Hand Gun Importing Help

[lbdrummer3]

I am interested in obtaining a Smith and Wesson K22 Model 48-4, 22 mag, via import but don't know if I could actually do it.

Here are the details of this situation. I manage a Customs bonded warehouse. We have received a crate of personal effects that contains this firearm as a General Order shipment. That basically means that the importer didn't make an entry with customs within 20 days of import and customs temporary seized this shipment until the importer makes an entry.

This firearm was taken to South America with out an export license in the 80's. The owner died and his possessions have been sent back to the US and are in my warehouse.

Customs refused entry because there are no permits for this firearm. Basically in their eyes, the firearm is originating in South America and coming to the US even though the importer has the original receipts for the firearm showing it was originally bought in the US. The importer doesn't want to deal with this and has instructed the customs broker to prepare the entry and arrange a manipulation to segregate the firearm from the rest of the shipment. They will then turn it over to the Carson PD to be destroyed.

Is there a way I could save this firearm from the torch?

No pics are available at this time as I do not have permission to manipulate the shipment yet.

[trinydex]

i'm preeeetty sure YOU could save the firearm from the torch.....

who knows if you'd have a job still

[lbdrummer3]

Ahaha no kidding huh! I like my job though...

i'm preeeetty sure YOU could save the firearm from the torch.....

who knows if you'd have a job still

[tonelar]

you might have a chance if you can get someone (the armourer) at Carson PD to privately transfer the firearm to you... however if US Customs wants the firearm destroyed, then I'm not sure how hands on they will be in regards to its final disposition.

[dwtt]

The crates came from south America. Who's listed as the sender and who's listed as the recipient? Won't these determine who the importer is? If so, then you're out of luck unless the recipient is a licensed importer. The BATF will likely have a whole thick book of regulations about importing firearms, but I've never imported a gun before, just export one.

[mymonkeyman]

Yes by "destroyed" you mean "owned by the Chief of Carson PD."

[highspeed11]

Yes by "destroyed" you mean "owned by the Chief of Carson PD."

[ar15barrels]

Read up on BATF form 6.
That's what you need to file to import the gun.

http://www.atf.treas.gov/forms/pdfs/f53303a.pdf

Your biggest issue will be taking possession of it as a civilian.
You are going to have to get an LEO officer to take possession of it from customs.
Then he can transfer it to you.

[lbdrummer3]

Thanks for the info I will research this some more. I think customs would be ok entering it if they had the proper forms. The importer/consignee just doesn't want to deal with it. The biggest problem I see is if I do all the leg work to clear this they may decide to keep it and somewhere along the line I am going to need them to submit the paperwork to customs... It may end up not being worth the trouble. I would "reduce" our charges in exchange for the firearm though

[Moonclip]

I always thought bringing in a US made gun back from overseas was generally easier though?

[lbdrummer3]

It probably would have been but the original owner technically smuggled it into South America. If he had obtained a export permit it would have been ok. The matter is further complicated because the person is dead and his next of kin is bringing his possessions to the US. The fact that the shipment is in my warehouse is proof they don't know anything about importing good to the US.