registering a gun
I purchased one of my hand guns several years ago at a flea market. I paid the man and walked away. Now if I would want to get it registered how do I go about it and will they run a check on the serial numbers? And what would happen if lets say it would come up stating that at one time it was stolen what would happen? I do not know any history on this gun. I forgot I live in OHIO. Thank You!!
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by registering a gun, you start the history chain all over, whatever the dead time was in between. if it comes up stolen, you lose it. 0 -
Register to vote, don't register guns. Get someone in law enforcement to run the numbers. If it comes up as having been stolen, well get ready to answer some questions. Don't know of any other way but am sure someone on here will have another way of doing this. 0 -
all guns were registered at least once in their life if built after 1968. some states dont require them to be registered every time it changes hands, but there is a record of its creation somewhere. buried? yes. accessible? maybe. records could have been destroyed or lost, all of which would be to your advantage. you have to know your state law. the problem is if the gun traveled across state lines into areas where registration is required. bottom line, if it belongs to someone, give it back. its part of being american and part of being an honest citizen. if its hot, answer the leos questions and help catch a crook. odds are he will understand the circumstances. the fact that you ran the numbers will show your honesty. but, get caught with it and its a different story. run the numbers and do what is right. so what, if it costs you bucks? the owner will be happy and probably reward you for it. its the same thing as a stolen vehicle. you buy a motorcycle at a flee market. it has no papers. you fix it up, and try to register it and it comes back stolen. owner gets his bike, you lose your bucks for buying a bike without papers. its why its against the law to claim ownership of a vechile w/o record of ownership! its designed to 'deter' you from engaging in illegal acts. so, if you try to register a gun without a record, you gamble. if you win, you get a gun and you get it back on legal record. if it comes up stolen, you lose and it goes back to the owner. this may sound harsh and go against some of the posters grain, but i sure would like a stolen gun to come back to me someday. and for the record, just because you are in custody of this gun doesnt mean its yours. official records prove or disprove that claim.
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.0 -
No such thing as registration in Ohio. Some municipalities MAY have some rules, but Ohio is essentially a free state!
Have fun, be careful!
Morty0 -
There is no state level registration that I know of here in Ohio, however there are localities that do require it, there are even some cities (like Cleveland) that limit the amount of ammo (combined total of any/all calibers and guages) that can be kept on hand.
My suggestion is to inquire at a couple local gun shops in your town or immediate area.
Next is the matter of if the firearm is stolen or not, if a s/n check is ran and it comes up as stolen you will loose it, but, that's basically it ... after all if registration is required you went in to comply and you did buy it in a private sale. Although you didn't say if the purchase was made in Ohio.
If asked why you've waited so long to register your guns simply state that you only recently became aware of the requirement. Sure ignorance is no defense, but ... again you are the one coming in and that adds considerably to your credibility.
Remember it is possible to buy a stolen firearm in a gun shop. There are "hot lists" that are distributed in some areas, other areas have a call in arrangement, but they are not 100% ... the gun you buy today might be entered next week and no one will know until your numbers are ran again. Then there is the aspect of how many years have passed since gun was stolen. While I don't think there is a nationwide standard (too simple) I believe that several of the listings are keyed to the Statute of Limitations for theft. But all of that is another ball of wax and starts to bring in variables that can't be covered in this venue.
Hope this helps.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
quote:Originally posted by crosshair
I purchased one of my hand guns several years ago at a flea market. I paid the man and walked away. Now if I would want to get it registered how do I go about it and will they run a check on the serial numbers? And what would happen if lets say it would come up stating that at one time it was stolen what would happen? I do not know any history on this gun. I forgot I live in OHIO. Thank You!!
It sounds like you're thinking you have done something illegal and now have an "illegal" firearm--neither of which is the case.
Based upon what others have said about Ohio law, it appears there is no need for you to do anything--aside from perhaps having a law enforcement officer run the serial numbers to determine whether or not the gun is stolen. If it did come back as stolen (and I'd say the odds are that it won't) you would have to surrender the gun, but you would probably have a right to it if the original legal owner could not be located--there are specific procedures for each state. (If it was stolen in another state there would probably be too much red tape for you to try to get it back.)
What's the model and make? How much did you pay for it? If it was a particularly expensive firearm and you paid well below a fair price for it, the odds are greater that it was hot.0 -
Why would anyone want to register a gun? Just take a photo of it and write the description and serial number down in your notebook so, in the event that something like a theft or fire occurs, you can collect from your homeowner's insurance. The law doesn't require you to register it, and if you do someday someone may demand that you give it up. 0 -
The law varries, so they may very well live where registration laws are on the books.
I'm not saying that they don't infringe on what we think of as constitutional rights, but if you get on the wrong side of 'em, until they are struck down ... you are not going to be a happy camper!
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0
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