Firearm Transfer

[hotround]

I have a nephew who had 2 shotguns (purchased in Iowa) stored at my Sisters place in California. When my nephew asked about them, my Brother in law said she sold them, and if this true, I am sure they did not go through a FFL. Iowa does not register long guns. Is this a felony?

[Librarian]

I have a nephew who had 2 shotguns (purchased in Iowa) stored at my Sisters place in California. When my nephew asked about them, my Brother in law said she sold them, and if this true, I am sure they did not go through a FFL. Iowa does not register long guns. Is this a felony?

Depends.

If the guns were sold without permission, might be theft. Value might make it a felony.

But if the guns were abandoned to a CA resident, without properly transferring through an FFL, that would be a pair of misdemeanors (for both abandoner and receiver), one for each weapon. The subsequent sale would not be theft, but unless run through an FFL, or disposed of to a properly related family member (no paper needed for long guns before 2014, but nephew-aunt does not qualify) might be another set of misdemeanors.

Not really enough info to make a good guess.

[echoThreeOneSix]

Depends.

If the guns were sold without permission, might be theft. Value might make it a felony.

But if the guns were abandoned to a CA resident, without properly transferring through an FFL, that would be a pair of misdemeanors (for both abandoner and receiver), one for each weapon. The subsequent sale would not be theft, but unless run through an FFL, or disposed of to a properly related family member (no paper needed for long guns before 2014, but nephew-aunt does not qualify) might be another set of misdemeanors.

Not really enough info to make a good guess.

wow. what a **** storm. it doesn't sound like there is a good resolution to this.