How to register an unregistered firearm.

**D-FENS** · August 21st, 2006, 06:41 PM

Hey folks, newbie here. This is my first post and I've search the forums for this particular question before making this post. I apologize if I've missed something.

Ok, A friend of mine has a WWII hangun of some sort (no idea what kind) but it's definetely made after 1898 so I don't believe it will qualify as an antique. My question is what needs to be done in order for this firearm to be registered/legal or whatever needs to be done so that he won't get in any trouble. It's just something he keeps as a collectible. I am just not familiar with the procedure for this. Thanks in advance for any replies and my apologies for any typos and/or misconceptions.

Thanks.

**danp** · August 21st, 2006, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by TheHighChild

My question is what needs to be done in order for this firearm to be registered/legal or whatever needs to be done so that he won't get in any trouble.

I can't say for sure, but I don't believe he has to do anything, but I hope someone else on the forum that can say so with more certainty. Please check back to see what other people have to say.

**The Drew** · August 22nd, 2006, 10:04 AM

How did he come about this gun? If he bought it legally then nothing... If he bought it from someone face to face, he has already committed a crime in PA. He needs to get a hold of the seller and take it to a dealer to transfer ownership.

If he was out of state and brought it in when he moved here, then nothing. The state of PA keeps sales records. WHich is not the same as a registry. The caveat is that PA requires all person to person handgun sales to go through a dealer.

If he inherited the gun from his father then again nothing needs done.

Bottom line, most likely nothing needs done.

**D-FENS** · August 22nd, 2006, 09:05 PM

It was a gift from his girlfriends father. Not a sale and not inherited. Unfortunately, from what I read, there isn't anything that covers that. I could be mistaken. He was considering going to the range with me andafew friends but didn't want to get into any trouble over it.

Is there anywhere I can look or call to verify?

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

**The Drew** · August 22nd, 2006, 11:50 PM

even if it was a gift from his girlfriends father, you still must go through a dealer to transfer ownership. Gifting only works within immediate family. Even though it is a gift he'll need to have the girlfriends father go to a dealer and transfer it to him and he'll need to pay whatever the transfer fee is. Around here its something like $20-25

**41 Redhawk** · August 23rd, 2006, 10:24 AM

I believe Island Firearms on Neville Island with do it for around 25.00. Also, Federal Firearems outside of Bridgville will do transfers as well.

**gunmetal** · August 24th, 2006, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by The Drew

The state of PA keeps sales records. WHich is not the same as a registry.

How is it different?

**The Drew** · August 25th, 2006, 08:22 AM

Because there are other legal ways to transfer a handgun. Like inheriting, gifting within immediate family, moving in from another state and bringing handguns, and some of us have FFL's and the state never sees paperwork for those unless they are sold off.

That and if it really WERE a registry, it'd be illegal per PA law. Most of us know that it more or less equates, but the supreme court disaggrees. The highest court in PA says it's not a registry, so it isn't a registry.

**gunmetal** · August 25th, 2006, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by The Drew

Because there are other legal ways to transfer a handgun.

Yes, so it seems to me that this is just a registry with limitations like the ones you referenced.

That and if it really WERE a registry, it'd be illegal per PA law. Most of us know that it more or less equates, but the supreme court disaggrees. The highest court in PA says it's not a registry, so it isn't a registry.

I'm not quite as willing to let the court tell me that a registry isn't a registry. 1984 ring any bells?

A registry by any other name is just as stinky.