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Firearms purchasing in Florida

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Tom H, Apr 25, 2010.

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  1. Tom H

    Tom H New Member

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    Could someone please advise the process for foreign citizens, or give a contact, for purchasing firearms in Florida to be removed by private vessel leaving the USA.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    As far as I know, you have to be a Florida resident in order to purchase firearms in Florida. In order to purchase them without being a resident, they would have to be shipped by a commercial carrier, such as UPS, Fedex out of the state directly to a FFL (firearms dealer).
  3. vlafrank

    vlafrank Senior Member

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    Out-of-State purchase

    I'm neither an attorney nor a FFL dealer, but I suspect that even that process was technically illegal. I'm not sure, but I think that's called a "straw man purchase," although I'm unaware of any "waiting period" provision. Ideally, the Florida dealer should only ship a handgun to another gun dealer in your home state, then THAT dealer would sell the gun to you and fill out whatever paperwork the Federal and State gun-grabbers require.

    I hasten to add that I could be mistaken.
  4. vlafrank

    vlafrank Senior Member

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    Non-citizen firearms purchases

    Further to the foregoing, I have no idea how a non-US citizen would go about buying a firearm in the US, assuming such a thing is even possible at all. It's likely, however, that a non-US citizen could buy all the "used" guns he wants; it's only new gun purchases that are actually "actively" controlled by the gun grabbers. The purchases would have to be from willing private citizens, of course; a non-US citizen still couldn't buy from a gun shop, as far as I know, even if the guns came off the "used guns" rack, since the gun shop would still have to have a filled-out Form 4473, just like for a "new" gun purchase, and on that form it asks if the purchaser is a US citizen.

    The land of the free? Not no mo', brother......,thanks to Siran Siran and belatedly to Lee Harvey Oswald.
  5. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    When filling out that form and making the dec that you are a citizen does anyone actually ask you to prove it?

    For the OP, Why don't you ask the seller if he can get you what you want and sell them on to you as a part of the yachts equipment?

    What are you planning on doing with these toys when you get home again?
  6. Seafarer

    Seafarer Senior Member

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    That is a form of a straw purchase that somewhat abuses a loophole in the law, where a purchase of convenience is characterized as a bona fide gift. If you gave your friend money in the approximate amount of the cost of the firearm, and your friend gave you the firearm in repayment, it's iffy territory but unlikely to be prosecuted so long as you may lawfully own that firearm in your home state.
  7. Seafarer

    Seafarer Senior Member

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    For handguns, the FFL has a requirement to do a check on you before transferring the firearm under the Brady Act and various state laws. If you're not in the system as a valid owner or permittee, and can't provide documentation, then it's a Federal felony for the FFL and the purchaser. For long guns, that's almost entirely up to each state.
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yes, there is a 5 business day wait in Florida unless you have a concealed weapons permit (which you already went through an extensive FBI background check), and during that 5 day wait the FBI does check that you are a citizen, have no felony convictions, no insanity issues and others.
  9. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    I am glad I stocked up in the 80's then.
  10. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    There's a shortage of ammunition. When was the last time you went to Bass Pro or a gun shop and they had your bullets in stock? :eek:

    Judy
  11. captainviv

    captainviv Member

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    hi guys,
    so, would it be possible for me as a "foreigner" to walk into a walmart and buy a shotgun off the shelf . i believe , a licence is not required to buy a shotgun. i know they do a background check when hand guns are purchased.....
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    NO, you need to be a resident. However, you could buy a shotgun from a private individual
  13. captainviv

    captainviv Member

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    thanks ..... :)
  14. Tom H

    Tom H New Member

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    Who do you suggest I talk to

    I have sent this email to numerous gunshops, surposid gun exporters etc with no answers?
    We are motoring a motor yacht from Palm Beach to Queensland Australia. We would like to purchase 2 hand guns, 1 shotgun, a stainless steel clay pigion thrower and a 308 bolt action rifle with scope.
    I hold both a concealable weapons and general shooters licence here. We need to provide the weapons serial numbers and details to the police here so they can issue a purchase permit and also give us a customs import form. What are the formalities involved in purchasing weapons in Florida and removing them by private vessel?
    Surely can't be that hard? Is there a govt or police agency I can talk to. From what I can gather as long as you declare you have weapons on board when visiting ports and obviously have them securely stowed it's OK??
  15. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Depends on the port. I'd want to research that a little more before steaming into a gun hostile port in a multi-million dollar yacht with guns aboard.

    As far as your guns go, perhaps you should buy them in Australia?

    Your options to buy them in FL are find a resident willing to buy them for you in a "straw man" purchase, which is illegal, or buy them from a private seller. Of course if you buy them from an individual your chance of a warranty is probably nil.

    At least the stainless steel skeet thrower shouldn't be a problem.
  16. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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  17. Tom H

    Tom H New Member

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    Best well left alone

    Thanks for that guys. Yes all gets a bit hard and seems there's no legal way of doing it which is all we're after. Disappointing as I was looking at buying a few items off my wish list, which as I'm sure Kiwi knows, anything made in America is cheap in America compared with home, sometimes 1/2 price cheap.
  18. twnich

    twnich Member

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    The penalties (both State and Federal) for "straw man" purchases are severe.

    A Florida resident cannot legally sell a firearm to a non Florida resident. A sale of this nature must be shipped to a FFL in the purchasers state for transfer.

    A non US resident cannot purchase firearms in the United States for export without a license issued by the BATF.

    Being prosecuted and found guilty of violating any of the above will result in lengthy prison time.
  19. GFC

    GFC Senior Member

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    I'm not suggesting any foreign citizen do this, but I have not seen this mentioned in this thread.....

    Has anyone considered buying used guns from private citizens through ads in the newspaper?

    It may not be legal for a non-citizen of FL to do this, but sales between private citizens in most states do not require any federal or state forms to be filled out.
  20. Emerson

    Emerson New Member

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    If I'm not mistake Export in this context implies a financial transaction later, I think that you are buying them for personal use.