I think it is possible whoever bought the rifle from me on here that led to ATF contacting me, might have been caught up in an unlicensed dealing sting. After looking at the buyer's last posts on related forums, that buyer appeared to have been buying and selling several guns between forums. Their posts were only on classified boards and they had sold a lot of guns that were current year brand new too. They had stopped posting here and stopped responding to posts everywhere a week or two before that ATF phone call to me. Not that it matters when I got that call, my FFL had expired. The ATF person came over with a strong arm voice demanding my records thinking I still had the FFL. I told them in that initial call that I don't have to provide them crap because I was no longer an FFL, that it was the only rifle I had sold in three years, but that I did have the persons name and driver's license and would call them back later. The ATF person was much nicer on my return call. I was really glad I had that information to take me out of the trace not knowing what the "criminal" reason was for them doing it.

I've given two away to THFers. No paperwork at all.

Though I seldom sell a firearm, that is basically what I have done by putting that disclaimer with the add so not to waste anyone's time who refuses. With my 03FFL license I also must have that information for my bound book when buying a firearm that is a Curio and Relic or over 50 years old. I have had much more trouble getting a copy of drivers license from non FFL sellers than I have from non FFL buyers. Since I renewed my FFL, it's just not possible for me to legally buy a C&R without that information.

I wonder how many of the sellers requiring a copy of the buyers ID would be willing to do the same? Are you willing to give the buyer a copy of your ID? I’m not giving anyone a copy of my ID or LTC. I’d show it to someone but that is it. If I wanted to buy a gun and the seller wanted a copy I’d be happy to do the transfer through an FFL but I’m not giving someone a copy of of my ID that not only has my full name but home address and DL number on it.

As I said in my last post, it encountered more sellers refusing to provide identification than buyers. I can see how unlicensed individuals who sell guns frequently would not want to sell to FFLs or to other individuals asking for documentation. The last thing an unlicensed dealer would want is for reverse traces to start drawing attention to them. There are lots of articles online about various cases of online sellers both who knew they were doing something illegal and others who unjustly got put through the ringer over only a few gun sells. Or even a single sell like the gun show seller that got caught up in unlicensed dealing sting who unknowingly bought a gun from an undercover agent then sold it to another undercover for a profit a short time later same day.