Hey everyone, I could use some help.  I'm trying to help out a friend of my Dad's whose in a bit of a pickle.  He's from Alaska, and is on a vacation/business trip here in the island.  Just before leaving alaska, he had decided he wanted to buy an AR-15, this is before the newton shooting, and subsequent craziness that followed.  So now he is desperate to buy an AR-15, before it may be too late.  They problem being he will be on island for another few weeks, and wont be back home in Alaska for almost a month.

I could really use the help with a few things.

Are any websites still selling ar-15s, without major gouging?  I doubt it would be hard for him to get ahold of a ffl holder in alaska.

Do you have to be a resident of Hawaii to apply for a longgun permit?

If my Dad decided to buy and register the rifle under his name, what would be needed to transfer ownership to his friend?  Is this bordering on an illegal straw purchase? 

I don't know about applying for a longun permit for out-of-staters. but he should be able to buy a gun here and shipped to an FFL in Alaska. Then he can go pick it up when he goes back.

You need a local address to buy guns from a FFL.  You would also need a Hawaii ID to prove residency.  They are litigating Dearth v. Holder I believe which is about buying guns across state lines.

Have him talk to an FFL in Alaska.  Have the FFL transfer and hold for him in Alaska until he returns.

If my Dad decided to buy and register the rifle under his name, what would be needed to transfer ownership to his friend?  Is this bordering on an illegal straw purchase? 

Nothing "bordering" about it...that would be a straw purchase and would not be sold the firearm without lying on question 11a of the 4473.

I don't know about applying for a longun permit for out-of-staters. but he should be able to buy a gun here and shipped to an FFL in Alaska. Then he can go pick it up when he goes back.

Due to Hawaii's requirements (permit to acquire & residency), this would probably the only legal way to get one. Per 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(3) & (b)(3), an FFL can sell to an out-of-state buyer that meets the requirements of their home state and appears in person for the purchase. So basically, he can buy from an FFL in Hawaii, but can not take possession of it.

I have done many out-of-state rifle and shotgun purchases. In places with 'better' local laws, all I needed to show was my longun permit (home state compliance) and drivers license/state ID. Except of one or two times*, I took immediate possession of the firearm and off I went.

*Clark county had local restrictions that kept me from taking possession, but the shop gladly called a local FFL and mailed them for me to pick up when I got home.