To register or not to register.

[inkinskin]

I have a small collection of firearms that I have acquired over the last couple of years. Some of them I have purchased directly from a FFL dealer, some I have purchased or aquired from private sellers. So, in turn some of my firearms are registered in my name and some are not.

What I am wanting to know is there any downsides to having a firearm that is not registered. My main concern would be carrying a handgun that is not registered in my name. I just want to make sure I am not doing anything illegal, but at the same time I don't like the government knowing about everything I have incase they decide to throw out the constitution one day.

Any and all information will be helpful and appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[hirundo82]

What state are you in? The vast majority of states don't require registration, and indeed don't have any mechanism to do so.

 

[OARNGESI]

i most states there is no registration and a 4473 really doesnt mean anything. as long as your state dont require registration there isnt a difference eiter way

 

[Midwest]

I know NJ has voluntary registration, that is if you move from another state into NJ and bring your guns with you. NJ also has mandatory registration of handguns if you buy the handgun in the state.

Clark County Nevada has handgun registration, Michigan does (or did) for handguns, NY State for handguns, Puerto Rico for all guns, supposedly Washington State at the time of sale, maybe Mass, CT and MD.

Beyond that, in most states nothing is registered..although the 4473 could be traced back to you as the owner assuming that you bought it from a FFL.

If you are concerned about a firearm and not sure where it came from or if it was stolen or whatever, then the answer is to carry a handgun bought from a FFL. I believe others here carry pistols bought face to face and have no issue with it.

And if in some remote scenario that the constitution is uprooted and guns are banned, the manpower to confiscate guns would be enormous and impossible to enforce. Even so I'd highly doubt the government would go after grandpa's rusty shotgun sitting by the fireplace.

Mandatory gun turn ins would be meet with a very low compliance rate in free states. If that scenario ever happened, I think we would have much bigger problems to be concerned about.

What state do you live in?

 

[statelineblues]

I know NJ has voluntary registration, that is if you move from another state into NJ and bring your guns with you. NJ also has mandatory registration of handguns if you buy the handgun in the state.

I lived in NJ for 20 years and never registered any of the guns I brought with me - only the ones I bought while living there had a paper trail. In fact, I have never "registered" any firearms I've owned over the years in any of the states I've lived in. Many were purchased through FFL dealers, so there was some paperwork involved (depending on the type - handguns tend to have more forms to fill out than long guns) and some thru private sales.

My advice would be to look up the laws governing notification in the area you are living in, and abide by them.

 

[effengee]

I have a few guns that are, and a few that aren't...

I don't care and neither does the State of Vermont.
The registered ones were bought at gunshops and the others have a copy of a bill of sale from a person-to-person purchase...

It really comes down to where you live, and how you feel about it.
If your State requires you to register, then by all means, do so.
If you think it would make you feel better to have all your guns registered to you, then by all means, do so.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea that the government has a list of every firearm that I have at any given moment, but, that's the way it is...

 

[newbuckeye]

If you have concerns with the FTF sales, take the description and serial numbers into your local PD and ask them to check them. They might even have a special office that tracks stolen guns depending on how big they are. You can always try on line resources like hotgunz.com or stolenweapon.com.

 

[hso]

inkinskin,

If you don't actually live in a state that requires state registration you've fallen prey to the the myth of "firearm registration".

If you're state requires registration you're in violation of the law having any unregistered firearms. There's no federal registration and without state registration there's nothing to register.

The 4473 filled out when you purchase from an FFL is a record for their books and is not registration. The NICS check was a records check on whether you were legal to purchase from the FFL and is not registration.

MO doesn't doesn't have firearms registration so there's no organization to register firearms.

There's no down side to owning firearms that you purchased from individuals except for the remote chance they were stolen and you had no way to know.

 

[One_Jackal]

Even if they are stolen you might not find out by running the serial numbers. I don't know of any states that share stolen firearm info.

 

[JellyJar]

He is a new member, just joined yesterday, from St Charles MO area.

You can see this if you click on his name and choose "find more posts".

INKINSKIN, go to http://www.handgunlaw.us/ and click on your state and download the pdf file of your state. This is the best site for state by state gun laws. Just remember that anything you read on the internet can be wrong!

I just looked and see no mention anywhere of any firearm registration in Missouri. If you have a Missouri CCW you don't even have to inform a police officer if stopped. I guess that "show me" thing only goes so far!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

So, in turn some of my firearms are registered in my name and some are not.

You are mistaken. None of your firearms are registered in Missouri because there's no such thing in Missouri. Every state fills out the 4473 form, it's required by Federal law, but it's not the same as registration. There are only a few states that require it.

 

[deadin]

WA State has some sort of a voluntary handgun registration form for guns purchased privately. I don't know anyone that have availed themselves of it.

 

[inkinskin]

I'm sorry. I should have mentioned I lived in the state of Missouri.

Thanks.

 

[bigfatdave]

registration is largely a myth, it comes from bad TV using it as a shortcut for real police work

 

[hermannr]

WA's "registration", if that is what you want to call it is called a "record of sale" and only applies to FFL's.

Yes, they keep a record of the sale but there is no real "registration", just the state's version of the fed 4473 for the sheriff to use to check you out. (that is, not a seperate "registration form" that you have to fill out and submit). Nothing at all if it is private sale.

 

[Art Eatman]

Question answered.