Firearm Drop Off For Repair, Shipping, Storage, etc

[Elite Armory]

Can someone drop a gun off on behalf of someone else for the purposes of repair, shipping, storage or what every else?

If so, what about consignments or sales? Can someone's son drop off a firearm for their bed ridden father for consignment or sales?

[kemasa]

The first issue is how do you know who actually owns the firearm?

Unless they have a POA, you would be receiving the firearm from that person, not some unknown person.

For a repair, you would have to return it to the person you received it from.

[Elite Armory]

We wouldn't know unless they say something. Which they do sometimes. Guy walks in and says he needs some work done on his mother in laws handgun. We didn't ask but he tells us this. We didn't take it in because of that but weren't sure if that was really even in issue. We just error on the side of caution when we don't know. Was curious if anyone else knew the answer to this.

[kemasa]

If you know it is not their property, then you can not sell it for them or do anything else unless they have a POA to document that they have the authority to do what is requested. If you don't know it is theirs, that is one thing, but if you are informed that it isn't theirs, that is quite another.

CA has laws regarding the transfer of a firearm, so if you become aware that the person with the firearm is not the actual owner, it is in your best interest to not deal with it. This would apply even for gunsmith work since unless you know that the owner actually wants the work done, you don't want to get into the middle of it. You don't want the owner to come and say that they did not authorize whatever was done and demand that you restore the firearm to the previous condition (civil action).

In some cases it could be criminal, such as stealing a firearm from a family member and then selling it, in other cases it could be civil, such as unauthorized modifications even though they might have had legal access to the firearm.

So the bottom line is that even if it is not illegal, it is not something that you should get involved in.

[Elite Armory]

All great points, thanks!

[Jordon@PacificSporting]

Its irrelevant if someone is dropping the gun off on behalf of someone else if they intend to pick the gun up aswell; you do your normal repair A&D. This is only an issue if someone is going to pick up a repair gun on behalf of someone else, this is perfectly fine, but you need to have them fill out a 4473 (they will leave question 11A. blank (unanswered), the form needs to be completed without a DROS and kept with your repair disposition records. That's it!

[Tyke8319]

Its irrelevant if someone is dropping the gun off on behalf of someone else if they intend to pick the gun up aswell; you do your normal repair A&D. This is only an issue if someone is going to pick up a repair gun on behalf of someone else, this is perfectly fine, but you need to have them fill out a 4473 (they will leave question 11A. blank (unanswered), the form needs to be completed without a DROS and kept with your repair disposition records. That's it!

I'd take acceptation to that. It's always been my understanding that if the person picking up the firearm is not the person who dropped it off then not only is the 4473 done but a DROS and waiting period as well is enacted. How do you know the person picking it up is not a felon or maybe has no authority to pick it up??

Anybody can fill out a 4473 and, in this case, can put down any information they want. A DROS requires certain information that is required by law for a "transfer" which is what is happening. Your transferring the firearm to someone else.

[ripro75]

I agree with the above. Also, how would question #19 on the 4473 get answered?

[Jordon@PacificSporting]

I was wrong! You must do a DROS on the person if they are picking up the gun on behalf of someone else! But you may deliver a repair to another individual, but you must do a 4473 AND the background check.

This has only come up in our Michigan store and I forget that NICS is instant---so sorry!! My error!

[Tyke8319]

I was wrong! You must do a DROS on the person if they are picking up the gun on behalf of someone else! But you may deliver a repair to another individual, but you must do a 4473 AND the background check.

This has only come up in our Michigan store and I forget that NICS is instant---so sorry!! My error!

Hey, We've all been there....some more frequently than others...