Can I Legally Buy Firearms in California while on Holiday?

Trying to find out the answer to the question following question.

Can I legally purchase firearms while visiting the USA and take them home with me?

There's been plenty of people guess Yes and No, but none yet that really knows for sure.
I have emailed the AFT and California Bureau of Firearms but have had no response from either.
I am also thinking of trying the US embassy in Wellywood.

I'm would like to buy these firearms in Los Angeles California and either ship them home to my local Police Firearms Officer for pick up on my return or carry them home in my checked in luggage via Las Vegas and Honolulu?

We will be spending our time on Vacation in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Honolulu.
We are flying with Hawaiian Airlines for the entire route except we are taking a bus from Los Angles to Las Vegas.
We intend to vacation in the USA for 30 days.
I do not intend to use these firearms at any shooting facility during my visit.

I'm intending to enter the USA as a Tourist on vacation from New Zealand.

I would like to purchase several handguns and bring them home with me.

I will be entering the USA on the Visitor Wavier Program Visa (VWP).
It appears from the AFT literature that I have read Non-immigrant Aliens (That's Me :) ) who enter the U.S. on a VWP are entitled to buy firearms.
But I'm not really sure if this is correct or how I would get on carrying said firearms through other states.

Any advice on how to legally purchase and ship said firearms while visiting the USA would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Pete

Certainly in Missouri they didn't even ask for ID when buying a firearm...

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Originally Posted by .22-250 everything

Certainly in Missouri they didn't even ask for ID when buying a firearm...

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22-250 everything

Can you please explain more.

Did you ship the firearm home?

Or

Did you carry it home in your checked in luggage?

Cheers
Pete

California is probably the worst state you could pick to buy guns in. As far as the specific question, I don't know with relation to the visa. Ordinarily it'd be just a matter of passing the background check (if buying from a FFL) and demonstrating residence in that state (depending on which state it is)

Last time I looked into this the atf website said you couldn't even buy ammo unless you were there for more than 90days or had a special hunting permit/shooting competition? Was a while ago though

Ask Dave Tipple, he knows what not to do.

:P

I'd bet Nevada would be a lot easier place to buy in.

I was issued a Florida resident card when I sat my drivers licence there. Never bought guns with it but sure I could of.
The 9mm Beretta was enough gun for me on the boat I worked on.

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Originally Posted by P38

Trying to find out the answer to the question following question.

Can I legally purchase firearms while visiting the USA and take them home with me?

There's been plenty of people guess Yes and No, but none yet that really knows for sure.
I have emailed the AFT and California Bureau of Firearms but have had no response from either.
I am also thinking of trying the US embassy in Wellywood.

I'm would like to buy these firearms in Los Angeles California and either ship them home to my local Police Firearms Officer for pick up on my return or carry them home in my checked in luggage via Las Vegas and Honolulu?

We will be spending our time on Vacation in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Honolulu.
We are flying with Hawaiian Airlines for the entire route except we are taking a bus from Los Angles to Las Vegas.
We intend to vacation in the USA for 30 days.
I do not intend to use these firearms at any shooting facility during my visit.

I'm intending to enter the USA as a Tourist on vacation from New Zealand.

I would like to purchase several handguns and bring them home with me.

I will be entering the USA on the Visitor Wavier Program Visa (VWP).
It appears from the AFT literature that I have read Non-immigrant Aliens (That's Me :) ) who enter the U.S. on a VWP are entitled to buy firearms.
But I'm not really sure if this is correct or how I would get on carrying said firearms through other states.

Any advice on how to legally purchase and ship said firearms while visiting the USA would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Pete

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Pretty sure you'll need State ID.
The following list of prohibited persons[4] are ineligible to own or use firearms under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.[5]
"Non-US citizens, unless permanently immigrating into the U.S. or in possession of a hunting license legally issued in the U.S."

Plus you'd fail the background check if you couldn't provide a permanent US address. Without an export permit from the US your luggage and you won't be going far.

Free tip : don't lock your luggage, TSA will open it anyway and if they can't easily open it, they'll just cut the lock off, and leave a nice pamphlet in your luggage saying why it was opened and don't lock it again. I was ion Florida last month.

I'd be very nervous walking into LA Airport at the moment to check a gun in to bring home! LOL

Nah, it's all good, there's signs up everywhere reminding people on firearm declaration. The freaky bit is Terminal 3 where the shooting happened is right next to T2 where AirNZ is - Air NZ is the last door for T2 before T3 starts.

Besides follow the rules - locked separate baggage, etc for your firearm - and provide the paperwork and you'll be good. But P38 I suspect the paperwork will be your downfall.

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Originally Posted by Kscott

Nah, it's all good, there's signs up everywhere reminding people on firearm declaration. The freaky bit is Terminal 3 where the shooting happened is right next to T2 where AirNZ is - Air NZ is the last door for T2 before T3 starts.

Besides follow the rules - locked separate baggage, etc for your firearm - and provide the paperwork and you'll be good. But P38 I suspect the paperwork will be your downfall.

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Kscott

I suspect your right.

Still would like to purchase some firearms as they are mighty cheap state side, but I sure don't want to end up as Bubba's boyfriend either.

Cheers
Pete

I read some recent stuff for At&F and it appears now that you can purchase and possess if you comply with state law, and you have a state hunting licence. This is under the Visa Waiver program... the absurdity would appear that you won't comply with many state's laws unless you can show that you were resident for more than 3 months. The visa waiver program is only for 90 days, so that would appear to be difficult. You can apply for extensions to the visitor waiver period, but again that may be interesting...

You might have noticed by now that americans are not interested in working together from federal to state bureaucracy to achieve a desired result, they all just make it up to suit themselves.

The other issue is that you would still have to secure a permit to export (from AT&F and that takes 2-8 weeks and you have to know exactly what you are exporting), before you could leave the country with the firearms that you had successfully and legally acquired??

It may be possible to do this yet, and at least federally it seems doable.... some states may not have the 3mth residency difficulty. But of course you would then have to know whether you could take the acquired firearms across state borders, which is another can of worms.

Given american paranoia and yourself being an "alien," you would have to be fairly certain you get all your ducks in a row.

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Originally Posted by P38

Kscott

I suspect your right.

Still would like to purchase some firearms as they are mighty cheap state side, but I sure don't want to end up as Bubba's boyfriend either.

Cheers
Pete

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Bubba needs love too...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by P38

Kscott

I suspect your right.

Still would like to purchase some firearms as they are mighty cheap state side, but I sure don't want to end up as Bubba's boyfriend either.

Cheers
Pete

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hehe. I don't think it's *that* cheap. Some parts are - magazines, etc - are for sure. Glocks $ for $ worked out roughly the same as what we pay, by the time you add duty, GST, etc. US$400 of a G4 G17, vs NZ$800 from GC that also comes with a warranty.

I picked up some reloading bits and pieces and stuff - a few Dillon boxes for $2 for example, pistol case from BassPro shop for $5 and a 100 round case gauge from Ben Stoeger shop here that I had FedEx to my hotel. Apart from that, in honesty, I don't think you're not going to have a lot of success with buying a firearm per se. Just enjoy the whacky land - don't forget to hold your breath in LA 'cause it smells like a cross between an old man and a possum that's been dead for a week.

If you want those ~*cheap us prices*~ it's probably better to organise it with an export agent from here, California tends to be overpriced on guns anyway

The only cheap rifles I see are on Forum classifieds but there are occasionally good deals to be had.

The rings/scopes and other parts certainly are though ... It may be worth buying a few sets of extra rings and a scope or two that you can sell for a good profit for when you get home.

I usually get 3 sets of warne rings that can be found for $50usd and retail for over $100 here.

Also bipods are a good buy.

I looked into purchasing a rifle as I go through Cali every 6 months... Too tough unless you know a mate who is willing to export for you.

Sadly it is looking like it's going into the too hard basket. :(

Cheers
Pete

If you could find a way to get 30 round AR15 P-mags, you could be an instant millionaire.
Buy them for $15 over there sell them $150 here, half price to what Guncity sells them for.

