Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
G’day guys. So I’ve never been to the Cody Show and I’ve decided that I won’t miss it this year. I have a question on gun sales at the show. Will I be able to buy or trade a rifle and or a handgun at the show as a non-resident of Wyoming? I’m a Washington State resident and I know that some states restrict sales of firearms to non-residents. I really don’t want to bring a rifle for no reason at all. Thanks for your help.
~~ Mark ~~
If antique, no problem. If curio and relic or modern I don’t know. But, you not only need to know the rules in Wyoming but Washington too. Wa. may have something to say about what you may bring back?
This is my limited understanding, but you shouldn’t rely on it. Consult an attorney versed in federal fireasrms law and the laws of the state of Washington:
Note that I’m talking here only about “firearms”. I don’t know anything about “curios and relics” or “antique” arms.
if you are not a resident of Wyoming, the only way you can buy a handgun in Wyoming is to have it shipped to a dealer in your home state of Washington. There may be exceptions for adjacent states but I don’t know about any.
Except for what Washington state defines as an “assault weapon”, you can purchase a rifle or shotgun in Wyoming and “import” it by carrying it back into Washington IF YOU CAN GET THE SELLER TO DO IT. Under federal law, the seller is presumed to know the law in both states and commits a federal felony if the transaction is not legal in BOTH states. Few licensed dealers will risk this and most will ilikely insist on shipping your purchased long gun back to a dealer in your home state.
As a non-licensee, selling or trading a firearm to another non-licensee, when both of you are non-residents of Wyoming, would be illegal if it were a handgun and hazardous otherwise depending on where the other guy lives.
I’ve not been to Cody yet and others with experience may say some dealers will hand over possession of a long gun if you can pass the federal background check. By all means, consult the WACA show rules and consult our experienced members who’ve been there.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Zebulon said
This is my limited understanding, but you shouldn’t rely on it. Consult an attorney versed in federal fireasrms law and the laws of the state of Washington:Note that I’m talking here only about “firearms”. I don’t know anything about “curios and relics” or “antique” arms.
if you are not a resident of Wyoming, the only way you can buy a handgun in Wyoming is to have it shipped to a dealer in your home state of Washington. There may be exceptions for adjacent states but I don’t know about any.
Except for what Washington state defines as an “assault weapon”, you can purchase a rifle or shotgun in Wyoming and “import” it by carrying it back into Washington IF YOU CAN GET THE SELLER TO DO IT. Under federal law, the seller is presumed to know the law in both states and commits a federal felony if the transaction is not legal in BOTH states. Few licensed dealers will risk this and most will ilikely insist on shipping your purchased long gun back to a dealer in your home state.
As a non-licensee, selling or trading a firearm to another non-licensee, when both of you are non-residents of Wyoming, would be illegal if it were a handgun and hazardous otherwise depending on where the other guy lives.
I’ve not been to Cody yet and others with experience may say some dealers will hand over possession of a long gun if you can pass the federal background check. By all means, consult the WACA show rules and consult our experienced members who’ve been there.
Thanks Bill, I have a FFL dealer that I know and work with in Washington. I’d be able to contact him and he’d accept anything I purchase. I actually have an assault rifle I’m hoping to trade since Washington’s laws are so restrictive on assault rifles.
~~ Mark ~~
November 7, 2015
Offline
Cilrah-
As far as federal laws the BATFE has an excellent website with a very comprehensive Q&A section. As for Washington State I can only offer my condolences and hope they have a similar website. Your local gun dealer, is such a person still exists in WA, may have a working knowledge and could be a resource for you. Having a C&R license may be helpful, with some of the stuff I’m hearing about changing definitions it may be more than helpful in the near future.
Mike
November 7, 2015
Offline
Cilrah-
May want to read the show rules (2nd page) regarding your trading material.
Mike
https://winchestercollector.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2024-Cody-Show-Application.pdf
I have flown with firearms for years and never had a real problem. But, I have never flown with something like an AR. These things are evil and scare people to death. I don’t know what an assault rifle is in the eyes of either State?
