WASHINGTON, D.C. - District residents will be able to buy handguns starting Sept. 9, according to a report by WTOP radio in Washington, D.C.
The District began registering handguns in mid-July in response to a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the city's long time ban. But, as of last month, only 11 handguns had been registered. The low number could be because there was no way for residents to buy a handgun and get it transferred into the city. That's about to change.
Charles Sykes, the only licensed firearms dealer in the District willing to transfer handguns for individuals, told WTOP that he will be charging a $125 fee to transfer each handgun.
The galling thing to me is the pistol transfer fee this dealer is charging. I don't live in a state that's exactly gun-friendly. The average price around here is $50 per gun as the transfer fee if you buy something online and have to ship it to a Class 01 FFL. We have one dealer who charges $100 per gun as his transfer fee, but that is because he hates dealing with the paperwork and doesn't want firearms transfers as part of his business. I guess Charles Sykes is figuring two things. First, that if someone uses a pistol he transferred in a crime, or to defend himself, some ambulance-chaser will come after him as a accessory before the fact on behalf of the 'victim.' Second, if this is the case, he'd better lay in a war chest so he can hire his own lawyer and defend himself against the charges.
I'd really like to hope he's simply not taking advantage of people who want to own handguns and can't get them into the District except through him. I'd really like to hope he isn't that kind of person.
Sadly, seeing as how he is "the only licensed firearms dealer in the District willing to transfer handguns for individuals" that makes it sound like he's taking advantage since he is the only one doing it, he can charge what he wants because the people wanting the handgun will pay it. I enjoy GA, my dealers all transfer for $20.
