Going to buy a gun FTF.. do I need a receipt?

[TNTitan]

Just wondering if its recommended to get a receipt or copy of the bill of sale If I am buying a rifle from another person. Want to make sure my bases are covered here.

Any advice or links to printable forms?

[Metalhead]

Depends on how tight you & the seller's is.

Personally, I'd write down name, address, and phone. Preferably just get a photocopy of their DL or something & write on it what you paid. That way in later years Lord forbid it ever turns out to be hot, you can tell the cops where you got it.

There are those that refuse to sell/buy from people that want some sort of record of the transaction, however.

[Jasongar8]

Yup Metalhead is right. I would copy all their information off of their drivers license. Never can tell about a person these days.

[TNTitan]

no clue who this guys is.. I will bring two blank bills of sale and request he complete, sign and give me one. If he doesnt want to do that - forget him. Thanks Metalhead!

[BigPoppa]

I get a signed bill of sale (2 copies), and a photocopy of DL and/or HCP.

That's just how I roll.......................................

[brooksjr]

i never ask for any info but do give info when asked for it.

[Mike.357]

no clue who this guys is.. I will bring two blank bills of sale and request he complete, sign and give me one. If he doesnt want to do that - forget him. Thanks Metalhead!

Might be nice of you to tell the guy up front you want all of this. Might be a deal breaker for him too.

[bobmack]

Depends on how tight you & the seller's is.

Personally, I'd write down name, address, and phone. Preferably just get a photocopy of their DL or something & write on it what you paid. That way in later years Lord forbid it ever turns out to be hot, you can tell the cops where you got it.

There are those that refuse to sell/buy from people that want some sort of record of the transaction, however.

i completely agree with this to protect yourself.

i just lost a sale from someone who refused to do so.

in my mind it appears they they 'might' have had something to hide. i don't know what he thought i might do with a copy of a driver's license that is basicly illegible anyway.

so if a buyer/ seller can't be 'upfront' then i don't need to do business with them.

just my 2 cents worth,

bob

[Hotshot]

Bill of Firearm Sale

There are others on the web for free.

[Guest Mugster]

No, you don't need a receipt.

Advice:

1. Run the gun after a few months pass. Many stolen guns are reported after they are sold. Guys go after a 2-fer with the insurance policy which is insurance fraud I think they call it. Thats just a risk you run buying used. Well, run the gun if you want to stay absolutely legal. You do stand to lose the firearm if it comes back hot.

2. If your carrying cash or a gun and meeting someone even in public, I'd take a buddy. At least one of you should be legally armed and know how to shoot, imo.

[Guest grimel]

i completely agree with this to protect yourself.

i just lost a sale from someone who refused to do so.

in my mind it appears they they 'might' have had something to hide. i don't know what he thought i might do with a copy of a driver's license that is basicly illegible anyway.

so if a buyer/ seller can't be 'upfront' then i don't need to do business with them.

just my 2 cents worth,

bob

OH, I don't know, what is the current hot crime? Could it be ID theft?

There is zero legal req for a 'bill of sale" or receipt. There is zero legal protection from either.

It doesn't take much effort to produce a "bill of sale" even if the other party isn't around, which would be one of the why's the various little printable forms are nothing more than a PIA.

[TNTitan]

Transaction went real well. I brought two bills of sale and the seller was thankfully surprised! He said "i thought about bringing one, but didn't know how to make one up".. It worked out great. Now we can prove that the gun was legally purchased (and not stolen) and the seller has a signed statement that he sold the gun to someone legally allowed to purchase a firearm in TN.

[Smith]

Transaction went real well. I brought two bills of sale and the seller was thankfully surprised! He said "i thought about bringing one, but didn't know how to make one up".. It worked out great. Now we can prove that the gun was legally purchased (and not stolen) and the seller has a signed statement that he sold the gun to someone legally allowed to purchase a firearm in TN.

Glad it went well for you. It doesn't protect you from anything, though. If the person is any good as a criminal, he can produce a fake ID and give you crap for information. Then when the police ask and you produce it, it could appear that YOU tried to fake a receipt or are just an idiot. Less is more in this situation IMO. Why start a crumb trail that always leads back to you. Just my thoughts as it's not required and doesn't do anything legally anyway. It does make some folks feel better and if so more power to ya.

[Guest TurboniumOxide]

Personally, I wouldn't mind signing a bill of sale. Never really have though, buying used. I don't know what you mean when you use the words "sell" and "gun" together, though. I have never parted with any gun I have ever bought. My son will have to pry the combination to the safes from MY COLD DEAD HAND.

[TNTitan]

Glad it went well for you. It doesn't protect you from anything, though. If the person is any good as a criminal, he can produce a fake ID and give you crap for information. Then when the police ask and you produce it, it could appear that YOU tried to fake a receipt or are just an idiot. Less is more in this situation IMO. Why start a crumb trail that always leads back to you. Just my thoughts as it's not required and doesn't do anything legally anyway. It does make some folks feel better and if so more power to ya.

Well. the receipt has his signature on it. I can't really "produce" that and a specialist could prove that it was his signature if it came to that.

[Smith]

Well. the receipt has his signature on it. I can't really "produce" that and a specialist could prove that it was his signature if it came to that.

I'm just sayin that if it got to that point you are deeply involved in time and some expense dealing with an ongoing investigation. Where as a simple I don't recall would have been the end of it. It's not that big a deal. Some won't do a deal with out it. I won't do it with it. Again, glad it worked out for you and the other guy.

[TNTitan]

wasn't there a story a while back where some guy bought a gun that turned out to be stolen and he got in big trouble because he couldn't prove how he came to acquire the gun? I may be "misremembering" that one....

[Guest HexHead]

Considering the paranoia about the government and the ATF, lots of people I know prefer to buy some of their firearms off the radar screen. When I make a cash sale, like at a gun show, I ask if they are legally allowed to own a gun and if they are a resident of TN? I may ask to see their license and they can put their thumb over the name and address. AFAIC, we're both just "some guy".

Don't need no stinkin' paperwork.