I seem to recall Sarah Brady purchasing a Remington Model 700 in 30-06 which, it later ensued, she purchased expressly for her son, not herself. She gave the rifle to her son. Thus, the sale was an illegal straw sale. She also had a close connection with the anti-gun outfit involved in the suit. If she was ever prosecuted under the law against straw sales, I missed it. Of course, as a dues paid member of the heavy left elites, she needn’t have worried about violating such laws. Only we deplorables need obey them.
It is legal to buy a gun as a gift, as long as the recipient is eligible to own a firearm. What Sarah Brady did was not an illegal straw purchase, but it did make for very poor “optics,” and was hypocritical to boot.
It depends on state law.
Here in Washington state you can give an immediate family member, (wife, husband, son, daughter, sister, brother) a firearm without breaking any laws.
I bought and gave my son a 9mm handgun for his 21st birthday.
Now, on question 11a of the ATF form 4473 I did declare I was purchasing it for myself, which I was, and then gave it as a gift to my son.
As a another poster said down thread, my wife bought a gun for me as a gift, but we are both legal to own a firearm.