What to do with unregistered gun

[mark77418]

I have a shotgun that I got after my grandfather passed away. He got the gun from a friend of his. He loaned the friend some money and was given the gun as collateral and I guess he ended up keeping the gun. The gun was never registered to my grandfather and the guy he got it from has passed away also. What is the legal status of this gun? Do I need to register it to legally posses it?

[sorensen440]

when did he get it and when did you get it ?

[MrSlippyFist]

No.

[bwiese]

Obviously the prior history is unclear.

Long guns aren't registered anyway.

Your inheritance of gramps' gun is fine.

Shoot it, keep it and enjoy it.

[If you really want to assert things, you can go ahead file Voluntary Registration form with DOJ Bureau of Firearms but it's not required in this case.]

[motorhead]

where do folks keep getting the idea that they have to register guns? we've been fighting that, more or less sucessfully, for most of my lifetime. gca 68 only passed because the records structure couldn;t be used as a federal gun registry (surrendered bound books notwithstanding). voluntary gun registration ranks right up there with voluntary lobatomy for me. i've got a couple pre-68 pieces that have never touched paper. JFC, there should be a commercial or a t-shirt or something to get this out of people's heads once and for all.

[bohoki]

long guns are not registered at time of purchase so i wouldn't sweat it unless you think it has been declared stolen

[CSACANNONEER]

where do folks keep getting the idea that they have to register guns?


Some states do require both long guns and handguns to be registered.

[rayra]

where do folks keep getting the idea that they have to register guns? we've been fighting that, more or less sucessfully, for most of my lifetime. gca 68 only passed because the records structure couldn;t be used as a federal gun registry (surrendered bound books notwithstanding). voluntary gun registration ranks right up there with voluntary lobatomy for me. i've got a couple pre-68 pieces that have never touched paper. JFC, there should be a commercial or a t-shirt or something to get this out of people's heads once and for all.


They keep getting it from a liberal media, liberal family and liberal educators / indoctrinators, most of whom WANT such registration or hail from blue states in the Northeast where such totalitarian controls are already exercised.
And all our youts growing up in this toxix anti-american soup and more often than not in broken or disjointed family situations have had no lifetime exposure to firearms or folks steeped in the proud tradition of arms, so said youts have absolutely no idea what is 'normal' wrt firearms.

[redcliff]

Rifles and shotguns are not required to be transferred by an FFL if the transfer is between son/daughter and father/grandfather. Handguns require posession of a HSC (or CCW) and the filing of the approrpriate Intra-familial transfer form.

As much I get flamed for this, I disagree that a 4473 is not registration. One only has to look up common definitions of "registration" to see that a 4473 is registration.

Additionally, if you purchase a new rifle or shotgun and it's later found at a crime scene it can and will be tracked down to YOU via manufacturer/distributor/dealer records and your 4473.

[ilbob]

Some states do require both long guns and handguns to be registered.


what states have long gun registration? I don't think there are any. dc does, but it is not a state.

[ilbob]

Some states do require both long guns and handguns to be registered.


what states have long gun registration? I don't think there are any. dc and chicago do, but neither is a state.

[mark77418]

The reason I thought that longuns were registered was because every time I bought a rifle at the gunshop I had to fill out paperwork. So if there is no registration what happens with all the information on the forms I filled out? Is it all discarded after a background check is done on me? Is there no record of me owning any rifles or shotguns?

[ilbob]

The reason I thought that longuns were registered was because every time I bought a rifle at the gunshop I had to fill out paperwork. So if there is no registration what happens with all the information on the forms I filled out? Is it all discarded after a background check is done on me? Is there no record of me owning any rifles or shotguns?

thats not state registration, it is federal.

and it only applies to guns transfered through an FFL.

private party transactions require no FFL per federal law. CA does require it, at least for handguns. Not sure about long guns.

isn't there a time limit FFLs are required to keep these forms, beyond which they can destroy them?

[tgriffin]

thats not state registration, it is federal.

and it only applies to guns transfered through an FFL.

private party transactions require no FFL per federal law. CA does require it, at least for handguns. Not sure about long guns.

isn't there a time limit FFLs are required to keep these forms, beyond which they can destroy them?

Unless a long gun 50 years or older, it must be transfered at a FFL.

[Greg-Dawg®]

where do folks keep getting the idea that they have to register guns?

Folks are just covering their arse.

Can't blame them with CA gun laws.

[pwall]

you wouldn't believe some of the stuff that comes out of my friends mouths. "so, you got a permit for that?" "those are registered right?".
Even a close LAPD friend still doesn't understand that long guns arent registered. Whenever we are discussing long guns, he always responds with "as long as its registered to you you dont have anything to worry about."
He thinks that it is a crime to own ANY gun thats not registered to you. I keep trying to educate him but its hard. Its kind of weird telling a cop he's wrong!

[AaronHorrocks]

where do folks keep getting the idea that they have to register guns?

Public School, Cops, TV, Newspapers, Internet, Politicians, etc. This is California! It's expected that everything is registered or illegal.

If you think innerstate rumor control is bad, try interstate rumor control. Try convincing people and dealers from other states that is IS LEGAL for them to sell you parts and ammo. No you won't go to jail, no you won't loose that FFL, just please sell me those legal parts! :rolleyes:

[mark77418]

The thing I don't understand is what keeps me from just selling or giving a rifle to a friend instead of going through an FFL. If there is no record of the rifle belonging to me then how could I get in any trouble for selling the rifle to someone without an FFL?

[Vectrexer]

JFC, there should be a commercial or a t-shirt or something to get this out of people's heads once and for all.

Nice Idea. make a silk screened t-shirt with the rules and I will buy/wear it.

[Theseus]

1. No, I am not a Cop!
2. Yes, my guns were purchased in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
3. No, I don't have a permit. I am not required to have one to carry my gun in the manner I am currently doing so.
4. No, I am not crazy or a cowboy.
5. Yes, you too can buy a gun and carry it like me unless you are a prohibited criminal or mentally unbalanced.
6. If you wish to ask questions I am pleading the 5th and asking for legal counsel.
7. Are you detaining me, or am I free to go?
8. No, I do not consent to any searches of my person or other property.
9.
10.

I couldn't think of two more....help?

[Splinter]

1. No, I am not a Cop!
2. Yes, my guns were purchased in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
3. No, I don't have a permit. I am not required to have one to carry my gun in the manner I am currently doing so.
4. No, I am not crazy or a cowboy.
5. Yes, you too can buy a gun and carry it like me unless you are a prohibited criminal or mentally unbalanced.
6. If you wish to ask questions I am pleading the 5th and asking for legal counsel.
7. Are you detaining me, or am I free to go?
8. No, I do not consent to any searches of my person or other property.
9.
10.

I couldn't think of two more....help?

9. Repead 8
10. Repeat 8