Either I am misreading or misunderstanding their website or the ATF is wrong.
https://www.atf.gov/questions-and-a...on-receive-firearm-his-or-her-state-he-or-she
This is fairly curious since the ATF page says "An unlicensed person who is not prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms may purchase a firearm from an out–of–State source, provided the transfer takes place through a Federal firearms licensee in his or her State of residence."
From now on, I shall abstain from quoting the ATF on gun laws.
I'm going by what I've learned from FFL holders. Here is what I've gathered from them.
The ATF site is providing a summary of the actual law - which is found under 18 USC § 922:
(b)It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver—
(1)
any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age;
(2)
any firearm to any person in any State where the purchase or possession by such person of such firearm would be in violation of any State law or any published ordinance applicable at the place of sale, delivery or other disposition, unless the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the purchase or possession would not be in violation of such State law or such published ordinance;
(3)
any firearm to any person who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not reside in (or if the person is a corporation or other business entity, does not maintain a place of business in) the State in which the licensee's place of business is located, except that this paragraph (A) shall not apply to the sale or delivery of any rifle or shotgun to a resident of a State other than a State in which the licensee's place of business is located if the transferee meets in person with the transferor to accomplish the transfer, and the sale, delivery, and receipt fully comply with the legal conditions of sale in both such States (and any licensed manufacturer, importer or dealer shall be presumed, for purposes of this subparagraph, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have had actual knowledge of the State laws and published ordinances of both States), and (B) shall not apply to the loan or rental of a firearm to any person for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes;
I've confirmed this with a number of FFL holders as well. So long as you pick up the gun, in person, from an FFL, it's legal. Even if you buy online, it is being transferred to the FFL, and you are receiving it from them. I can't say why the ATF website appears to possibly contradict this, but I would defer first to the actual US Code.
That said, if someone else has an answer to contradict this, then please do weigh in. We're all interested in following the law, even if it's written in an unclear manner - typical government publications.
