Non - resident buyer for AR type rifle

[allN1rifle]

I am currently not a VA resident, do not have VA drivers permit.

In reading the Virginia law, posted here & elsewhere, I get the impression that I could walk into a retail outlet and purchase a rifle (AR type), go through a "instant" background check that might last as long as 10 days, and then complete the purchase.

Seems that the 10 days is just an outside number, that most are completed "instantly".

Am I misunderstanding the law?

I do have a Firearms ID for the state in which I reside, & understand that I am obliged to comply with my state law.

Can anyone provide me with guidance or experience here....and perhaps the name of reputable stores in NOVA?

Many thanks.

[OakRidgeStars]

Your instant background check is just that... instant. Provided you have the required form of primary and secondary indentification at the time of purchase, and you're not prohibited from purchasing a firearm, you shouldn't have any problems at all. You can read more about this on the VSP website.

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms_VFTP.shtm

[allingeneral]

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms_VFTP.shtm

Good link OakRidge. I'll add the following "In pertinent part" from the link. One thing that sticks out as an important point here - Rifles and shotguns can be purchased by non-residents of a state, but handguns cannot.

Firearms dealers are required by law to collect a fee of $2.00 from Virginia residents for every transaction which requires a criminal history record information (CHRI) check and a fee of $5.00 from non-Virginia residents. These fees are sent to the State Police to offset the cost of conducting the record checks.

Identification and Residency Requirements

A primary and secondary form of identification must be presented to the firearms dealer at the time of purchase of any firearm except an antique weapon, or replica of an antique weapon.

Primary Identification

The primary form of ID shall consist of a valid photo-ID form issued by a governmental agency of the Commonwealth or of the prospective purchaser or transferee’s home state that denotes the individual’s name, race, sex, address, and date of birth. Where the primary form is a photo-ID issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the dealer shall not transfer a firearm to the prospective purchaser until 30-days after the date of issue of an original or duplicate driver's license unless a copy of his/her DMV driver's record is presented showing that the original date of issue was more than 30-days prior to the attempted purchase.

The primary form of ID for a non-Virginia resident, for the purchase of a rifle or shotgun, must consist of a valid photo-ID issued by a governmental agency of the prospective purchaser’s home state that denote the purchaser’s name, race, sex, date of birth and address. Federal law prohibits the sale or transfer of a handgun to a nonresident of the state in which the handgun is being purchased.

A social security card IS NOT an acceptable form of identification.

A birth certificate IS NOT an acceptable form of identification.

Effective January 1, 2004, DMV will not issue an original license, permit, or ID card to any applicant who has not presented evidence that he/she is a citizen of the United States, a legal permanent resident, or an authorized temporary resident alien of the United States. In the instance of temporary residence, the DMV document will only be valid during the period of authorized stay in the United States.

Secondary Identification

The secondary form of identification, for Virginia residents and residents of other states, must show an address identical to that shown on the primary form of identification. Some acceptable forms of secondary ID are:

* a current lease,
* evidence of currently paid personal property tax or real estate tax,
* a current utility or telephone bill,
* a current voter registration card,
* a current bank check,
* a current passport,
* a current automobile registration and
* current hunting or fishing license.

[allN1rifle]

Thank you both...my IDs are in order, my interest in rifles. Appreciate your help. Living the law is always a bit different than reading it.

[cwats04]

i have bought two rifles while in VA as i am considered a GA resident

just make sure your 2 IDs both have a matching address on it

i used an old expired fishing liscence as my second as that was all i had that had the same address on it

[ProbZer]

I have a few collection of rifles I just start collecting last year so it is only few,.