What to do to sell a hand gun

[Tony]

I got a hand gun from a friend about 20 years ago as part of a trade and never transferred it to my name if that was necessary. I am looking at selling it but just though about this and I'm not sure what would need to be done if anything?

[jay.sharkbait]

You can sell to Washington State residents.

In spite of what all the internet wannabe dealers will say you do not have to have a bill of sale or get copies of ID CPL etc.

[Fowlweather25]

  selling to a cpl holder gives a little piece of mind though

[Fowlweather25]

What kind of pistol?

[Biggerhammer]

Nothing needs to be done. A handgun doesn't have to be in your name in the state of WA.  Nothing needs to be done to sell the handgun other than they hand you the funds and you hand them the firearm, simple.

Someone asks me for my permit or drivers license for a private sale, they can go pound sand and sell it to someone else. Because their getting neither from me.

[ghosthunter]

What kind of pistol?

 

[couesbitten]

they can go pound sand and sell it to someone else. Because their getting neither from me.

   I don't really want my federal government tracking me, so if by buying privately I can avoid that, I will.  In this case, I'm with Biggerhammer, not interested in providing my identity.

[Easy-E]

Is it illegal to private sell a handgun in Washington to someone who is not a Washington resident?

[Blacklab]

I make up 2 bill of sales with gun info, name, model, and serial #. Then date an sign put in a safe that's it. Just for my own benefit

[netcoyote]

they can go pound sand and sell it to someone else. Because their getting neither from me.

   I don't really want my federal government tracking me, so if by buying privately I can avoid that, I will.  In this case, I'm with Biggerhammer, not interested in providing my identity.

Can't speak for others, but in my opinion, it's not about federal government tracking. If I sell a handgun, I have no intention of filling out any transfer paperwork. We both agree that we don't want to facilitate government tracking. What I want is to have some assurance that the person buying has some documentation to indicate that they are a) US citizen, b) WA resident, c) not a felon. Simply asking for a driver's license, CPL, military or LEO ID, or WAC membership would go a long way to convincing me the buyer is legit. I'd never sleep at night if I learned that a gun I sold was used in a crime. Asking for ID is no guarantee that won't happen but it goes a long way to prove "due diligence". Tell me to pound sand and you will walk away without a gun.

[Bridger81]

I don't remember the specific law, but I think it is illegal to sell a firearm to a person if you have any reason to believe they are not legally allowed to own one or if they live in another state. Some people take the "don't ask, don't tell" approach. Some will just ask you if you're legal. Some will ask to see proof of residence and/or a CPL, which at least shows that you passed a background check at some point in the not-so-distant past. Some will ask for a bill of sale to cover their ass. None of these approaches is mandated. The approach you take is up to you. I tell any potential buyer what I expect beforehand so they can accept or reject it before driving and meeting in person. No paperwork is required in Washington, between legal Washington residents.

[fareliz]

in my opinion you never know and a bill of sale with a name, address and license number from both buyer and seller shows that you are the "good guy" and if there's any issues down the road at least you have a name and address to show who and when the sale took place, again, just my opinion that's all.

[TVHunts]

they can go pound sand and sell it to someone else. Because their getting neither from me.

   I don't really want my federal government tracking me, so if by buying privately I can avoid that, I will.  In this case, I'm with Biggerhammer, not interested in providing my identity.

Can't speak for others, but in my opinion, it's not about federal government tracking. If I sell a handgun, I have no intention of filling out any transfer paperwork. We both agree that we don't want to facilitate government tracking. What I want is to have some assurance that the person buying has some documentation to indicate that they are a) US citizen, b) WA resident, c) not a felon. Simply asking for a driver's license, CPL, military or LEO ID, or WAC membership would go a long way to convincing me the buyer is legit. I'd never sleep at night if I learned that a gun I sold was used in a crime. Asking for ID is no guarantee that won't happen but it goes a long way to prove "due diligence". Tell me to pound sand and you will walk away without a gun.

I am with you netcoyote, I feel it is horribly irresponsible as a legal gun owner to not know the guy or gal you are selling to is not a felon. I believe you can be held responsible if they were a felon and you sold it to them knowingly or unknowingly and they committed a crime. I don't want your information, I just want to see picture ID that matches the CPL.  Otherwise you can't know they aren't a felon.  Not worth the chance to unload a weapon...no pun intended!

[mountainman]

they can go pound sand and sell it to someone else. Because their getting neither from me.

   I don't really want my federal government tracking me, so if by buying privately I can avoid that, I will.  In this case, I'm with Biggerhammer, not interested in providing my identity.

Can't speak for others, but in my opinion, it's not about federal government tracking. If I sell a handgun, I have no intention of filling out any transfer paperwork. We both agree that we don't want to facilitate government tracking. What I want is to have some assurance that the person buying has some documentation to indicate that they are a) US citizen, b) WA resident, c) not a felon. Simply asking for a driver's license, CPL, military or LEO ID, or WAC membership would go a long way to convincing me the buyer is legit. I'd never sleep at night if I learned that a gun I sold was used in a crime. Asking for ID is no guarantee that won't happen but it goes a long way to prove "due diligence". Tell me to pound sand and you will walk away without a gun.

I am with you netcoyote, I feel it is horribly irresponsible as a legal gun owner to not know the guy or gal you are selling to is not a felon. I believe you can be held responsible if they were a felon and you sold it to them knowingly or unknowingly and they committed a crime. I don't want your information, I just want to see picture ID that matches the CPL.  Otherwise you can't know they aren't a felon.  Not worth the chance to unload a weapon...no pun intended!

agreed! A bill of sale will protect you from any type of hassle from the ATF in the case of said firearm being used in a felony. When it is tracked to your door, it is good to have a bill of sale in hand, if nothing more then to avoid a hassle with the feds...there is also a personal transfer that can be filled out that will take the ha dgun out of your ownership so they will not even knock on your door...me, i would rather avoid the hassle, and yes, always good to grab some documentation to be sure the buyer IS allowed to own a firearm..due diligence.....
 

[jackelope]

Is it illegal to private sell a handgun in Washington to someone who is not a Washington resident?

If any firearms crosses state lines via a sale, it had to be transferred through a FFL holder. Pistol or rifle.