Legal Guide: How to Sell a Gun Privately in Your State

Question
I have a Charter Arms Police Undercover 38 Special that I would like to sell.  How do I go about that?

Answer
In most states you simply put a for sale sign on it. You do have to exercise reasonable care (meaning you can't sell it to someone you know can't legally possess it). In some states (NY) selling a gun privately is not legal.

My advice for selling a gun:

1) Sell it to someone you personally know, and know to be responsible and legally able to possess it.

2) Sell it at a firearms range in a public area (I would not invite someone I didn't know to my house, go to his house, or meet in a secluded area). Require that you see the person's driver's license and concealed handgun permit. You don't have to copy it, just sight-verify that everything appears to be in order - this will tell you that this stranger can legally own a gun.

3) Sell it on consignment through a gunshop (typically take 20% of the sale).

4) Sell it outright to a gunshop (typically you give 50% of what they can sell it for).