Submitting DROS without firearm in hand

[LJ Guns]

Not sure if this has been covered before but just throwing out a word of caution. I've seen commercial listings on Calguns indicating something to the affect of "I will provide a serial number for your FFL to begin DROS if you would like". I assume this is an attempt to get a jump on the 10 day wait before the receiving FFL has the gun in hand.

I was recently audited by DOJ, and they had a list of all of my pending DROS's. They compared this list to every gun in my safe, stating "we're making sure you haven't submitted a DROS on a gun you have not received yet".

In short, do not submit a DROS unless you have the firearm IN YOUR POSSESSION, have confirmed serial numbers/features/bbl length etc. Goes without saying but I'm sure it happens.

[shootsocal_dave]

What law would you be breaking, or are you just risking a DROS being canceled because of the DOJs opinion of the matter. Realistically, them checking the guns against the pending should be to make sure nothing has GONE HOME before the approval, I can see how a IOI would mix up the task.

[BagelBites]

My FFL calls it a soft dros meaning I can come fill out all paperwork ahead of time and provide him with all copies of Id he will need, but he will not enter the info into the online dros system until firearm is in hand. It's merely a time convinience for myself taking care of paperwork up front, but it in no way helps jump start the 10 day waiting period

That's different. The discussion is about guns DROS'd before having them in possession.

[d0rkus]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=127272&d=1324415354

From this thread, http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1449713

Turners used to do soft dros quite often because of how they have inventory in their warehouse.

[LJ Guns]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/a...2&d=1324415354

From this thread, http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1449713

Turners used to do soft dros quite often because of how they have inventory in their warehouse.

^^^^ thanks for the link, exactly my point.

[Tyke8319]

Not sure if this has been covered before but just throwing out a word of caution. I've seen commercial listings on Calguns indicating something to the affect of "I will provide a serial number for your FFL to begin DROS if you would like". I assume this is an attempt to get a jump on the 10 day wait before the receiving FFL has the gun in hand.

I was recently audited by DOJ, and they had a list of all of my pending DROS's. They compared this list to every gun in my safe, stating "we're making sure you haven't submitted a DROS on a gun you have not received yet".

In short, do not submit a DROS unless you have the firearm IN YOUR POSSESSION, have confirmed serial numbers/features/bbl length etc. Goes without saying but I'm sure it happens.

Very good point and well worth mentioning. Sadly, I fell victim to that process a long time ago. I was given the serial number by the shipping distributor. I DROS'd the gun to the buyer, waited 9 days and the gun had not hit my doorstep. Called the shipper, they traced the shipment... It wound up in 2 states over at an unknown location. IT WAS NEVER LOCATED! Had to cancel the DROS, refund the customers money. The shipper files necessary ATF papers, etc., etc.
I have never done that again no matter how hard the customer pleads.

[LJ Guns]

I once received a Glock from Davidson's where the serial # on gun and box did not match (and the serial # on the invoice matched the box, not the gun). They luckily caught it and advised me (I assume Glock contacted them first), and I had to send back to them and wait for a replacement. I could see where I could have easily DROS'd it taking the serial number off of the box and not the gun itself (or by taking the serial number off of the invoice I received at the time Davidson's shipped it). Could have been pretty messy if the problem wasn't caught until after I DROS'd/delivered the gun. Needless to say, the very first thing I always do when receiving a gun is ensuring invoice, gun AND box all match.

[code_blue]

It's best practice to never start paperwork until you've verified the firearm and the transferee has verified the firearm. You don't want to deal with the hassle from your auditors nor the nit-picking from the transferee.