Does ATF consider a family member picking up a pawned firearm for another family member a straw purchase?
Under certain situations, family members may pick up a firearm for another family member. For example, a pawn ticket can be transferred to a family member, or any other individual, as long as the transfer complies with all State and local laws. However, if the individual who pawned the firearm is a prohibited person, and the pawn ticket was transferred after a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check on the original pawn ticket holder came back denied or delayed, then a family member who attempts to redeem the firearm may be a straw transferee. FFLs who encounter this factual scenario should contact their local ATF office for guidance. May a licensee return a consigned firearm to a different individual rather than the person who originally placed the firearm on consignment? Yes. Licensees may return a consigned firearm to an individual other than the person who originally placed the firearm on consignment, provided an ATF Form 4473 is completed and a background ch
