Can a US citizen but a non resident purchase a firearm?

[Chippewa6]

Hi,
Wonder if anyone knows the answer to any of my questions below. I am an American Citizen but currently reside in British Columbia Canada.
I own a summer place in Washington state and have a permit to carry concealed in Washington. I would like to purchase a handgun to keep at my place as well as a skeet gun to shoot at the local club.
Bringing my guns over the border from Canada is time consuming as well as I cannot use my Nexus card when transporting firearms. Also its kind of hit and miss with who you get at the border, sometimes they dont even want to let you cross, its a crap shoot at best. Having a couple guns at my cabin seems to be a good alternative to border crossings.
It seems being a resident is a requirement on the forms to fill out which would leave me out. Since Im a US citizen, law abiding is their any legal options to buy in Washington for me?
I know it would be possible to buy used and avoid forms but would this be legal? Also with todays attacks on gun owners rights the chance of a used gun registry doesnt seem too far off.
If anyone has info to these questions , I would appreciate it, thanks.

Frank

 

[Firefighterchen]

I believe it's illegal to purchase *and take possession of* a handgun in a state you aren't a resident in....I also believe those restrictions are unconstitutional...do what you feel an American citizen should do ;-)

 

[Gallstones]

You are a resident if you maintain a legal residency.
Are you registered to vote and do you vote in Washington State and US elections?
Why can't you keep legal arms at your Washington residence and other legal arms at your BC residence and avoid the hassel of transport?

Unless you are a stickler for some specialty arms and don't have the budget to fund multi's, what difference does it make? It sounds like you are looking to purchase anyway.

 

[Gallstones]

oops dupe

15 characters

 

[Firefighterchen]

Why can't you keep legal arms at your Washington residence and other legal arms at your BC residence and avoid the hassel of transport?

I believe that's what he is asking for.

 

[jcreek]

I believe it's illegal to purchase a handgun in a state you aren't a resident in....I also believe those restrictions are unconstitutional...do what you feel an American citizen should do ;-)

That's incorrect. I'm a WA resident and have purchased several firearms in Oregon. Only restriction is that anything without a shoulder stock (handguns and pistol-grip only shotguns) have to be transferred to your state through an FFL.

 

[cluznar]

You can purchase a firearm in any state as long as the seller has a FFL. You can also order firearms online to be shipped to your local FFL. As for getting them into Canada I'm not sure. Canada has very strict rules on what firearms you are able to own. You probably need to google firearm laws in Canada or check with local Canadians.

From what I understand handguns are very limited in Canada, but shotguns and rifles are available. So maybe buy a shotgun for defensive purposes.

leasantry:

 

[smith934]

Hi,
Wonder if anyone knows the answer to any of my questions below. I am an American Citizen but currently reside in British Columbia Canada.
I own a summer place in Washington state and have a permit to carry concealed in Washington. I would like to purchase a handgun to keep at my place as well as a skeet gun to shoot at the local club.
Bringing my guns over the border from Canada is time consuming as well as I cannot use my Nexus card when transporting firearms. Also its kind of hit and miss with who you get at the border, sometimes they dont even want to let you cross, its a crap shoot at best. Having a couple guns at my cabin seems to be a good alternative to border crossings.
It seems being a resident is a requirement on the forms to fill out which would leave me out. Since Im a US citizen, law abiding is their any legal options to buy in Washington for me?
I know it would be possible to buy used and avoid forms but would this be legal? Also with todays attacks on gun owners rights the chance of a used gun registry doesnt seem too far off.
If anyone has info to these questions , I would appreciate it, thanks.

Frank

This should answer your question, since apparently most here don't understand it, judging by the answers. It's always best to go to the horse's mouth

Link Removed

 

[NavyLCDR]

You can purchase a firearm in any state as long as the seller has a FFL.

And only if the firearm is a rifle or shotgun and only if the state laws of the transferring FFL (loosely referred to as the seller) AND the state laws of the recipient (buyer) are both complied with.

 

[Gallstones]

And only if the firearm is a rifle or shotgun and only if the state laws of the transferring FFL (loosely referred to as the seller) AND the state laws of the recipient (buyer) are both complied with.

