Buying guns in the Us. Help?

Sir Jake

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Hello there, just wondering how or if it's too much work to buy a gun from the US and bring it into Canada.
I have many friends in the US that are able to buy the guns for me.
Just not sure how or if I can do this?
I heard that on our side it was not alot of work, call in give the numbers get paper work for the gun. How do I go about not getting crap from the US side of things. :)
Same goes for ammo how do I bring ammo back into canada.
I did it once last week and found out I will get nailed if they pulled me over.
So I am just looking for some help how to do everything.
Thanks Jake.
 
Be Advised.

Hello there, just wondering how or if it's too much work to buy a gun from the US and bring it into Canada.
I have many friends in the US that are able to buy the guns for me.
Just not sure how or if I can do this?
I heard that on our side it was not alot of work, call in give the numbers get paper work for the gun. How do I go about not getting crap from the US side of things. :)
Same goes for ammo how do I bring ammo back into canada.
I did it once last week and found out I will get nailed if they pulled me over.
So I am just looking for some help how to do everything.
Thanks Jake.

Not sure if by US law you are allowed to have them buy it for you because it could be considered a straw purchase and that is illegal, not sure if they can write on the application that they are buying it for a friend who is legally allowed to use guns in Canada but unfortunately I highly doubt it.

But you should research straw purchase and find out what your friends are and are not allowed to do while purchasing a handgun so that they won't get in trouble with the ATF.

Good luck though. =o)
 
Read the first sticky on the 'Legalese' forum.
Your buddies will be violating U.S. law as a minimum. Non-immigrant aliens, tourists, can't be in possession of either firearms or ammo. Being Stateside, with firearms you took with you for hunting or at a match, has different rules.
The U.S. export permit can take several months, not weeks. The Canadian import permit required to get the U.S. permit can take up to three weeks. After that you're at the whim of a foreign government's bureaucracy.
 
last thing anyone wants to hear is "ATF OPEN UP". That is if they even bother and don't just burst in screaming "ATF ON THE FLOOR GET ON THE FLOOR"

MMMM brings back.......nothing been a good boy I have :D
 
Not totally correct...

Read the first sticky on the 'Legalese' forum.
Your buddies will be violating U.S. law as a minimum. Non-immigrant aliens, tourists, can't be in possession of either firearms or ammo. Being Stateside, with firearms you took with you for hunting or at a match, has different rules.
The U.S. export permit can take several months, not weeks. The Canadian import permit required to get the U.S. permit can take up to three weeks. After that you're at the whim of a foreign government's bureaucracy.

This comment is not actually totally correct.

As a non-immigrant you can actually purchase a handgun in the US, BUT you have to get a non-immigrant entry number from the USCIS and after that you have to spend at least 90 days in the US, not sure if it has to be a specific state or if you can travel around but the 90 days is continously, after this you are allowed to purchase a handgun from a FFL licenced dealer and you will use your non-immigrant entry number as the identification number for the ATF Form that has to be filled out when you make the purchase but getting a US Export Permit and also a Canadian Import Permit I have no knowledge about but I think you have to jump through a lot of hoops and go through a lot of red tape before you can even think about getting it.

Good luck if you decide to go through with it but get it yourself because by US law your friends are not normally allowed to buy it for you unless it is a gift and if the ATF finds out that it is not, then both your friends and you will have a lot of legal problems on your hands which might even make you lose your weapons here too seeing as it is a federal offence what you are contemplating.
 
You need to find an FFL with an export license, there are even companies that specialize in sending US guns to Canadians. It's pretty risky to drive it over the boarder because there are a lot of regulations based on the character and nature of the firearm unless it's a US made long arm leving the original state of purchase and you've already done the paperwork I wouldn't do it.

Generally the FFL can also buy the gun for less down there than you can up here which offsets the cost of their paperwork etc. Try Leroy's:

Leroys big valley gun works
Exporter and importer of firearms import 75.00 1-5
$75.00 for the first export and $25.00 each additional.
leroygun@nemontel.net
+1 (406) 228-4867

Even after their purchase, markup, export fee, shipping and the GST and customs their quote for a Beretta target cheetah was less than the US MSRP and way less than any of the local shops wanted.
 
I've found this very problem with Remmy 700's, such as the SPS Tactical. This rifle routinely retails for $550 USD and can be found in abundance, as it's a large-run production rifle [they're still available in warehouse]. However, when you find them in Canada they often cost as much as $400-450 more (just under a grand CAD).

There's nothing to justify this kind of markup, hence why I checked this thread. There's no sense in my spending that kind of money when I just want the barreled action.

Further, on that note, what are the laws for importing actions, barrels, and other FFL-ship-to items to Canada?
 
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A non-immigrant alien can purchase a firearm in the US.

(R1) May nonimmigrant aliens legally in the United States purchase or possess firearms and ammunition while in the United States?

Nonimmigrant aliens generally are prohibited from possessing or receiving (purchasing) firearms and ammunition in the United States.

There are exceptions to this general prohibition. The exceptions are as follows:

1.

nonimmigrant aliens who possess a valid (unexpired) hunting license or permit lawfully issued by a State in the United States;

2. nonimmigrant aliens entering the United States to participate in a competitive target shooting event or to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show sponsored by a national, State, or local firearms trade organization devoted to the collection, competitive use or other sporting use of firearms;

3. certain diplomats, if the firearms are for official duties;

4. officials of foreign governments, if the firearms are for official duties, or distinguished foreign visitors so designated by the U.S. State Department;

5. foreign law enforcement officers of friendly foreign governments entering the United States on official law enforcement business; and

6. persons who have received a waiver from the prohibition from the U.S. Attorney General.

Significantly, even if a nonimmigrant alien falls within one of these exceptions, the nonimmigrant alien CANNOT purchase a firearm from a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) unless he or she (1) has an alien number or admission number from the Department of Homeland Security (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service) AND (2) can provide the FFL with documentation showing that he or she has resided in a State within the United States for 90 consecutive days immediately prior to the firearms transaction.

[18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(b) and 922(y), 27 CFR 478.124, ATF Rul. 2004-1]

If they are not here for more than 90 days in one state, then they can still purchase a firearm as long as they have it shipped out of the country without taking possession of it.

(R10) I am a nonimmigrant alien. I'm coming to the United States for 2 weeks. I do not have a hunting license or any alien or admission number. Can I buy a firearm from a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) to take back to my home country?

You may not buy a firearm and take possession of it in the United States. However, the FFL may directly export the firearm to your home country. If the FFL directly exports it, you do not need a hunting license, alien number or admission number, or 90 days of State residency. However, the FFL first must obtain an export license from the Department of State or, if the firearm is a sporting shotgun, from the Department of Commerce.
http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#r1
 
Hello again -
My strong suggestion would be to do one of two things: (1) call CFC (800-731-4000) and ask them the steps. They give the legal advice. It's time-consuming, but quite doable. (2) Email Mark at Questar and ask them to do it. They have a licensee on the US side and will do all the paperwork. It costs, but it's done properly. I've used them a few times and was very pleased with both the service and the results.
 
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