Private gun sales?

[Elk whack master]

What is the proper way to buy a used gun from a private owner? If they have the paperwork on it. what else would i need to make sure its all legal? Do i have to register it? I have always bought new,so buying used/private sale is foreign to me. help me o wise ones

[hunterrcc]

What is the proper way to buy a used gun from a private owner? If they have the paperwork on it. what else would i need to make sure its all legal? Do i have to register it? I have always bought new,so buying used/private sale is foreign to me. help me o wise ones

I would grab the Serial number and check to make sure it is not reported stolen and write a bill of sale from the owner so you have proof you bought it for $XX amount. 

[Bean Counter]

No, you don't have to "register" it. The last thing you want is the government knowing what firearms you own.  Seller doesn't even 'need' to have the paperwork on it. I would request a home made bill of sale from them--make sure the serial number is on it, that its dated, and their name is both spelled out and signed.

Be careful who you buy from and sell to. If they look like a shady meth head, they just might be. If its a friend you've known a long time, you should be good to go.

[ghosthunter]

I only buy from folks with conceal pistol Lin. Unless I know them. I never sell.

There are no regulations person to person.
Except to sell to minor or mental ill. That's why I require CPL.

Lots of good info on www.opencarry.org.  Washington forum.

[xd2005]

I would suggest it would be a good idea to make sure they are from WA...don't want to get caught up with it crossing state lines w/o FFL.

[copasj]

I general only buy/sell/trade with people that have cpl's.   Not a big fan of bills of sale either.   I would only take/give a cpl number personally.  Names,  addresses etc are more liability than anything IMO.   If anything comes back the police can track a cpl number just as easily as a name and address.

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[bobcat]

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

[Elk whack master]

If I carry the gun i buy, and get pulled over and the cop runs the gun's # also. What do they see? Does the gun need to be registered to carry it?

[bobcat]

There is no such thing as gun registration in this state.

[Elk whack master]

I always thought that the guns you owned had to be in your name kinda like cars. I just dont want to get in gun trouble with carrying the used pistol i wanna get. So, i should be alright with it, as long as it does not show up as stolen,but that shouldnt matter if the guy has paperwork matching the guns serial number. Am I missing anything?

[winshooter88]

What kind of paperwork do you think the seller would have? Their purchase reciept won't have the serial number and even if the gun was stolen they could have the factory paperwork if they stole the gun in the original case. So paperwork with the serial number means absolutely nothing. If you are concerned about it being stolen, have the serial number run to check. Otherwise in this state there is no paperwork required for private gun sales. Most likely if the gun is stolen and you tell the seller that you want to run the serial number before purchasing they will back out of the sale. If you did buy a gun that was stolen and then were checked by a law officer they might just confiscate the gun or they could arrest you. Don't buy from someone you don't feel that you can trust.

Edited to add, No there is no gun registration required in this state, although some people might say otherwise.

[FALFire]

If you are stopped for a traffic violation and you are for whatever reason, found to be in possession of a stolen firearm, the Officer WILL seize the firearm, they are required to take it because it is reported stolen.
Now whether or not you go to jail will depend on the Officer believing your story as to how you came to be in possession of the weapon. You will be detained for a period of time and quite possibly placed into custody then perhaps transported to their Police precinct for an interview with their option of letting you walk or you could be placed in jail for up to 72 hours while they consider charges. These are all possibilities that they have the authority to do, but rest assured they will take the weapon. Being in possession of a stolen firearm is a crime, it is how you respond to the questioning and what proof you have to back up your story that makes the difference and too, I might add, the experience of the arresting Officer.

Now.....If you purchase the firearm and you contact a local Law Enforcement Office then have them run the serial number and it returns as stolen, they will seize the firearm, ask you a bunch of questions, you will be out of the cash and the firearm. This method shows that you were concerned about the legality of the firearm and you will likely not be taken into custody.

My suggestion, if you don't trust the person that is selling the firearm, is to write down the serial number, contact the local LEO and ask them to run the number for stolen. If it comes back clear, it may perhaps still be stolen, just not reported. Lots of people do not have the serial numbers to firearms after they are stolen but instead, give a description of it to the police which makes it tough to prove stolen. There are other firearms that are listed as missing and may or may not have the serial numbers listed in the original police report say if it were taken in a burglary. 

However, there is no required registration in this state.

[ICEMAN]

I only buy from folks with conceal pistol Lin. Unless I know them. I never sell.

There are no regulations person to person.
Except to sell to minor or mental ill. That's why I require CPL.

Lots of good info on www.opencarry.org.  Washington forum.

I totally agree.

Nothing is perfect, but this approach is the best IMHO to atleast attempt to keep firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them.

[CP]

What is the proper way to buy a used gun from a private owner? If they have the paperwork on it. what else would i need to make sure its all legal? Do i have to register it? I have always bought new,so buying used/private sale is foreign to me. help me o wise ones

You give them money and they give you the gun.  A handshake after is nice touch.

[Bean Counter]

There is no exhaustive, monolithic gun registry in the United.States. Thank God. When we speak of LEOs ' running the.serial number,' its only to check NCIC to see if it has between reported stolen. No report, no records returned.

If you find yourself in the situation FALFire described, keep your mouth shut and get an attorney, stat. 

[FALFire]

There is no exhaustive, monolithic gun registry in the United.States. Thank God. When we speak of LEOs ' running the.serial number,' its only to check NCIC to see if it has between reported stolen. No report, no records returned.

If you find yourself in the situation FALFire described, keep your mouth shut and get an attorney, stat. 

AMEN TO THAT!!

[huntnphool]

 So whats to prevent a seller later on reporting the gun stolen? What are those implications?

 Example, you purchase a firearm from someone you trust. Years go by and you have a falling out with the person. Somewhere down the road the autorities somehow find out you have a gun that has been reported stolen,(guy you purchased it from reports it that way) What will happen without a signed receipt?

[jackmaster]

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

100%%%%%

[Biggerhammer]

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

BINGO!!!!

[FALFire]

It then becomes a "he said - he said" situation and a civil issue. The police would take the gun if they find it and you would end up in civil litigation against the other person that sold it to you.

I would try to get a sales receipt from the person when you purchase it if that would make you feel better. Plus I would take photos of it with a date from a newspaper to show it was in your possession on a beginning date. Photo evidence makes good evidence in court, however, do use a camera date as those can easily be altered.

How often does that happen? Likely not very often but still I suppose it could be a risk if you are purchasing it from a risky person.

[Bigshooter]

 

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

 

[ICEMAN]

It then becomes a "he said - he said" situation and a civil issue. The police would take the gun if they find it and you would end up in civil litigation against the other person that sold it to you.

Agree, plus- the person who falsely reports the theft of the gun exposes themselves to prosecution for false statement to law enforcement and risks prosecution for it...

RCW 9A.76.175
Making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. 

A person who knowingly makes a false or misleading material statement to a public servant is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. "Material statement" means a written or oral statement reasonably likely to be relied upon by a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties.

[iusmc2002]

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

 

[Jamieb]

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

 

Agreed.
I run the ssn on all the used guns I buy through here. [url/]http://www.hotgunz.com[/url]

[grizzlyadams]

The proper way? Hand them the cash, they hand you the gun. Done deal. No need for names, CPL's, addresses, bills of sale, nothing. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

100%%%%%

Not so sure about this. 2 things should be done...getting a signed and dated bill of sale is a very wise choice and always have the serial number checked first. If it comes back clean, no paperwork except the B.O.S!