transferring a gun to another state

Question
Hi,
My husband has a .22 at his parent's home in MT that I would like to have shipped to our home in AK. How do I go about getting it sent here? My understanding is I may have to go through a gun dealer.
Also, the gun is actually registered in his sister's name. What do we need to do to make him the registered owner, and do we need to do that before it's shipped or once we receive it?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Brandi,

If you would like to have it shipped, just contact a local F.F.L holder (licensed firearms dealer) and have them ship it for you to another F.F.L. in the area where you want it delivered to. They will both charge you a fee for this service.

This may be meeting more legal requirements than necessary but you will have the peace of mind in knowing that it will be shipped to and received by two licensed persons and pick up can be made at the destination end.

Now....... that said, it can get a bit confusing and involved as to the actual details of who can ship what and to where. If you want to pursue this further I'd advise actually contacting your local Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms office (under Federal Government Offices in phone book) and ask for the regulations/advice on shipping as you have outlined here.

A brief overview....  A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his/her own state or to a licensee in any state. Handguns are not mailable. A common carrier or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. A nonlicensee may not transfer any firearm to a nonlicensed resident of another state. So..... if you are not a licensee, you can send a handgun via common/contract carrier NOT by U.S. Mail, and the recipient must be a F.F.L. holder.

I hesitated getting into the above due to its confusing nature. This is why my original recommendation was to go through licensed dealers and pay each of them to sort out the details.

As already stated, if you want to go the mail/shipping route, it will get a bit confusing and detailed. Again, if you want to pursue doing this, I'd give a call to the closest A.T.F. office for further instructions/advise.

Thanks for the question and good luck.

Sid Lark