Q&A for How to Transfer Gun Ownership in Pennsylvania

To sell and mail a firearm, you need to determine its type first, whether it's a handgun or a long gun. If it's a handgun, you'll have to involve a Federal Firearms Dealer (FFL) in the transfer process. Find a licensed FFL dealer and bring the handgun to them, ensuring you have all the required documentation. Complete the necessary paperwork for the transfer, including background checks and ATF Form 4473. The selling FFL dealer will then ship the handgun to the buyer's chosen FFL dealer in their state, with both parties typically paying transfer fees, usually around $50 or less. For long gun sales, check your state's laws, as they may allow direct shipment to the buyer. Package the long gun securely if allowed and ship it via a reputable carrier, ensuring compliance with all regulations. Whether selling a handgun or a long gun, always adhere to federal, state, and local laws to avoid legal complications. If buying from a licensed dealer, the firearm will be shipped to another licensed dealer for transfer to the buyer, following the same process.

Start by making sure you're eligible to make the transfer. All hand guns, which includes revolvers and pistols, require a background check, but long guns, which are guns like rifles and shot guns, can be sold or given away directly. There are 38 crimes that cause someone to lose the right to own guns including aggravated assault, murder, rape, stalking, and unlawful restraint, so never buy or sell a gun to someone who can't own it. Additionally, don't buy or sell a gun to someone under 18. If you're immediately related to the person, which means they're your spouse, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent, you can simply give or sell the gun directly to them. However, if you knowingly give the gun to a family member who is legally ineligible to own guns, you could still be charged with a felony.

Yes, you can simply give a gun to an immediate family member in PA. That includes spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents. However, if you're distantly related you have to transfer the gun through a dealership. So if they're your cousin, aunt, uncle, or unmarried partner, you've got to go to a dealership in order to properly complete the transfer. However, even if you're immediately related, if your relative committed a crime that prevents them from owning a gun, you can't give one to them. If you do, you could be charged with a felony.

According to Federal Law, you can't buy a handgun if you're under 21 years old. However, you can be gifted a handgun if you're under 21. But, you need to be careful that you don't do what's called a "straw purchase" which means you give your did money to buy a gun for you, which is technically illegal. Instead, your dad can buy the handgun and give it to you as a gift. Check with your local laws about whether or not you're allowed to have a handgun to be sure before your dad buys one, though.

Check with your state police department, as they will most likely be in charge of gun registration.

Yes, you can simply give a gun to an immediate family member in PA. That includes spouses, children, grandchildren, parents or grandparents. However, if you're more distantly related, you have to transfer the gun through a dealership.