At the entrance to the Greeley show there was a sign that stated some of their/Colorado rules but I just glanced at it since I only buy antiques.
Chuck said
I have flown with firearms for years and never had a real problem. But, I have never flown with something like an AR. These things are evil and scare people to death. I don’t know what an assault rifle is in the eyes of either State?At the entrance to the Greeley show there was a sign that stated some of their/Colorado rules but I just glanced at it since I only buy antiques.
Unless an air carrier has changed its rules, I’ve not seen a carriage restriction on semi-automatic rifles equipped with long magazines. But I haven’t checked recently. I
n Texas, in the last several years, nobody at the counter wants to look at what you’ve got, after they ask you if it’s loaded and if there’s any ammo cased with it. I’ve had them tell me to take it over to the TSA guy across the hall because the counter is swamped but they don’t want to see it either. Old hat. Not a good idea to make jokes but otherwise all is cool.
I suspect that might not be the case in all other places.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Thanks everyone. I won’t flying, I’ll be driving to Wyoming from Washington. I didn’t see anything in the show rules to prevent me from trading an AR at the show either. Thanks again for your thoughts.
~~ Mark ~~
Cilrah said
Thanks everyone. I won’t flying, I’ll be driving to Wyoming from Washington. I didn’t see anything in the show rules to prevent me from trading an AR at the show either. Thanks again for your thoughts.
Hi Cilrah,
You are correct, there is no prohibition of you walking into the show with anything (legal) to trade for a Winchester, including cash.
The WACA rules are for exhibits and sale/trade tables where the firearms displayed or sold are restricted to those items that match our club’s collector criteria. Obviously, once traded, your rifle cannot be placed on a WACA table by the table holder as it then violates the WACA rules.
Also, there is usually a dealer or 2 at the Cody Show willing to do firearm transfers so if you do make a trade you should be able to handle the 4473 paperwork right there, or in town at their shop.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the show and glad you are making the transition from black rifles to Winchesters 
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
I live in Washington… the new laws for us are very restrictive. Here’s what they have established: Buying any handgun, long gun, shotgun… (“assault” weapons are not allowed… you need to get the extensive & growing list if you are not familiar with what they have determined is an “assault” weapon). Any purchase/trade must be shipped back to Washington by the dealer to your receiving FFL in Washington if you are not an FFL holder. You will then have a three week wait to receive your new toy after you fill out the paperwork. If you have a C&R license… you may purchase any handgun, long gun or shotgun (assault weapon’s as defined by Washington law excluded) as long as the weapon meets the C&R requirements (over 50 years old)… As far as selling/trading, you must do so to a C&R holder or thru an FFL holder at the show. The current situation for those of us in Washington doesn’t look to improve with the upcoming election either… the Dems have a strangle hold on this state…
Online
Ben said
I live in Washington… the new laws for us are very restrictive. Here’s what they have established: Buying any handgun, long gun, shotgun… (“assault” weapons are not allowed… you need to get the list if you are not familiar with what they have determined is an “assault” weapon. Any purchase/trade must be shipped back to Washington by the dealer to your receiving FFL in Washington if you are not an FFL holder. You will then have a three week wait to receive your new toy after you fill out the paperwork. If you have a C&R license… you may purchase any handgun, long gun or shotgun (assault weapon’s as defined by Washington law excluded) as long as the weapon meets the C&R requirements (over 50 years old)… As far as selling/trading, you must do so thru an FFL holder at the show. The current situation for those of us in Washington doesn’t look to improve with the upcoming election either… the Dems have a strangle hold on this state…
Ben, I’m just curious about those Washington State laws. Are you saying that you must go through an FFL holder for the sale of any personally owned firearm, whether or not that transaction occurs in Washington State?
For example, could you legally sell one of your personal firearms to another individual, in another state (where the transfer is otherwise legal), without benefit of FFL and 4473 as long as the ‘buyer’ was legally entitled to buy and possess the gun? It is difficult to imagine that a state law could restrict individual rights to that extent.
