What do people want in a Bill of Sale?

[P01135809]

I know that it is not friday...but

I got to thinking about BOS and what do people want.

I'm actually OK with or without a BOS. I am admittedly much less uptight about wanting one and more uptight about personal info "out there" the longer I've been buying selling trading.

IF you are a proponent of a BOS, what is important to you?

As a seller?

1. Documentation that you no longer own the gun in case it is used in a crime?
2. Documentation of who you sold it to, so you can you can redirect LE in case they call?

As a buyer?

1. Documentation of who you bought the gun from in case it shows up stolen or used in a crime?

I made up two potential BOS that don't have personal identifying info other than name.

I made them with the onus on the seller to verify ability to the buyer to purchase.

Just for fun and curiosity.

It seems like you would have better "legal" protection by sending yourself a certified letter stating that you sold the gun to a legal buyer.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

 

[noway2]

I'm no longer a proponent of needing a BOS. Back in the day, I was initially concerned with being tied to a weapon used in a crime, either as a buyer or seller. I came to realize it doesn't matter and I am under no obligation to keep the records, just to do due diligence when buying or selling. As a buyer, it would be wise to try to ensure you're buying from a legitinate seller, for reasons that should be obvious in terms of not buying a "hot" gun.

 

[Ikarus1]

BOS means BS without the O. It means exactly nothing legally. It covers nothing. Onus is on the BUYER not the SELLER not to be prohibited. I ask, and if the answer is no and you're not a sniveling Dbag then you get whatever I am selling.

 

[Button Pusher]

Only have done three bos as the buyer, don't bother me one at all, guess it filters out those who refuse to do one.

 

[Mirac]

People want feelzs... That's all they get with it too.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Leaving my opinions about Bills of Sale in general out of this, I personally am more interested in what the BOS proponents think is going to happen to them if they do not produce a BOS for whoever is asking.
I actually asked that in another thread and never got an answer, so since we are on the subject, I'll ask it again here.

What, specifically, is going to happen if a BOS for a particular firearm is unavailable?

 

[SDIVER2006]

Fill it out with disappearing ink pen and wright lite so as to not dent the paper for tracings.
Problem solved they feel good bout the BOS, and you feel fuzzy cuze the ink goes away after they have left the area.

like this
#merica

 

[NCMedic]

I used to keep pretty meticulous records on a spreadsheet...date I purchased, where, price, new, used, caliber, where purchased from, etc. If I sold it, the date I sold it, to whom, how much, etc.
BOS for the buyer and I, etc.

I don't do either now, except keep a spreadsheet of what is currently in "inventory" with photos for insurance purposes.

A: There is no requirement to obtain said information for a private sale.
B: Generally speaking if I am buying or selling, it is to someone I know and have vetted, or someone from this forum. For all intents and purposes, if I sold something to someone on here with a negative outcome, I have a FS thread and PMs from said person, which is a record of the transaction.
C: If I have a substantial amount of guns I've bought and sold, I would be more worried about getting in a pinch for buying and selling without a FFL.
D: I'm more in the camp of protection of my personal information. A business has a reasonable expectation of protecting my information. Joe Schmooze who leaves the BOS in his car that gets broken into with my info and the info that I had at least one firearm, not so much.

My personal feeling is it makes people feel better and offer some security, when really it's just piece of paper.

I have gotten one call from the ATF about one gun I bought, from a dealer. They claimed it was a random audit. Asked if I bought XYZ from ABC on such and such date, said I did. They said okay thanks.

 

[Ikarus1]

I'd rather get a Bill of Sale on an ATV or Dirtbike, because in some states, you have to REGISTER them.
Until I move to a state (or that state moves on me) and makes me register all my firearms by serial number and possibly by Alphabetical order, then NYET!

BTW I got a bill of sale for the recent car I purchased used. I really could care less, because the TITLE is all the state wants to see and they value the car to what they think it's worth, not what I paid.
So much for that 'cars gotta be registered, guns gotta be registered' groupthink of the left.

 

[J R Green]

For the same reason anyone would want a BOS on anything they sell. It provides evidence that the buyer didn't steal the item and it helps to dismiss the seller as a suspect if the item is used in a way that would make the possessor liable in any way.

Even the most hard core anarchist or pious priest out there doesn't want the police looking into their affairs, while they are ruling them out as suspects, if they can avoid it.

That being said, I've never required a BOS on a gun but don't mind when someone else does. It's ridiculous to assume that your license number being written down on a slip off paper will make a difference to your security.

 

[Tailhunter]

You have a yard sale, do you get a bill of sale for all your old underwear?

We don’t need no stinking bill of sales.

 

[BlackGun]

I'll provide a bill of sale but I can't give you my license number or address. Signature, item, and date. If I have produced a permit or concealed carry you are free of penalty.