straw purchase

[watsonville]

iv'e only heard this term what s the deal?i am not a ffl just another calgunner thanks in advance

[Mssr. Eleganté]

A straw purchase is when person #1 purchases a firearm for person #2 using money from person #2 so that person #2 can avoid doing the paperwork and background check associated with purchasing a firearm. Person #2 is usually somebody prohibited from purchasing firearms, but may just be somebody who doesn't want a record of purchasing a firearm.

[rbetts]

Don't lie for the other guy. Jail and a 10,000.00 fine. DOH!!!

[watsonville]

I'm not going to do a straw purchase just wondering what the term meant thanks for the info guys much appreciated

[Mssr. Eleganté]

The etymology of "straw purchase" comes from the term "straw man", as in a straw man argument. A man who isn't there.

[kemasa]

Actually, a straw man is there, but is easy to knock down, but it is not what it seems to be.

[johnthomas]

What is a straw purchase?

A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her. It is highly illegal and punishable by a $250,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

[NYsteveZ]

Just remember the scarecrow in Wizard of Oz-Strawman, made of straw, and no brain.

[kemasa]

What is a straw purchase?

A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her. It is highly illegal and punishable by a $250,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

This is incorrect. The actual buyer may be able to pass the background check, but for some reason is not actually doing the transfer. It does not matter why the actual purchaser is not doing the transfer. Perhaps they just don't want a record that they purchased a firearm. It could be a simple matter of cost. Since the DROS fee for a long gun allows for multiple firearms, it could be cheaper to have one person purchase multiple long guns, rather than each person doing it. In any case, it is illegal.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

This is incorrect. The actual buyer may be able to pass the background check, but for some reason is not actually doing the transfer.

I don't think you actually read johnthomas's whole post.

What is a straw purchase?

A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction...

[kemasa]

I did miss that, sorry.

[stalin's ghost]

A typical straw purchase is where, for example, a convicted felon gang member's girl friend buys the handgun he wants in her name and then gives it to him.

[tonyxcom]

What about someone who is able to purchase off-roster guns.. purchasing said gun with the intention of PPT'ing it to someone else. All paper work is legit, and the person who ends up with the gun is not prohibited from owning a handgun.

Could that be considered a straw purchase?

[macey109]

What about someone who is able to purchase off-roster guns.. purchasing said gun with the intention of PPT'ing it to someone else. All paper work is legit, and the person who ends up with the gun is not prohibited from owning a handgun.

Could that be considered a straw purchase?

Yes

[kemasa]

I am not so sure that it could be considered a straw purchase since the person is buying it and doing all the proper paperwork to later transfer it. There could be an issue since it is being done to bypass the certified list though.

For example, if you go to a gun show and see a gun that you know that a friend really wants, so you buy it with the intention of selling it to your friend, and doing all the required paperwork, that is not s straw purchase since you are the actual one acquiring it. Another example would be if you saw a really great deal, such as a person who does not know the actual value of the firearm that they are selling, so you buy it with plans on selling it and making some money.