Anything I need to do when given a gun as a gift?

[Paincakesx]

About 15 years ago, my uncle bought a SIG P228 in California for home defense. When he moved back to China, he stored it at my parents' house (without my knowledge until recently) for about well over a decade.
I am now 21 and have decided to get a CHL and was given the P228 as a gift. I now live in Oregon, which I believe (not positive) does not have any sort of gun registration. With no criminal background, is there anything I need to do to accept this firearm and use it as a CCW?

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[owlhoot]

That's a very nice pistol. Send uncle a thank you note and enjoy.

 

[Paincakesx]

Thanks for your response. I'd have to agree - it is a very nice pistol

Does the fact that it was originally registered in CA and is being transferred over state boundaries matter?

I'm mainly concerned because if I do use this P228 as a CCW and end up having to use it, the last thing I want to think about then is whether or not me using that particular gun will be a legal problem for me.

 

[Paincakesx]

Well, I just learned that although he's living in China, he is a US Citizen who is a resident in the state I'm currently in.

If he buys and registers a gun in CA, moves here, and gives me the gun, is that ok?

After doing some research, it seems that gifting a gun to a person in another state requires the use of a FFL, but if he's moved here does that change things?

 

[nalioth]

Under federal law, folks can gift, give, sell, trade or whatever other sort of transfer firearms with other eligible residents of their state as they wish.

Eligibility = the seller must not have any reason to believe the recipient is a prohibited person.


State law (such as California's) may say something different.

 

[doc2rn]

It was a gift and you are fine. No need to register as far as I know in gifting. Gun was in the same state, in your parents house, and it wasnt registered to them either. Ownership of an inanimate object doesnt mean you have to run to the gunshop for a 4473 background check, no matter what the politicians in Kali would have you believe. Just because I moved from Colorado to Ohio doesnt mean I am running to the gun shop to register my sidearms.
Its no different than if you put a bat in your car and went to Nevada to play a softball game and wound up using the bat as self defense in a hotel robbery. Its not an illegally owned weapon.
Welcome to the CCW crowd, keep your powder dry, and your bugger picker off the bang switch until needed.

 

[Paincakesx]

Well that's certainly good to know. Appreciate the feedback!

Should I just keep the gun registered under his name then? I've kept the original receipt of the purchase from when he bought it 15 years ago. In Oregon there is no need for gun registration, but I don't know if the fact it's registered in Cali changes anything or not despite him now being a resident of Oregon as well.

I suspect not but I'd prefer not to be wrong and get charged with a Felony

 

[ObsidianOne]

I don't believe Oregon has a gun registry at all. If you're that worried about it, have him write up a notarized letter (somewhat like a firearm bill of sale) and send it to you. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[nalioth]

Should I just keep the gun registered under his name then? I've kept the original receipt of the purchase from when he bought it 15 years ago. In Oregon there is no need for gun registration, but I don't know if the fact it's registered in Cali changes anything or not despite him now being a resident of Oregon as well.

Last I looked, one state's laws have no power in other states.

Get "registration" out of your mind - it is a voluntary form of gun control the media want you to believe in.

You're a free citizen now, enjoy that freedom.

 

[Paincakesx]

Alright, just wanted to be sure. From the looks of things, I can just take and have that be it.

Thanks for info - put my mind at ease

 

[BADUNAME37]

Yes,
You should say "Thank You!"

That is it, unless you need to register a handgun in your territory for conceal-carry. Other than that, I cannot think of anything but a happy "Thank-You" to the giver!

 

[Black Knight]

A few things confuse me a bit. Is you uncle still in China? Who is giving you the gun as a gift your parents or your uncle? Is your uncle still in China and giving it to you being delivered by your parents? If the gun is your uncle's and being given without his knowledge and consent he could conceiveably claim the gun was "stolen" and you would be in posession of "stolen" property. I don't think he would but I have seen families do some screwy things in the past. I hope he knows and has given his consent to gift it to you. If this is the case I think a very sincere "Thank You" would be at least in order.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

When you buy a gun at a gunstore, or have a gunshop from a different state do a FFL transfer... is it registered when you fill out the the call-in form and pickup the gun?

 

[nalioth]

When you buy a gun at a gunstore, or have a gunshop from a different state do a FFL transfer... is it registered when you fill out the the call-in form and pickup the gun?

Only in states with gun registration.

 

[garymc]

"Anything I need to do when given a gun as a gift?"

Buy some ammo.

 

[Paincakesx]

He is currently in China, but he is an Oregon resident legally (has a OR driver's license and pays OR taxes). He is a U.S. citizen but is living in China for business reasons.

I'm not just taking the gun - he knows and has given his consent.

The gun was purchased when he was a CA resident and it was registered there - he has since moved to OR therefore making this an in-state transfer.

 

[Cop Bob]

Barring any applicable State laws in Oregon... I would say it looks like the only thing that you need to do now is go shootin !!!!!

 

[Toforo]

Anything I need to do when given a gun as a gift?

Yes - send a thank you note
(and nothing says it better than HallMark, lol)

 

[Remo223]

Forget about gun registrations already. As long as you don't live in california and the gun doesn't either...nobody cares who or what the state of california says your gun is registered to.

 

[hermannr]

The gun is not in Californian, the gun and you are in Oregon...you only have to be concerned with Oregon law, and as concerns you Uncle giving the firearm to you...Oregon has no Law.

It is perfectly legal for you to have the weapon, consider it yours and treat it as such....enjoy it, scrub the worry.

Anyone asks, you say my Uncle gave it to me. end of Story. No-one cares if it was purchased in California, the state of California does not own the weapon.