Paul
Nevada Paul
Life Member NRA
Folks, WA is not alone. I think (strongly suspect) there is a program that educates state politicians how to restrict firearms owners! IL now also requires ALL sales to go through an FFL dealer so a background check is conducted. Up to 1 Jan 2024, individuals could contact the state police for a background check and get an approval number which had to be retained for 10 years. No more. Now its strictly via an FFL with the attendant fees which have bumped up significantly. I THINK transfers within family even requires that! We can get together at Cody and bitch all we want, but it won’t change things. The state house and senate have super majorities of democrats and about anything seems to rush through. The courts are the last vestige of hope. And our state Supreme is well weighted with democratic justices who bend over trying to not overturn gun laws. Tim
Nevada Paul said
Ben said
I live in Washington… the new laws for us are very restrictive. Here’s what they have established: Buying any handgun, long gun, shotgun… (“assault” weapons are not allowed… you need to get the list if you are not familiar with what they have determined is an “assault” weapon. Any purchase/trade must be shipped back to Washington by the dealer to your receiving FFL in Washington if you are not an FFL holder. You will then have a three week wait to receive your new toy after you fill out the paperwork. If you have a C&R license… you may purchase any handgun, long gun or shotgun (assault weapon’s as defined by Washington law excluded) as long as the weapon meets the C&R requirements (over 50 years old)… As far as selling/trading, you must do so thru an FFL holder at the show. The current situation for those of us in Washington doesn’t look to improve with the upcoming election either… the Dems have a strangle hold on this state…
Ben, I’m just curious about those Washington State laws. Are you saying that you must go through an FFL holder for the sale of any personally owned firearm, whether or not that transaction occurs in Washington State?
For example, could you legally sell one of your personal firearms to another individual, in another state (where the transfer is otherwise legal), without benefit of FFL and 4473 as long as the ‘buyer’ was legally entitled to buy and possess the gun? It is difficult to imagine that a state law could restrict individual rights to that extent.
Paul
“Legally”, the U.S. Gun Control Act of 1968 has required the sale of any firearm between individuals from different states to require an FFL.
The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA or GCA68) is a U.S. federal law that regulates the firearms industry and firearms ownership. Due to constitutional limitations, the Act is primarily based on regulating interstate commerce in firearms by generally prohibiting interstate firearms transfers except by manufacturers, dealers and importers licensed under a scheme set up under the Act.
The GCA was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968, and is Title I of the U.S. federal firearms laws. The National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) is Title II. Both GCA and NFA are enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
18 USC chapter 44 was first enacted by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. GCA repealed the Federal Firearms Act of 1938, though many of its provisions were reenacted as part of the GCA, which revised the FFA and its predecessor, the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA).
And all of this is why I collect antiques. Even here in this communist state I can do what I want with an antique.
C&R and modern guns must go C&R/FFL to C&R/FFL. If the firearm is coming into the state Ca. they require that the seller fills out a Ca. form. The form takes less than a few minutes to fill out. Then you email it to the state. They then check the sending and receiving dealer’s status. Once approved this form has to travel with the firearm.
But, certain guns are restricted and can’t come into the state. Assault weapons and a bunch of pistols that did not pass their drop test can’t come in.
If I own a firearm that is registered I’d be smart/required to go through some process that would get my firearm off the state’s list when I sold it even if out of state. We can do legal transfers of some of these firearms if they are already registered in the state.
tim tomlinson said The courts are the last vestige of hope. And our state Supreme is well weighted with democratic justices who bend over trying to not overturn gun laws. Tim
State courts always function as rubber-stamps for Dem-controlled legislatures. Only hope lies in appeal to SC, but that costs millions, which NRA (thanks to criminal mismanagement) doesn’t have; no Bloomberg, Bezos, or other billionaires to fund pro-2A orgs, as they do Brady, Newtown, Moms Demand, & a doz other gun-hating groups.
