How do private hand gun sales work?

Is there any laws in place? I have only bought guns from dealers. But if I wanted to sell, like my Rutger LCP to a person through Craigslist is that legal?

The gun I bought. I went to the guy, checked it out, fired it on the range, gave him the money, and he gave me the gun. That was it.

That said private sale laws very from state to state. In Colorado I can post an add in the paper and sell any firearm w/out a backgtound check or any record of sale . I buy most of my firearms that way.

Other states require all firearms sales to go through an FFL

Its just another piece of personal property one can buy and sell without restriction, with a few exceptions.

Private firearms sales laws vary greatly from state to state. Make sure you know the laws in yourstate

which I notice most people fail to acknowledge in any discussion of any legal issue, or case in the news. Some states don't even have laws against public drunkenness, ages of consent vary drastically, and some things that would be felonies in one state are entirely legal in another.

they give you a hand gun. Or visa versa.

Some yes and some no. In most, if you knowingly sell to a restricted person, felon or insane, you can go to jail. So, most don't ask. I purchased a handgun at a yard sale and then took it to the sheriff's office to run a check to make sure it wasn't stolen or use in a crime on the records.

Or sell to a dealer at a gun show. If you sell to an individual, get ID, preferably a CHL and a bill of sale to protect both you and the buyer. You don't want any surprises.

In New York, handguns are registered to the permit holder. Both seller and buyer must have valid state pistol permits.

A private sale follows much the same pattern as a sale in a shop. Here's how it works in my county:

1. Buyer pays for the handgun. Seller gives buyer a receipt with make, model, caliber, and serial number.
   
2. Buyer takes the receipt to the permit bureau at the sheriff's office. The handgun is then added to Buyer's permit, and Buyer is given a coupon entitling him/her to take possession.
   
3. Buyer goes back to the seller, presents coupon, takes handgun.
   
4. Seller then takes coupon back to permit bureau, has handgun removed from his/her permit. Deal done.
   

If the seller never takes the final step of having the handgun removed from his/her permit, the handgun is in legal limbo and is in fact registered to both parties. This is one major flaw with this system.

The difference between counties is that some counties require every purchase to be reviewed by a judge. This is a bureaucratic boondoggle and political football of the first order. It can take weeks or even months. I'm glad I don't live in one of those counties.

Here in Oregon, you basically just have to be 18. Meet the person face to face and hand over the money. A bill of sale is usually filled out for both your sake but it typically isn't required by law. Guns can usually even be shipped in state without going through an FFL. Most reasonably gun friendly states will be this way.

As for where to find gun classifieds, Craigslist has a policy against them, but most regions seem to have a good website dedicated to private sales. Here in Oregon I've used NorthWestFirearms.com with great success (it also serves Washington and I believe Idaho). Google "gun classifieds" and you're bound to find something.

So check an ID, make sure they are of legal age, and live in the same state. (Plus other state laws that apply)

Is there any laws in place? I have only bought guns from dealers. But if I wanted to sell, like my Rutger LCP to a person through Craigslist is that legal?

Craigslist does not allow firearm for-sale ads.

There are online-forums that do, however, like http://www.gunbroker.com or http://www.gunsamerica.com. Also, just about every town in America has a "penny saver" in a rack at your local restaurant or grocery store that you can pick up for free, and it usually has a "sporting goods" classifieds section where firearms may be listed. So does your local newspaper, probably.

Personal firearm sale laws vary from state to state, but in the South (Alabama, Georgia) I'm pretty sure that all you do is present the person money, they give you the firearm, and the sale is complete. No paperwork required.