Can this be cleared up? AR-15 vs. shotgun sale to Navy Yard killer:

[Eleanors38]

In this September 18 CBS report, there is a claim that Alexis could not readily purchase an AR 15, but instead would have to accept the arm in the state of his last known address, Texas, per ATF regs. So Alexis instead purchased a shotgun after clearing NICS, and walked out with it without shipment to his home state. Are the two weapons treated any differently as per ATF or any other jurisdiction's authority?
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"Washington Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle at a Virginia gun store last week after test firing one, but the store wouldn't sell it to him right away, CBS News has learned.

"The reason for the refusal isn't clear.

"Alexis then purchased a shotgun he used in his rampage, sources tell CBS News.

"The owners of two gun stores in Virginia told CBS News Alexis would have been able to buy an AR-15, he just wouldn't have gotten it right away.

"Anyone can buy the assault-style weapon in Virginia, but the dealer would have to observe the laws of the buyer's home state.

"It appears unlikely Alexis was a Virginia resident. His last reported full-time residency was in Texas.

"If the buyer is an out-of-state resident, the dealer would then ship the weapon to the buyer's home state where a background check would be conducted. At the time of purchase in Virginia, however, the buyer would have to show two proofs of residence with matching addresses and then a proof of citizenship. This is all according to federal law when it comes to sales of the AR-15, which are administered by the ATF.

"It is also unclear whether the owner of Sharpshooters Small Arms Range in Lorton, Virginia, where Alexis tried to buy the AR-15 about 15 miles from the Navy Yard, told Alexis he was not allowed to buy an assault rifle, or whether Alexis was simply impatient and decided to buy a shotgun instead."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57603416/aaron-alexis-tried-to-buy-assault-rifle-but-was-unable-to/

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I was under the impression that a gun purchaser was bound by the same laws whether the arm was a handgun, rifle, or shotgun, with only NFA weapons subject to different procedures.

[gejohnston]

1. I don't know where or why CBS got the claim

but it isn't accurate. It could be an editorial decision to save face, preferring misinformation to correcting an error.

[oldhippie]

2. I had the same questions .....

Federal law on sale and transfer of shotguns and AR-15s are exactly the same. If he couldn't walk out with one, he couldn't walk out with the other.

But someone on some thread here said that Virginia had passed some special law pertaining to assault weapons that involved a deeper background check or a waiting period for delivery. So he couldn't walk out with the AR, but could with the shotgun. I'd like someone to confirm that was the case.

[ileus]

3. In Virginia you need 3 forms of ID to purchase "assault weapons"

??? Maybe that's the reason???

[Jenoch]

4. I don't know all the state laws,

but I believe handguns and so called 'assault weapons' are treated differently than most other long guns. I think in most (many?) states a person can buy a shotgun or rifle (not so called assault weapon) without needing to be a resident of the state in which the purchase is made, or at least the sale can be made if both states have the same requirements for the sale.

I think someone with a Texas ID could buy a shotgun in many states.

[pneutin]

5. He was probably just test-firing the range's rental ar15...

...but they didn't have any in stock for sale.