Nevada Paul said
Ben said
I live in Washington… the new laws for us are very restrictive. Here’s what they have established: Buying any handgun, long gun, shotgun… (“assault” weapons are not allowed… you need to get the list if you are not familiar with what they have determined is an “assault” weapon. Any purchase/trade must be shipped back to Washington by the dealer to your receiving FFL in Washington if you are not an FFL holder. You will then have a three week wait to receive your new toy after you fill out the paperwork. If you have a C&R license… you may purchase any handgun, long gun or shotgun (assault weapon’s as defined by Washington law excluded) as long as the weapon meets the C&R requirements (over 50 years old)… As far as selling/trading, you must do so thru an FFL holder at the show. The current situation for those of us in Washington doesn’t look to improve with the upcoming election either… the Dems have a strangle hold on this state…
Ben, I’m just curious about those Washington State laws. Are you saying that you must go through an FFL holder for the sale of any personally owned firearm, whether or not that transaction occurs in Washington State?
For example, could you legally sell one of your personal firearms to another individual, in another state (where the transfer is otherwise legal), without benefit of FFL and 4473 as long as the ‘buyer’ was legally entitled to buy and possess the gun? It is difficult to imagine that a state law could restrict individual rights to that extent.
Paul
Yes Paul it’s true. If i buy a gun today i need to go through a state police background check. If i buy a gun a day after that check comes back i have to go through another background check. I also have a 10 business day (not 3 week) waiting period before I can get the gun from my FFL licensee. If i buy a gun in Wyoming i have to have it sent to my FFL guy, i can’t legally bring it back to Washington myself.
I moved to Washington this time last year from Missouri. Went from one of the least restrictive states to one of the most restrictive states, my heads still spinning over the gun laws here. Having a concealed carry permit in this state is a joke and allows you nothing when purchasing any kind of firearm. C&R laws means practically nothing in this state either.
~~ Mark ~~
My experience has usually been a “three week” wait. Yes, it’s 10 business days… after paying the new “background fee” of $18. the clock actually starts the day after the paperwork is submitted by the FFL holder (that’s been an issue a few times). If your purchase is on a Friday, then it starts on Monday if the shop is open the next Monday, if not, then Tuesday, hopefully.), then the minimum 10 business day wait, plus the two weekends and a holiday if you’re really unlucky and whatever time the WSP takes to get to clearing your purchase. It’s all semantics… causing needless frustration for legal buyers. Personally, I have held a Washington Concealed Weapon Permit for over 35 years… it used to allow us to purchase & take any firearm immediately, now I have to wait with everyone else. An FFL C&R license isn’t restricted by state laws…
If the Dems actually think that any of these restrictions on law abiding gun owners do anything to curb gun violence and crime they’re living on the Moon. The criminals and gang bangers care nothing about these laws. All you need to do is watch the news and see the rampant crime. It’s all about control, and nothing else. I live in Pennsylvania and our gun laws are no where near as restrictive as these other liberal states, but who knows, we do have a democrat governor.
Ben said
My experience has usually been a “three week” wait. Yes, it’s 10 business days… after paying the new “background fee” of $18. the clock actually starts the day after the paperwork is submitted by the FFL holder (that’s been an issue a few times). If your purchase is on a Friday, then it starts on Monday if the shop is open the next Monday, if not, then Tuesday, hopefully.), then the minimum 10 business day wait, plus the two weekends and a holiday if you’re really unlucky and whatever time the WSP takes to get to clearing your purchase. It’s all semantics… causing needless frustration for legal buyers. Personally, I have held a Washington Concealed Weapon Permit for over 35 years… it used to allow us to purchase & take any firearm immediately, now I have to wait with everyone else. An FFL C&R license isn’t restricted by state laws…
I’m accustomed to thinking “it couldn’t be worse” than here in NYS (though that’s only happened in the last doz yrs, beginning with disgraced Gov Cuomo), but I see now (to my amazement!) I was mistaken.
1 Guest(s)
