You are correct Geo. I incorrectly assumed that a father to son transfer would not require FFL Transfer even if they lived in different states. Here's what the ATF FAQ section has to say:
(B2) From whom may an unlicensed person acquire a firearm under the GCA? [Back]
A person may only acquire a firearm within the persons own State, except that he or she may purchase or otherwise acquire a rifle or shotgun, in person, at a licensee's premises in any State, provided the sale complies with State laws applicable in the State of sale and the State where the purchaser resides. A person may borrow or rent a firearm in any State for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(3) and (5), 922(b)(3), 27 CFR 478.29 and 478.30]
(B3) May an unlicensed person obtain a firearm from an out-of-State source if the person arranges to obtain the firearm through a licensed dealer in the purchasers own State? [Back]
A person not licensed under the GCA and not prohibited from acquiring firearms may purchase a firearm from an out-of-State source and obtain the firearm if an arrangement is made with a licensed dealer in the purchaser's State of residence for the purchaser to obtain the firearm from the dealer.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(3) and 922(b)(3)] If Cobbhead had gifted the shotgun to his son while he still lived in Colorado, he could legally take it with him to Kalifornia. I am curious about the last sentence in the first paragraph above:
"A person may borrow or rent a firearm in any State for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes." Does this mean that Cobbhead could LOAN his shotgun to his son to use in Kalifornia, or would it only apply to loaning the gun to his son for use in Colorado? And how long is "temporary"?
Here's a link to the ATF FAQ section:
https://www.atf.gov/questions-and-answers/firearms-qas#b
