just happened? Did --
In alternatives 1 and 2 Q is the actual transferee and can truthfully answer "yes" to question 11a on the 4473. In alternative 3, Q is not the actual transferee and would be lying, violating 18 USC 922(a)(6), and committing an unlawful straw purchase by answering "yes" to question 11a. But the clerk can not distinguish among alternatives 1, 2, or 3 based on what is happening in front of him. Given what could be at stake for the business I can't really argue with the shop being disinclined to take any chances.
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June 13, 2016, 08:44 PM | #11 |
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Deleted to make Frank Ettin a happy guy...
Last edited by buckhorn_cortez; June 13, 2016 at 09:09 PM. |
June 13, 2016, 08:54 PM | #12 | ||
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Here's a link to the BATFE Form 4473: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/44...53009/download Take note of question number 11a. "Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form?" If you are not buying the firearm(s) with your own money, then you are not the buyer. End of discussion. Depending on your state's laws, there is probably nothing to prevent your fiance from buying the gun and then giving it to you as a gift. But you cannot "buy" it using somebody else's money. Quote:
How would this case (if your suggestion was followed) be any different from me giving my wife a gun for Christmas? Last edited by Aguila Blanca; June 13, 2016 at 09:04 PM. |
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June 13, 2016, 09:01 PM | #13 | ||
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Note: The Supreme Court has issued its ruling in the "straw purchase" case, Abramski v. U. S.. Based on that ruling the following explanation of what constitute a straw purchase under the ATF interpretation reflects current law. See here for a discussion of the Abramski ruling. The actual offense is violation of 18 USC 922(a)(6), making a false statement on the 4473 (specifically about who is the actual buyer), and has nothing to do with the ultimate recipient being a prohibited person. See the ATF publication Federal Firearms Regulation Reference Guide, 2005, at page 165 (emphasis added): So, if --
Some more examples --
Whether or not a transaction is an unlawful straw purpose will often be a question of intent. But prosecutors in various situations can convince juries of intent, often from circumstantial evidence. A slip of the tongue, posting something on the Internet, tracks left by money transfers have all, in one way or another, and in various contexts, helped convince a jury of intent.
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June 13, 2016, 09:09 PM | #14 | |
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The ATF is the group promulgating the information - if you don't like it - take it up with the ATF. Don't bag on me about it... |
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June 13, 2016, 09:17 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
We've discussed this here many times.
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June 14, 2016, 03:40 AM | #16 | ||
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Frank, I have a quick question. You posted the following as an example of a legal purchase:
Quote:
And you posted the following as an example of an illegal straw purchase: Quote:
Basically, it is my understanding that the reason it's legal to buy a gun with the hope of selling it at a gun show is that the buyer isn't involved in the transaction and has no knowledge of it, is that correct? Or am I wrong on this and the difference between your two examples is the fact that X has the intent to specifically sell it to Y?
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June 14, 2016, 06:49 AM | #17 | ||
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Emphases added. The emphases below are simply to tie the response to the language above. The bolded language above refers to an understanding between X and Y. If Y hasn't any knowledge of X's plans, he isn't a party to an agreement with X.
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June 14, 2016, 07:04 AM | #18 | |
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Quote:
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June 14, 2016, 10:25 AM | #19 | |||
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June 14, 2016, 10:37 AM | #20 |
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Show me the money... It has been demonstrated many many times that the source of the money in relation to who fills out the form 4473 has a lot to do with what is and is not a straw purchase.
In todays climate you cannot blame a FFL and their employees for being cautious about these types of transactions. In the end always fill out the 4473 yourself and pay for the gun with your credit card, debit card, cash check etc... from your wallet and you will not have this issue.
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June 14, 2016, 10:39 AM | #21 |
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So, if these two had been legally married instead of engaged would that have changed anything?
I was at a gun shop and a married couple came in and selected a gun and discussed openly that both would posses it at different times. I have no idea how they did the paperwork or who paid, but obvious one person not on the paperwork was going to posses that gun at times. Was that legal?
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June 14, 2016, 10:48 AM | #22 | |
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Possession at various times isn't really the issue. The issue is whether the person who fills out the form is the real buyer. If you are buying it on behalf of another person pursuant to an agreement you have with that person, you are not the true buyer. I just bought a .22 rifle for my little girl. I took her to a show, had her try it for size, asked her if it was comfortable, etc, then filled out the paper work and paid. I was the true buyer even though I bought it for her use when I take her shooting. It's mine; I have the power to sell it, or trade it or keep it for myself, and she has no recourse against me.
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June 14, 2016, 01:41 PM | #23 | ||
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What matters is who the actual buyer/transferee is.
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June 14, 2016, 03:44 PM | #24 | |||
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As I've noted above, the identity of the true buyer is the issue. Where a buyer uses funds that are hers or to which she has a claim, that fact removes from consideration the a clerk's question about whether she is a true buyer simply because she is using someone else's money for the purchase. As I noted to you on January 20, 2016, Quote:
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June 14, 2016, 05:06 PM | #25 |
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What the OP describes sounds like a straw purchase to me. Whether it is or isn't, if I were the FFL selling the gun, I would have absolutely denied the purchase too. Too many red flags: Unrelated parties; purchaser using another person's credit card to complete the transaction. Crap, that's enough right there. In fact, if the one who's name was on the credit card came back to the shop within a few days looking to make the same purchase, I'd decline.
Folks, there are just too many Antis and Agents and potential Bad Guys out there looking to give a gun store owner a real bad day! Last edited by Skans; June 14, 2016 at 05:12 PM. |
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