Are you sure?
Why only if a long gun, why not a handgun?




Try Montana Chippewa6. You aren't that far from us.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I believe it's illegal to purchase a handgun in a state you aren't a resident in....I also believe those restrictions are unconstitutional...do what you feel an American citizen should do ;-)

That's incorrect. I'm a WA resident and have purchased several firearms in Oregon. Only restriction is that anything without a shoulder stock (handguns and pistol-grip only shotguns) have to be transferred to your state through an FFL.

I agree, I didn't write that because it doesn't help the op. He wishes to purchase the firearms in WA to keep in Washington, so buying a handgun does him no good if he has to ship it to an FFL in Canada which most likely will reject it being a handgun. So, it is illegal for him to purchase a handgun from a non FFL and take possession, and not worth purchasing and/or shipping through an FFL.

I will edit my first response to clarify.

 

[Chippewa6]

Thanks for all the input on this. I actually stopped into a gun shop yesterday when I was in Washington. The guy said he couldnt sell me a any firearm without a Washington issued ID like a drivers license or state issue ID card. I do have an address there but its just a summer residence and Im not there long enough at any one time to establish a residency. I do vote in every election as an absentee voter but in New York State which was my last US residence. You are right , it is unconstitutional but then that is the main purpose of the gun control agenda. I have many firearms I brought with me when I moved up here. My PPK was considered Prohibited so I had a 4 1/2 inch barrel made for it so I could keep it and it would qualify as a Restricted class gun that my license would cover. I guess I could bring that down and pop the original barrel back in. Canada is definately strict with most firearms but they still allow purchasing firearms through the mail as well as short barrel shotguns. I have a Dominion Arms 12 ga. 870 knock off with an 8 1/2 in. barrel thats not even Restricted class. It actually shoots slugs pretty straight and makes a good bush gun when we are camping. Again thanks for the answers you all came back with.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Thanks for all the input on this. I actually stopped into a gun shop yesterday when I was in Washington. The guy said he couldnt sell me a any firearm without a Washington issued ID like a drivers license or state issue ID card. I do have an address there but its just a summer residence and Im not there long enough at any one time to establish a residency. I do vote in every election as an absentee voter but in New York State which was my last US residence. You are right , it is unconstitutional but then that is the main purpose of the gun control agenda. I have many firearms I brought with me when I moved up here. My PPK was considered Prohibited so I had a 4 1/2 inch barrel made for it so I could keep it and it would qualify as a Restricted class gun that my license would cover. I guess I could bring that down and pop the original barrel back in. Canada is definately strict with most firearms but they still allow purchasing firearms through the mail as well as short barrel shotguns. I have a Dominion Arms 12 ga. 870 knock off with an 8 1/2 in. barrel thats not even Restricted class. It actually shoots slugs pretty straight and makes a good bush gun when we are camping. Again thanks for the answers you all came back with.

Careful with the short barreled shotgun. WA also infringes on short barreled firearms...gosh it's a sad day when Canada is less restrictive on guns than WA state.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Are you sure?
Why only if a long gun, why not a handgun?




Try Montana Chippewa6. You aren't that far from us.

Federal law. 18 USC 922 (b)(3):
18 USC § 922 - Unlawful acts | Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code | LII / Legal Information Institute

18 USC § 922 - Unlawful acts

(b) It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver—

(3) any firearm to any person who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not reside in (or if the person is a corporation or other business entity, does not maintain a place of business in) the State in which the licensee’s place of business is located, except that this paragraph (A) shall not apply to the sale or delivery of any rifle or shotgun to a resident of a State other than a State in which the licensee’s place of business is located if the transferee meets in person with the transferor to accomplish the transfer, and the sale, delivery, and receipt fully comply with the legal conditions of sale in both such States (and any licensed manufacturer, importer or dealer shall be presumed, for purposes of this subparagraph, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have had actual knowledge of the State laws and published ordinances of both States), and (B) shall not apply to the loan or rental of a firearm to any person for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes;