Thread: 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...

Originally Posted by .22-250 everything

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Bubba needs love too...

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

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.