Honestly, when I see an add requesting a “signed bill of sale”... I move on. A firearm is a piece of property and I see no need to do that. I do my due diligence and ask to see an AZ DL and CCW (if they have it) and ask them if they can legally own a firearm in Arizona (they could lie just like on the government form) No pictures of their stuff or “tracking” by me. I know a concern is if the gun later comes up used in a crime or something...but really the bill of sell does not really add any protection. It’s just a feel good measure from my perspective. If you really want no part of it, sell your gun on consignment at an FFL gun shop.
This comes from someone that recently spoke with the ATF in regards to a shotgun I had purchased then sold a year or so later. After reportedly “multiple sales” it was seized after being sawed off and converted to an illegal firearm. As I was the original owner, they started their tracking with me to try and investigate the history of the gun and who had done it. I informed them of my involvement with it, the little data I had on the person that bought it from my interactions. That was the end of it...it was sold and was factory when I sold it. Done and done.
A bill of sale may have provided a name (that could also be fake).
Anyway no skin off my nose if someone wants the feel good measure, I just won’t buy from them. I just wondered if there is actually a good argument for holding a bill of sale other then “protection”.
Thoughts or legal opinions from our vast internet lawyers?
