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I agree.
For the first time about a year ago, a guy asked me to do a bill of sale when I bought a rifle from him. I said "no problem" and signed it and kept my own copy.....
Once I got to reading it, I decided it would be a good idea to do in the future when I sell something. It has pretty good language about the buyer being legally able to purchase and possess a firearm (i.e.-a state resident, and not a convicted felon.) I think that is important.
If it turns out that your gun gets into the wrong hands, you can always have that BOS to show the investigators that you did your due diligence and made an honest effort to determine that the buyer was representing to you that he was in the clear.
-As far as some people saying that this BOS would have no legal value, I strongly disagree. It is true that it doesn't need to be done, but something like this could be very valuable if your serial number somehow comes up in an investigation.
-I like the BOS idea. I will be doing them in the future. Don't care if it scares off some buyers. I would rather have a few people turn up their nose than leave my butt flapping in the wind with no good explanation of how my firearm wound up getting involved in something undesirable.
(Also, keep in mind that just selling to a convicted felon is a crime. If you have something in writing saying that the buyer was not a convicted felon-that sure as hell would be a lot better coverage than just going on someone's word.)
Federal law only requires that you verify that the buyer is a resident of your state. If you sell to someone in another state, you simply ship the gun to their favorite dealer, who will complete the necessary NICS check and paperwork. A Bill of Sale is essentially worthless.
A person may sell a firearm to an unlicensed resident of his State, if he does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law
A person may sell or transfer a firearm to a licensee in any State. However, a firearm other than a curio or relic may not be transferred interstate to a licensed collector.
not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law
Nothing in the law requires a Bill of Sale. Nor does a Bill of Sale PROVE anything. I can meet you, get your name and fill out a BoS for a gun in your name, go out and kill someone with the gun and ditch it. Then if the cops ever come to me I can show them my BoS. Does that prove you are a murderer?
BoS=PoS
If the police showed me a BOS for a gun connected to a murder with my name on it, I guess I would just plead guilty. There is no way I could beat ironclad evidence like that.