# How is auctionarms.com legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-auctionarms-com-legal/292486 "2005-03-01T20:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-auctionarms-com-legal/292486/1 "2005-03-01T20:48:35Z")
[www.auctionarms.com](http://www.auctionarms.com) buys and sells guns in an ebay fashion. I am an avid supporter of the second amendment but question the legality (since I live in illinois and have to adhere to strict gun laws) So, is this website legal? I know different states have different gun laws so then is this legal in all 50 states. Also, if this is legal and there seems to be a quite large market for guns on the internet, why hasn’t ebay adopted letting their users buy and sell guns? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-auctionarms-com-legal/292486/2 "2005-03-01T21:00:10Z")
I’m not familiar with auction arms but presume it works similarly to [gunbroker.com](http://gunbroker.com) which does ebay style auctions, a service I have used. Bottom line is the service only facilitates finding a buyer for the best price. The transaction must take place according to state and more important federal law which prohibits interstate transfers by non-licensees. In the case where I sold a handgun I had the buyer contact a dealer in his area who was willing to recieve the weapon. The dealer sent me a copy of his federal firearms licenses, signed in ink. I took this to UPS which allowed me to legally ship it to the dealer. The dealer then recieves the gun into his inventory as if he had gotten it from a distributor then transfers it on a form 4473 to the buyer for a nominal fee. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-auctionarms-com-legal/292486/3 "2005-03-01T21:03:57Z")
Oh, black powder arms which do not use cartridges are except from federal law as are antiques made before 1899 IIRC. Several specific guns have been designated as _Curios & Relics_\* by the BATFE and may be purchased mail order by collectors with the appropriate C&R license.