Tried it while there this time last year, was a definite no

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Originally Posted by P38

Sadly it is looking like it's going into the too hard basket. :(

Cheers
Pete

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Its not worth it, technically it is possible but not worth the risks.

if you want something special then best to use an exporter, expensive but worth is. I purchased my very first AR this way in 2000. Cost me 2K landed all up at the time retail here was 8-9K so worth it. In fact I have imported 2 AR's complete and built quite a few others from parts also imported.

If you are just after a cheap common as muck Tikka or Glock then best to buy it here

I briefly looked into doing this last year when I holidayed in the US for six weeks.

Here's what I found out:-

You can give someone money in exchange for a firearm (buying it), but you can not take possession of it.

It has to be shipped to an FFL holder, who should be an Export Agent who will arrange the correct export paperwork - End User Certificates, Purchase Order, and the DSP-83 Form.

You would also need to get a NZ Police Import Permit to get it into NZ, and its needed for the Export Permit.

Costs are around USD$250 for the Export Permit, around USD$150 for the Agents time in doing the paperwork, and you'll have shipping to get whatever you buy to the Export Agent, then shipping from the US to NZ (from my experience between USD$70-160).

Its not impossible, it can be done, just gotta be sure all your shit is one sock. Its not the sort of thing you want to get wrong....

But, buying in Cali is retarded because lol banstate and elevated prices

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Originally Posted by gimp

But, buying in Cali is retarded because lol banstate and elevated prices

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Your right Gimp.

Nevada is looking more promising, but still difficult.

Will check out Hawaii too.

Haven't completely given up yet, trying to contact someone in the US embassy in wellywood who will talk to me.

Cheers
Pete

I think Hawaii sucks too, I have never looked into their state laws

Wiki :

Acquiring a firearm in Hawaii requires a permit to acquire, issued to qualified applicants by the county police chief. There is a minimum 14-20 day waiting period for receiving a permit. A separate permit is required for each handgun(s) transaction to be acquired (valid for a period of 10 days), while a "long gun" permit can be used for any number of rifles or shotguns for a period of one year. In addition to passing a criminal background check, applicants must provide an affidavit of mental health, and agree to release their medical records. First time applicants must be fingerprinted by the FBI (fee applies). When applying to acquire a handgun, a handgun safety training course affidavit or hunter's education card is also required.[8]

Firearms acquired within the state must be registered with the chief of police within 5 days. Firearms brought in from out of state, including those owned prior to moving to Hawaii, must be registered within 3 days of arrival. Registration of firearms brought in from out of state does not involve a waiting period, however a FBI fingerprint and background check will be conducted. Registration is not required for black-powder firearms or firearms manufactured before 1899.[9]

Carrying a loaded firearm, concealed or not concealed, including in a vehicle, is a class A felony. Unloaded firearms that are secured in a gun case and are accompanied by a corresponding permit are allowed to be transported in a vehicle between the permitted owner's residence or business and: a place of repair; a target range; a licensed dealer's place of business; an organized, scheduled firearms show or exhibit; a place of formal hunter or firearm use training or instruction; or a police station.[10]

Fully automatic firearms, shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches long, and rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long are prohibited by state law. Also banned are handgun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and semi-automatic handguns with certain combinations of features that the state has defined as "assault pistols".[1]

so yeah, Hawaii fucking sucks

They all pretty much suck if your an Alien.

Still haven't given up though.

Cheers
Pete

I might be wrong but there are about 4 issues you need to be aware of. Certainly talk to your local firearms officer first.
1) check the local state and federal laws. It can be easy to buy a rifle in most places in the US cos they don't care about the next stage which is ...
2) its illegal to export (post home or pack in bags and check in luggage) not just weapons but also some components even though anyone like Cabela's sell'em to anyone. DONT UNDERESTIMATE THE DANGERS OF BREAKING A FEDERAL LAW IN THE US. 18 months in the slammer is a long time to dream about dead rabbits.
3) Lastly - make sure you have the appropriate paperwork for NZ so you don't get into trouble this end. Also, don't forget the GST as well if over $700 (I think?).
Basically - talk to your local gun shop and your local firearms officer.
Keep safe on the borders in this case!!!