No CA transfer letter - Help

[ar15boreas]

Hello everyone I have a little problem. My FFL received a rifle from an out of state dealer. I recently got this rifle in a trade. The problem is that when the out of state FFL sent the rifle there was no CA transfer letter.

I call the out of state FFL and no answer. I can't even leave a message as the voicemail is full.

I already DROS the rifle but the dealer won't release the rifle to me.

Any idea what to do?

[1000stars]

Have it transferred to another FFL that will take it and transfer it to you?

[rrr70]

Have it transferred to another FFL that will take it and transfer it to you?

Original FFL didn't get a shipping letter.

[ar15boreas]

I already DROS the rifle, waited 10 days, finished the paperwork, and I can't even take the rifle home. It sucks because if feels like rifle is mine but it's being held hostage.

[rrr70]

FFL started proces without all the required paperwork?

[1000stars]

This is going to be costly. How about Your FFL transfers it to an out of state FFL. Then have that FFL send it back with the proper paperwork. Re DROS if 30 days passed.

[ar15boreas]

Yeah. All the paperwork has been finished. I went to pick up the rifle after my 10 days and the dealer wouldn't give me the rifle.

[kemasa]

Without the letter, the FFL can not transfer the firearm. According to the CA DOJ the firearm needs to be sent back. Actually, they are bit more crazy than that since they have also said that the FFL can't log it in the bound book without the letter since that would indicate that the FFL intends to transfer it, but that would violate Federal law and the FFL would need to log it in even if they ship it back.

This is why FFLs should not start the paperwork until the firearm arrives.

The firearm can not be shipped to another out of state FFL since there would still be the problem of the FFL receiving the firearm without the letter. The only option is to get the letter or ship it back to the original FFL.

So, you need to figure out how to get in contact with the shipping FFL asap.

[tenpercentfirearms]

Yeah the dealer already screwed up by starting the DROS without the number. However, you can start a long gun DROS without the gun, so he really wouldn't be wrong in sending it back without the number and really that is the risk you took in starting DROS before the gun came in.

Unless, you didn't start the DROS until it arrived and he allowed you to start it without all of his required documentation.

Just keep trying to contact the seller is the best solution.

[ar15boreas]

The gun is already in CA. I didn't start the DROS until my dealer received the gun.

[kemasa]

Then it is the dealer's mistake, a serious one, but that does not help you much since the dealer only has the choice to return the firearm or get the number.

[dachan]

I've had a few cases like this. I will make one attempt at reaching the shipping dealer to request the CFLC authorization, reminding the shipper that it is a misdemeanor to ship a firearm without the authorization. At the same time, I will ask the customer to reach out to the seller to get the authorization; afterall, it's the customer who has be working the terms of the sale with the seller and should have a much stronger relationship with the seller and his FFL than me, the receiving FFL. Bottomline, OP, you can do alot more to help yourself with this situation.

[ar15boreas]

I am trying to contact the seller and the FFL. Having no luck.

[tenpercentfirearms]

I will make one attempt at reaching the shipping dealer to request the CFLC authorization, reminding the shipper that it is a misdemeanor to ship a firearm without the authorization.

Note quite right. It is a misdemeanor for you to accept it, not for them to ship it.

This is all on the dealer. If he received the firearm and then started the DROS, it is 100% on his end that he started the DROS without that letter. I can see him requiring you to ship it back and that should be on your dime. But DROS is on him. Or at least it ought to be. Unfortunately, he holds the cards because he has your firearm.

[ar15boreas]

I just found out the shipper FFL is out of the country on his annual safari hunt. He won't be back until the 27th. So I'd have to wait until then.