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Hypothetical question from a "FRIEND" who recently asked me the following question:
In the late 1970's or early 1980's, my dad bought a Remington single shot shotgun. At the time it was not required that you register your gun if it was a shotgun. I'm pretty sure he just bought it at Kmart and walked out with it the same day.
During the mid 80's, he modified the barrel and stock making it a "sawed-off" shotgun of course. However, at the time, he was well aware of guidelines and made sure the gun followed the current guidelines of not cutting too much off the barrel or stock.
I measured the gun (overall length) and barrel and they are within acceptable lengths according to the law.
Recently I was reading that sawed-off shotguns may be illegal and/or require a special stamp from the ATF (costs $200 bucks). I read that the difference is whether the shotgun is smokeless vs. black powder but I'm not sure what that means exactly. Excuse my ignorance on that.
I'm in Southern California and I have 3 questions...
1. Do I need to somehow register this shotgun? My father bought it when shotgun registration was not necessary and when he died 10 years ago, my mother gave it to me. It is currently an unregistered weapon. My mother says he bought it sometime between 1978 and 1982 or so but she doesn't have an exact date.
2. Is it illegal to own this simply because it's a sawed-off shotgun (keep in mind, the barrel is over 18 inches and overall gun length is almost 30 inches). It is of legal length, but is the fact that it's "modified" by my dad reason enough for it to be illegal since he technically just took a hacksaw to it?
3. If it is illegal, what should I do with the gun? I don't want to get in trouble for owning it. Do I just take it to the local police or will they give me crap just for the fact that I have it in my possession?
Thanks
In the late 1970's or early 1980's, my dad bought a Remington single shot shotgun. At the time it was not required that you register your gun if it was a shotgun. I'm pretty sure he just bought it at Kmart and walked out with it the same day.
During the mid 80's, he modified the barrel and stock making it a "sawed-off" shotgun of course. However, at the time, he was well aware of guidelines and made sure the gun followed the current guidelines of not cutting too much off the barrel or stock.
I measured the gun (overall length) and barrel and they are within acceptable lengths according to the law.
Recently I was reading that sawed-off shotguns may be illegal and/or require a special stamp from the ATF (costs $200 bucks). I read that the difference is whether the shotgun is smokeless vs. black powder but I'm not sure what that means exactly. Excuse my ignorance on that.
I'm in Southern California and I have 3 questions...
1. Do I need to somehow register this shotgun? My father bought it when shotgun registration was not necessary and when he died 10 years ago, my mother gave it to me. It is currently an unregistered weapon. My mother says he bought it sometime between 1978 and 1982 or so but she doesn't have an exact date.
2. Is it illegal to own this simply because it's a sawed-off shotgun (keep in mind, the barrel is over 18 inches and overall gun length is almost 30 inches). It is of legal length, but is the fact that it's "modified" by my dad reason enough for it to be illegal since he technically just took a hacksaw to it?
3. If it is illegal, what should I do with the gun? I don't want to get in trouble for owning it. Do I just take it to the local police or will they give me crap just for the fact that I have it in my possession?
Thanks
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