A guy in Washington D.C. purchased an HDTV on Amazon.com, nothing out of the ordinary there. But instead of his TV, he got a Sig Sauer 716 “army-style assault rifle”. Reported (and over-dramatized) by MyFoxDC.com, Seth Horvitz ordered his TV from a third-party through Amazon. The shipping label on the box had his name and correct address, but the invoice within the box said that the rifle was supposed to be shipped to a gun shop in Pennsylvania. Horvitz called the cops who confiscated the rifle.
Of course the fools at the Brady Campaign had to put their two cents in…
“Clearly, it’s a dangerous situation in America when assault weapons are so prevalent and can so easily end up in the wrong hands, especially given that the rifle was left on the doorstep. Thank goodness, Mr. Horvitz and his wife alerted the Metropolitan police right away. This mishap could have led to another tragedy.”
Shipping mix-ups happen, we’re only human. I’m interested in knowing who this third-party is that sells HDTVs and guns!
You send a gun through the US Postal Service and you need to fill out a Form 1508, the clerk is told of the contents, if they wish they can inspect the contents and make sure it is inoperable while in delivery, and unloaded. The box has to be taped, every square inch, literally. They require a copy of the FFL License on the receiving end. They compare this FFL license and address to the address on the shipping label. The FFL copy is then pasted to the box in a plastic sleeve, and in the event of a mishap; FFL Dealer information is available to the carrier delivery person, and he or she knows it is a firearm. The package is required to be Registered Mail, which means it is locked away in lockers every step of the way and when it goes out for final delivery the FFL Dealer has to sign for it, it cannot be left unless the Dealer signs for it. How it works with other carriers I am not sure, but this is how it works with the US Postal Service.
I am wondering about a few things:
Who sent it out and was the return address on the box?
Why wasn’t the FFL Dealer Name on the label?
By law, when shipping a firearm the contents have to be known to the shipper, were they?
Who was the carrier and delivery person and why was it left in the hall with no signature, person to person delivery?
Same if nothing else did a return to sender. Not call the DC police.
I would have kept it!
I was thinking the same, that’s a good rifle. I’d keep it and order another HDTV