CoreDuration 45 min
Interstate Transfers
FFL-to-FFL transfers, long gun sales to out-of-state residents, and the rules for shipping handguns.
What you’ll learn
Skills you can apply the same day.
- Apply the 922(b)(3) prohibition on transferring firearms to non-residents and identify the narrow long-gun exception.
- Route every handgun sale to a non-resident through an FFL in the buyer’s state of residence.
- Verify a receiving FFL’s license using ATF eZ Check and document the copy on file before shipping.
- Determine whether a long gun sale satisfies both the buyer’s-state and seller’s-state laws at the point of transfer.
- Ship long guns and handguns lawfully under USPS POM 432 and common carrier rules in 922(e) and (f).
- Handle interstate bequests under the 922(a)(2)(A) inheritance exception without an FFL-to-FFL transfer.
- Process returns of customer-owned firearms, repaired guns, and transfers involving active-duty military stationed out of state.
Course outline
What’s inside.
Module 1
The 922(b)(3) Framework
- The general prohibition on sales and deliveries to non-residents
- Why state of residence, not citizenship, controls the analysis
- Contiguous-state history and the 1986 FOPA changes
- Penalties and license risk for non-compliant transfers
Module 2
Long Guns to Out-of-State Buyers
- The long-gun exception and its dual-compliance requirement
- Reading the buyer’s-state law correctly before completing the sale
- Documenting the transfer on the 4473 with an out-of-state ID
- Gun-show transfers and temporary-location considerations
Module 3
Handguns and the FFL-to-FFL Requirement
- Why every handgun sale to a non-resident must ship to a dealer in the buyer’s state
- Selecting and verifying the receiving FFL
- ATF eZ Check workflow and signed license copies
- Recording the transfer in the A&D book on both ends
Module 4
Shipping and Common Carriers
- USPS POM 432: long guns by mail and the handgun restriction to FFLs and government
- Common carrier notice requirements under 922(e)
- Carrier-specific policies for FedEx and UPS
- Packaging, insurance, and adult signature on delivery
Module 5
Special Cases and Returns
- Interstate bequests under 922(a)(2)(A)
- Returning a repaired firearm directly to its non-licensee owner
- Active-duty military whose state of residence differs from duty station
- Transfers to and from collectors of curios and relics
Who this is for
Built for the people behind the counter.
- FFL dealers and counter staff who process out-of-state buyers and online sales.
- Shipping clerks responsible for outbound firearm packages and carrier paperwork.
- Compliance officers building written procedures for interstate transfers.
- Gunsmiths and repair shops returning customer firearms across state lines.
- New 01 and 02 licensees building a baseline understanding of multi-state transactions.
Prerequisites
- Working familiarity with ATF Form 4473 and Form 4473 buyer eligibility.
Key takeaways
Walk away with real working knowledge.
- 01
Handguns to non-residents always ship FFL-to-FFL in the buyer’s state. There is no in-person exception.
- 02
Long-gun sales to non-residents must satisfy the laws of both states at the moment of transfer.
- 03
Always obtain and retain a signed copy of the receiving FFL’s license and verify it through ATF eZ Check.
- 04
USPS allows long guns by mail but restricts handguns to transfers between FFLs or government entities.
- 05
Inheritance and repaired-firearm returns are narrow exceptions with specific documentation requirements.
Regulatory references
What the course covers, by the book.
- 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(3)
- 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(2)
- 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(3)
- 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(5)
- 18 U.S.C. § 922(e) and § 922(f)
- 27 CFR §§ 478.29, 478.30, 478.31, 478.99
- USPS POM § 432 and ATF eZ Check
Frequently asked questions
Common questions.
No. Under 922(b)(3), a handgun transfer to a non-resident must go through an FFL in the buyer’s state of residence, regardless of how well you know the buyer.
Yes, if the long-gun sale complies with both your state’s laws and the buyer’s state laws at the time of transfer. Document the out-of-state ID on the 4473 and confirm there is no state-level restriction that would block the sale.
Yes. USPS POM 432 permits handgun shipments between licensed dealers. You can also use a common carrier under 922(e), with the required written notice that the package contains a firearm.
Active-duty military have two valid states of residence under 27 CFR 478.11: their permanent home of record and the state where they are stationed on official orders. Either is acceptable, with appropriate documentation.
Yes. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(2)(A) permits a licensee to return a repaired firearm or replacement of the same kind and type directly to the non-licensee owner across state lines, with no FFL-to-FFL transfer required.
Request a signed copy of their license, then confirm the license number, name, and address through ATF eZ Check. Keep the signed copy on file for the duration of your transfer record retention period.
Core course
Ready to certify your team?
Interstate Transfers is $69 per employee, standalone. Buying for a role? Bundle pricing saves up to 40%.