friend of mine is getting married in a couple months and his fiance wants me to take her to a gun shop and help her pick out a gun to get him as a wedding present. i have heard some gun shops are kinda picky about the whole "buying a gun for someone else" thing. whats the best way to make sure things go smoothly? are there any particular shops that are easy to deal with when it comes to this sort of thing?
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gun as a wedding present.
- Thread starter dieselman
- Start date
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I would take her to a gun store, show her some guns, and see if she can pick one out.
Then come back on another day to buy it, or buy it from another shop.
Just don't say "I'm buying this for my fiance" or "I'm giving this as a gift." Keep the looking and the buying as separate things.
Then come back on another day to buy it, or buy it from another shop.
Just don't say "I'm buying this for my fiance" or "I'm giving this as a gift." Keep the looking and the buying as separate things.
IndianaSigma
Sharpshooter
Just have her buy it for herself. No need to tell the shop of her intent to give it to her fiancee.
Its not illegal, but the gun store will most likely refuse to sell to her if she is saying things like "oh I think he will like this one" or "no he wouldn't want that because its a Hi-Point". As far as they are concerned they need to be selling it to her and her alone.
CountryBoy19
Grandmaster
Buying a gun with the specific intent to give it as a gift is not a crime, and any shop that would refuse that sale for fear of being considered a straw purchase is ignorant of the law IMHO.
My wife got me a gun for our wedding. It was quite the surprise.
It was supposed to be my 642 revolver in a thigh holster under her dress when I went to get the garter. I was going to remove it from the holster and show everybody that she was packin' and I had to get it out of the way to get the garter...
Imagine my surprise when it was a brand new gun as my wedding gift...
My wife got me a gun for our wedding. It was quite the surprise.
It was supposed to be my 642 revolver in a thigh holster under her dress when I went to get the garter. I was going to remove it from the holster and show everybody that she was packin' and I had to get it out of the way to get the garter...
Imagine my surprise when it was a brand new gun as my wedding gift...
A FFL told me that it's different if you are married and buying a gun for your spouse.
You can clearly say "I want this one for my hubsband, I think he will like it".
Im not really sure why it's different but the guy at the store told me that when you are married people can buy gun for eachother.
CountryBoy19
Grandmaster
I've always been told that it is if you are making the "purchase" for somebody else. IE, somebody else gave you money and you are buying. That would indicate to me the possibility of a straw purchase. However, if making the purchase for yourself with the intention of gifting said purchase to somebody else, it is not illegal, and shouldn't be denied.
I don't blame a shop that gets nervous if it isn't clear, or they suspect the buyer is lying about the purchase, but to know it is a gift and still deny the sale? I don't think I would go to a shop like that.
1911Shooter
Sharpshooter
I know when I worked at dicks sporting goods that you were allowed to sell a gun for a gift. It was frowned upon but I is perfectly legal.
I do agree that it is totally legal to buy and gift, even if that is the intention from the start. IIRC a "straw purchase" is defined as buying for another person who is otherwise ineligible.
I'm just not sure how close to that line some dealers are willing to go.
Soon to be husband is currently at infantry school, I will be going with to show her what he wants.
MAJB Retired
Sharpshooter
With a fiance like that, it has to be true love 
DUH! YOU GUYS ARE TARDY! There's only one question we need an answer to! DOES SHE HAVE A SISTER?!?!
xM3RC1L3SS1x
Expert
I agree with esrice. That seems to be the best way to handle it in my opinion.
shooter521
Certified Glock Nut
ATF's web site states:
A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her. (emphasis mine)
The bold part of the definition means a straw purchase can take place even if both parties would be capable of passing the background check. This was confirmed by the ATF examiner who conducted our audit earlier this year. That said, the same examiner did indicate that one could purchase a firearm with the intent to give it as a legitimate gift and be OK.
