"Newbies" asking for illegal gun sales through PM's

[Emptymag]

Originally Posted by seoulstice

I bought a rifle on here several months ago and I have under 100 posts. The seller followed all procedures for a FTF long gun purchase but didn't ask for a LTCF which I provided anyway.

The only thing that made me wonder since that was my first FTF long gun purchase is...what is to prevent someone selling a stolen long gun?

Here is something I came across just now in the classifieds:

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/firearms-...c-not-g-i.html

The OP said he doesn't want to pay transfer fees...is he looking for a FTF handgun purchase with no FFL involved?

Regarding the linked ad above:
I read that as "I want to buy, but YOU pay for the transfer."

One can make a FTF transaction and still use an FFL to do the transfer... you do it at the FFL.

At no point did he say "with no FFL involved."

Now, if I should be wrong, and he says differently via PM, you need to alert someone.

[Lougotzz]

I transfer all guns through an FFL. Just to protect myself. I could care less if you have 1 post or a million posts it is going through an FFL. I have had people baulk at that but I could care less!

[eells]

Originally Posted by tobyking8773

bait them back and contact your local BATFE agency and set up a sting/counter-sting. Oh the funnies that would bring! Like Keystone cops... lol

honestly, that would make my day. oh to see the looks on their faces when they saw their buddies aiming guns back at them! if anybody does this, can you film the outcome and send me a copy?

[HiredGoon]

Originally Posted by tobyking8773

bait them back and contact your local BATFE agency and set up a sting/counter-sting. Oh the funnies that would bring! Like Keystone cops... lol

Would this then make him a Master Baiter?

[crakkajakka15]

When I was selling my P11 I got one offer from a guy in DE, that didnt want to do a FFL, I told him the rules and that he will be reported for trying to obtaina handgun without a FFL. I never reported him because he never mad eany posts after that PM. Prob. a E-Bacon Beater

[D-FENS]

I had a guy once that said he was a cop in California and wanted me to mail him a handgun directly because he was exempt. I said it was illegal and I'd only go through an FFL. He was actually persistent to a degree.

There's no doubt that we're being baited for illegal transfers.

[GunLawyer001]

There's nothing wrong with police feeling out a marketplace for illegal conduct, as long as it doesn't rise to the level of entrapment. Offering someone money to do something illegal isn't entrapment, it's just a necessary means of detecting criminality that wouldn't otherwise be found out, because there's no immediate victim. "Entrapment" requires extreme and outrageous conduct by police, creating a crime where no crime would have occurred, by doing a lot more than simply asking if the target would please violate the law.

These pretexts are also a dandy way to keep people honest, which is not a bad thing. Since we all know about these occasional stings, we all obey the law all the time, even where it's inconvenient and doesn't really prevent gun crimes.

I wouldn't immediately call the cops on someone for asking for a FTF, no-FFL transfer, because if you believe the mainstream media, there are no laws controlling the private sale of handguns. Surely you've all heard of the gunshow loophole? Most people out there are ignorant of the complicated sets of gun laws, they honestly don't know. So if I received such an offer, I'd be sure to tell them that PA law requires an FFL, even though the laws of other states may not. If they persist, THEN a call to the police might be acceptable, except that the attempted buyer may not have broken any laws. Read the PA UFA; our law imposes obligations on the transferor, but not the transferee.

[PennsyPlinker]

Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota

wasn't there a case a little while back where one of these turned out to be a police officer (or maybe ATF agent) trying to entice someone into breaking the law?

i seem to remember a thread about it and the PAFAO user followed-up via e-mail or something and the guy admitted that he was an officer on a proverbial fishing expedition.

I had a guy stringing me along, pretending to want a Taurus I was selling. When I mentioned meeting at an FFL, he disappeared. I followed up asking if he was still interested, and he wrote back implying that he was a cop who was monitoring the board to make sure everything was legal. I reported him to Dan. I saw him post a few more times, but have not seen him in a while. Good riddance I say.

[General Geoff]

Isn't there some way to charge these folks with conspiracy to commit a felony?

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by seoulstice

The only thing that made me wonder since that was my first FTF long gun purchase is...what is to prevent someone selling a stolen long gun?

Nothing... exactly the same as if it is sold through an FFL.