Texas - How does gun title and registration work?

[Rayden]

I bought my Ruger a few weeks ago at a Texas gun show. As with all gun purchases I went through all the paperwork requirements etc. and take possession of the pistol.

So what happens after that? Does the serial number of the gun goes into a central registration database of owners? Where is the record of my purchase kept?

.. .. and the main reason I am asking ... I plan to sell, or possibly give it to my brother as a gift. Is there any title of ownership process needed in order to assign the "title", if any, to my brother? Hope someone here can help with my question. Thanks!

 

[Ivy Mike]

None as far as I know. Its no different than a toaster once you own it.
You are simply required to use it safely and don't hurt anyone with it unless they REALLY have it coming.

 

[Nate C.]

There is no state firearms (long gun or handgun) registration in Texas. Only the ATF documentation related to the purchase, if the purchase is from an FFL holder.

 

[Winchester 73]

None as far as I know. Its no different than a toaster once you own it.
You are simply required to use it safely and don't hurt anyone with it unless they REALLY have it coming.

Great answer!Texas has no gun registration.

 

[woofe]

Gun Registration in Texas?!?!? HA HA HA

Nope, nada, nothing.........

You are good to go!!! The paperwork you filled out is a federal requirement.

The BATFE often (illegally) will show up at a gun dealer and scan the forms (4473) into a computer for a (highly illegal) gun owners database.

woofe

 

[Rayden]

Nope, nada, nothing.........

You are good to go!!! The paperwork you filled out is a federal requirement.

The BATFE often (illegally) will show up at a gun dealer and scan the forms (4473) into a computer for a (highly illegal) gun owners database.

woofe

What does "BATFE" stand for?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

(federal) Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives formerly known as Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF or just ATF),
previously known as Alcohol Tobacco Tax Unit (or Division) ATTU or ATTD,
and way back when, as the Bureau of Prohibition.

BATFE is not to be confused with ATFE (Association of Toolmark and Firearms Examiners) which is why the acronym ATF is still widely used for BATFE.

 

[Ed Ames]

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

In Texas you can buy a firearm from a non- federal-firearms-licensee and there is no paperwork or registration involved. It's just like buying a bicycle.

 

[mekender]

so long as your brother is not a prohibited person, youll have no problems..

 

[mbt2001]

One thing I do when I buy a "used" gun is I specifically put it onto my personal articles Insurance policy, so that there is a "third party" record of the serial number and ownership.

So IN THE EVENT of me having to "prove" ownership or something, I can whip out the Insurance document.

 

[MechAg94]

I just try to keep a list of serial numbers somewhere in case something horrible happens.

 

[Titan6]

Rayeden- You seem new to guns,Texas or Freedom itself?

 

[DFW1911]

Nope, nothing happens. We don't have to register our firearms in Texas

Take care,
DFW1911

 

[El Tejon]

Hello, Rayden. Welcome to THR. Where are you from if I may ask? Your structure suggests Eastern Europe?

Does the serial number of the gun goes into a central registration database of owners?

Maybe. The white form that you filled out, 4473, stays with the dealer, the wholesaler and the manufacturer. The federal agency that regulates gun dealers sometimes collects the serial numbers on different projects and computerizes them in their central database in West Virginia.

Where is the record of my purchase kept?

At the dealer where you purchased your pistol, unless recorded by ATFE in a project, criminal investigation or administrative review and it goes to West Virginia.

Is there any title of ownership process needed in order to assign the "title", if any, to my brother?

First, no, but some guys do bills of sale to remind themselves what happened to certain guns. Second, how old is your brother???

 

[Rayden]

Rayeden- You seem new to guns,Texas or Freedom itself?

Titan, I am "re-introduced" to guns. I owned a couple of Rugers back in the early 90s but pawned it at the time because I needed the money for college at the time. Now I have a little bit more expendable income so I re-discovered my love of fine firearms and it is quickly becoming my #1 hobby.

First, no, but some guys do bills of sale to remind themselves what happened to certain guns. Second, how old is your brother???

Tejon, thanks for your responses ... at 33, my brother's age won't be a problem

 

[muledalton]

I know this isn't the answer to the question but I found out when buying my glock a few weeks ago an interesting fact.

When I picked up my gun from the individual dealer he called the FBI and checked out my status. They OK'd me and he wrote my information in his log book and the serial number as well. He said that if the gun was ever used in a crime they would contact Glock and see who the dealer was that they sold it to, they would then contact the dealer and see who purchased it from them. He said he is the only one who knows who has that gun unless the previously stated events happen. He keeps that information until he retires and when he retires he has to surrender the gun serial logs to the FBI.

 

[Deavis]

How does gun title and registration work?

It doesn't, that is why our state doesn't have either.