Ownership Records

gotstolefrom

I was going to pose this question to a LEO at the range, but I figured I would run it up the 'experts' flag pole here first.

Is it possible for a LEO, or other party, to access NICS checks or other firearm purchasing records to determine what firearms a person owns ?

This may be what some of the C & R questions were about, just not worded this way. Most of us have firearms that were handed down, or purchased years ago from an individual. Some of us may view those firearms differently, I know I do. I am not paranoid (I'm a 'cold dead fingers' kind of guy anyway), I would just like to know. Actually, I have some where I don't remember the purchase details.

The 'flip side' would also be helpful. If you could provide serial numbers and weapon description to see if it was registered in some manner by the previous owner.




If we do not hang together,
We will most certainly hang separately.

MIKE WISKEY

THERE IS NO NATIONAL FIREARMS REGISTRY, WHEN I RUN A NICS CHECK I JUST TELL THEM 'LONG GUN' ECT. NO DETAILS. THEN NICS CHECKS BACKGROUND OF THEN PURCHASER AND TELLS ME 'OK/DELAYED/NO', AND THEN DESTORYS ANY RECORD THEY HAVE OF THE TRANSACTION EXCEPT FOR THE TRACKING # (THEY HAVE A RECORD OF MY RUNNING A NICS CHECK ON THAT DAY BUT NOT FOR WHO). SOME STATES MAY KEEP A RECORD OF WHO OWNS WHAT AND AS A DEALER I HAVE TO KEEP THE 4473'S ON FILE FOR 20 YEARS, THESE ARE OPEN TO INSPECTION OF LEO'S AND THE ATF BUT THEY HAVE TO COME TO ME.

nmyers

There IS a national registry of guns reported stolen; this can only be accessed by LEA's. But, Mike is right, there is no registry of ALL firearms.

Neal

"Just because you are paranoid, that doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you."

gotstolefrom

Thanks guys.....I don't know why I did not complete the thought process...I know there is no national gun registry, Thank God. Please excuse my brain fart, I'll shake my head for the rest of the day....dumsht.

I do have 2 handguns that were given to me because folks did not want them and knew I was a 'gun nut'. That was probably not intended as a complement..but I consider it one anyway. I'll speak to a LEO at the range and give him the info to see if they show up as stolen..I am certainly prepared to surrender a gun under those conditions. Thanks for not ranting at me as a total idiot since the 'national big brother list' has been brought up before.

MODERATOR - I have shamed myself enough....erase this post please !

nmyers

Getting your friend to check the guns out is a good idea, if he can do it. It should be no problem at a rural PD, but it could get him into trouble if his is a big city dept; management might consider it an abuse of the system.

You should be aware that even innocent queries such as yours are, according to statistics kept by the DOJ, considered to be "crime guns". The same is true for recovered stolen guns. These statistics are used to "prove" that certain kinds of guns are preferred by criminals.

Neal

MFI

In our state NY there is a state registry of handguns that is kept at the state police data base in Albany. There is no national or state registry of longuns though. Each and every handgun a person owns here is recorded and on file.

God gave us all a gift. Have you found yours yet ?

Alpine

I hate to burst your bubble but I used to be able to check a firearm from date of manufacture to last registered transfer owner or date of destruction.. Also (at least in Kalif) I could check firearms registered to an individual. But that was a long time ago and things may have changed.

Your mileage may vary.



"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."

The Tinman

If you can't get any LEO to "run" them to see if they have a "history," and you simply must know, just pawn them. I believe that when you pawn them, the numbers are compared to a national database. If they are hot, then you would probably get a visit by that LEO, but if you have had them for more than 4 years (at least here in Washington State), there would be no criminal charges as the statute of limitations on the them (if any) would have run.
It's doubtful that they could even get a Possession of Stolen Property charge, as an element of that crime is "reasonable knowledge of the theft."
If they are hot, I'm guessing that the worse thing that would happen is that you would not get them back from the pawnbroker.

rigkid

i would not worry about it, you could be opening a can of worms, if you have any doubts about any of your fire arms, throw in the burn barrel and melt it down and take it as a loss, one should have some suspition when he gets a great deal on a firearm, the less we tell the government the better we are, obied by the rules as the come along
dont stoke the fire that the government already trying to throw every firearm we own in to.

Jeff Bump