So, you can gift a firearm but is it a good idea?
The first question on the ATF form 4473 asks “Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) (ATF Form 5300.9A)? Warning: You are not the actual transferee/buyer if you are acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual transferee/buyer, the licensee cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you.“
Sure sounds like the ATF is saying you cannot purchase a firearm for someone else. The good news is that you can gift a firearm, providing a couple of specific circumstances are met. First, it is always illegal to transfer a firearm to anyone you know (or should know) is a prohibited possessor. Second, you can’t gift a firearm to someone not old enough to own one. In Arizona, you must be 18 years old to own either a rifle or a handgun.
So, you can gift a firearm but is it a good idea? We’ve seen plenty of folks come to our range to try out their brand new firearm, either purchased or gifted to them. Frequently, they are disappointed after just a few shots. Regardless of the experience of those that would recommend what you should get, they can’t tell you what the best firearm for you is, only you can do that. Just like buying shoes, if the fit isn’t right, you won’t like the results.
The most frequent mistake is thinking that because a firearm is physically small, it’ll be easier to shoot. Actually, just the opposite is true. The smaller (and therefore lighter) a firearm is, the more recoil you’ll feel shooting it. Smaller firearms are more difficult to get a good grip on, have shorter, less accurate barrels and sights that are closer together and more challenging to use.
Another frequent mistake is thinking that only a revolver is “simple” enough for a beginning shooter. Revolvers offer their own challenges when shooting because they frequently require a lot of pressure on the trigger. That pressure makes it more difficult to keep your sights on the target and therefore results in less than optimum accuracy. Semi-automatic firearms are not difficult to use, that’s why they are the firearm of choice for law enforcement and the military. The only way to get the best firearm for you is to try it yourself and find the one that is most comfortable and accurate for you.
We recommend that rather than purchasing a firearm as a gift, you instead get a gift card that your relative or friend can use to purchase the right firearm for themselves.
Other options would be gifting them a class like “Introduction to Handguns” that starts with the fundamentals of safety, stance, grip and sight alignment.
A course like that provides the knowledge to enable them to pick the very best firearm after trying a variety of them. You may know someone that has never shot a firearm and would like to just experience it firsthand. The “First Shots” program provides a safe, easy way to find out just how much fun the shooting sports are! FBN
By Rob Wilson
Rob Wilson is the owner (with his wife, Elise) of Timberline Firearms & Training in Flagstaff. They offer a full line of firearms, accessories, safes and ammunition along with Liberty Safes. For more information, visit timberlinefirearms.us.
