Gun Registration question

fetoid

Some back story:
about 5 years ago i bought an old 300 weatherby lasermark from a guy out of his house, he told me it had never been registered and that he didn't think we needed to have it registered. I trusted him. Now looking back on it, i wish i had insisted on getting it registered in my name. I have no way of knowing if the gun really had been registered in his name, and if the guy really wanted to mess with me he could have reported it stolen.

I could use some money right now and want to sell the gun, but i'm worried what will happen if I take it to a gun shop or try to sell to someone else

A cop friend of mine told me that the police could tell me whether it had been reported stolen or was registered, but that they most likely wouldn't do it unless they had the gun in their possesion.

Has anyone else ever been in this situation, or have any advice as to what I should do?

Thanks,
(my apologies if this is in the wrong forum)

richbug

What state do you live in?

fetoid

I live in PA

allen griggs

I live in North Carolina. There is no process for registering rifles here.

PC800

quote:Originally posted by fetoid
I live in PA


There is no registration of long guns in PA. There is sort of one for handguns, as the State Police maintains some sort of database on handguns. Here is a FAQ from the Pa State Police, on page 2 it does say that all person to person purchases need to go through an FFL or Sheriff check:
http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/lib/psp/SP4-135.pdf

gunnut505

Maybe you could ask a cop friend (everyone has one, right?) to do a check on the guy you bought it from; if he's been popped for stolen goods or burglaries, chances are good that the gun may be hot as well.
Other than looking up your States' Statutes on the internet, I can't think of any other way to ascertain what your registration requirements may be.

fetoid

Thanks for the help

I think i'm just going to bite the bullet, take it to the police station and hope for the best.

richbug

I live in PA. There is no registration on long guns(shotguns with barrels over 18"and Rifles with barrels over 16"). The PA code doesn't even consider them to be "Firearms" in relation to the state code.

Handguns need to be transfered through a dealer as the PSP has an firearms registry which has been ruled to be illegal, but they still keep the info.

Sell away...

sig232

I always have a bill of sale prepared when I buy or sell a gun. Both parties sign to show who owned the gun previously and who it is transfered too.

That at least establishes a trail to hand off to the police, as proof where you got the gun or who you sold it to.

nmyers

Technically, there is a form of registration at the federal level. When a dealer sells a gun, the buyer must complete a Form 4473, which the dealer keeps. So, it may be possible to trace a gun from manufacturer to dealer to original buyer, sometimes to a subsequent buyer. Beyond that, no one tracks guns. And, federal law prohibits keeping any other records by any federal agency, so there is no "computer" registry.

But, you have nothing to gain by going to the police station. PA does not require you to do so. Don't worry about it.

Neal