Waiting for the other shoe to drop

[no_hypocrisy]

My SO has been asked by his friend to buy a rifle for him. The friend can't because he has a criminal record. Apparently if you live in Pennsylvania, you can't directly purchase a weapon but a third party can buy it and then give it to you.

And this friend doesn't sound like the kind of guy you would want with one more gun. That's right. He already has two and "needs" another one.

He's convinced there's going to be a "revolution" in this country and he wants to shoot any marauder who goes on his property (rural) due to expected cut-off of food, to shoot deer (same reason), to "defend" himself.

Considering there are no circumstances as of today that would warrant such extreme "protection", I sadly expect to hear a story in the future where that new gun is indiscriminately used against other people, just because this "friend" is unreasonably afraid.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Your SO should say NO

and walk away.

If he does buy the gun (a straw man purchase) I would walk away from them, since while it MAY not be illegal, it is immoral and unethical. If anyone dies or is harmed with that gun, you SO will have blood on their hands.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I feel the same way Kelvin.

[MohRokTah]

3. Straw purchases are illegal in Pennsylvania

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2012/11/new_pennsylvania_law_brings_st.html

[Kelvin Mace]

5. Then the OP needs to point that out to their SO

Personally, I am not going to jail to accommodate someone's dangerous paranoid delusions.

[onethatcares]

7. they are also federally illegal

tell him to buy his own gun from an unregulated seller, you know a private sale.

[Warpy]

4. The only response is "no."

Not only is this illegal, it's nonsensical since guns+paranoia=very bad things happening.

In fact, I'd be tempted to drop a dime on the guy and report that he seems to be building an arsenal so he'll be ready when "The Turner Diaries" comes true.

[Electric Monk]

6. He's trying to get your SO to aid him in commiting a crime together. He's no friend.

If it were me, I'd take it a step further than just saying no. I'd drop a dime on him and let the cops know he has guns in his possession already despite being prohibited. He sounds precisely like the sort of person who should not have guns at all.

[dballance]

8. That is illegal. It's a straw purchase.

Your SO should say NO, I can't do that because it is against the law. Then, he should probably end his contact with that "friend." Friends do not ask friends to break the law.

[HereSince1628]

9. yep

[no_hypocrisy]

10. Thank all of you.

I showed my SO Pennsylvania and federal law about the straw purchase of firearms.

He's more dedicated to his yellow card (and freedom) than his friend's need to be armed.

[Avalux]

11. I'm wondering why your SO is friends with this person?

This request alone and the reasoning behind it would be enough distance myself from him. What's his criminal record?

[no_hypocrisy]

13. My SO has the simple mindset of a child since his bypass surgery.

He just wanted to help out a guy he felt sorry for. He was going to be reimbursed for the cost of purchasing the rifle and he trusted that the weapon would not be used for nefarious purposes.

OTOH, he refused to see that his friend's views about a potential "Revolution" (read insurrection) in this country and sun flares (knocking out the power grid) were not based on reality and real potential. I suppose he thought his friend would be pacified by having one more rifle in the closet and it wouldn't be used. I beg to differ. With all these stories online about "nice" people with guns who gave out obvious warnings ahead of time . . . . . .

[Lurks Often]

12. It's illegal under Federal law and your SO risks a 10 year jail sentence and/or a

$100,000 dollar fine if ATF choses to prosecute. If used in a crime, your SO stands a pretty good chance of seeing jail time since he knowingly sold a firearm to a criminal.

[99Forever]

14. Why in the world would anyone even consider...

... for one second doing this? You've got to be joking.