He was buying it for someone else from the get-go to take advantage of his law enforcement discount. He had already received a check for $400 IIRC with a memo notation for "Glock 19".
It was a straw purchase. I would have ruled it the same way.
It only drew attention because the weapon was later used in a crime and they were tracing it back. Overzealous LEOs looking for a criminal to uncover and they noticed the check pre-dated the purchase.
It was not a situation where someone bought it for himself and gifted it which I think is still gtg.
If you're going to buy for your kid, then buy it but tell him its not his until he safely learns to operate it. Problem solved.
If you're going to buy it for someone as a gift. Make the purchase and then you can give him the weapon that belongs to you. No problem as long as you know you're not knowingly providing a weapon to someone who cannot lawfully possess it.
Don't over-react just because an unknowledgeable media twisted the story.