FFl transfer law enactment date

**carlomarx** · September 20th, 2009, 04:58 PM

Hello,
I am a new member but have been lurking for some time. I have learned a lot from the discussions.
I do have a question, and I have searched the stickies for the answer but came up empty. If this has been asked before, I apologize; blame it on a "rookie".
Here goes: ( the following was copied from the "Notes on Federal and Pennsylvania Firearms laws, buying/selling... " post.)
" 2. Concealable weapons (Handguns, rifles/MGs with a barrel less than 16", shotguns with a barrel less than 18", and AOWs) MUST be transferred through a FFL (Or Sheriffs Dept), and the PICS must be performed on the buyer before sale is completed. Age for transfer of the above weapons at an FFL is 21."

Question: When did this law go into effect ?

Thanks very much.

**Xringshooter** · September 20th, 2009, 08:00 PM

I can't give an exact date (someone will probably come on and give a better time frame) but it has been in effect for a long time now (30-40 years maybe). The GCA of '68 caused a lot of changes and most states changed their laws to match up with the feds.

I see you're in the State College area. Go to the Valleys of the Susquehanna section and you can see we are having a sporting goods only sale at my place on Oct 16, 17, 18. (Shameless Plug

).

**carlomarx** · September 20th, 2009, 11:06 PM

Thanks for the reply and the invitation. I plan on stopping by.

**knight0334** · September 21st, 2009, 10:39 AM

Take your pick, it didn't happen all at once.. lol

1972, Dec. 6, P.L. 1482, No. 334, § 1, effective June 6, 1973. Amended 1995, June 13, P.L. 1024, No. 17 (Spec. Sess. No. 1), § 5, effective in 120 days; 1995, Nov. 22, P.L. 621, No. 66, § 4; 1997, April 22, P.L. 73, No. 5, § 1; 1998, June 18, P.L. 503, No. 70, § 4, imd. effective; 1998, Dec. 3, P.L. 933, No. 121, § 4, imd. effective; 1999, Dec. 15, P.L. 915, No. 59, § 6, effective in 60 days; 2000, Dec. 20, P.L. 728, No. 101, § 4, effective in 60 days; 2008, Oct. 17, P.L. 1628, No. 131, § 5, effective in 60 days [Dec. 16, 2008].

However since you mentioned PIC background check, we can narrow part of it to the mid '90's. PICS went online for "firearms" in the middle part of 1997 or 1998(?), then went online for long guns in later that year as require as part of the Brady Bill.

The requirement that "firearms" be transferred existed well before the newer PICS type check. There was a waiting period which a manual background check was performed on you. After X number of days you could get your gun, but sometimes the background check took longer and the PSP would come knocking at your door to confiscate the firearm if you failed the check.

**SteveWag** · September 21st, 2009, 08:14 PM

I think the PSP notice of purchase goes back to the ‘30’s. I purchased a handgun in the early ‘70’s and filled out a three-part form about 4 x 6 inches. Just as today, one part went to me, one to the dealer and one to the PSP. These forms were still in use in 1991 when I became a Dealer. AND, there was no wailing period; that came and went later.

Steve

**knight0334** · September 21st, 2009, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by SteveWag

I think the PSP notice of purchase goes back to the ‘30’s. I purchased a handgun in the early ‘70’s and filled out a three-part form about 4 x 6 inches. Just as today, one part went to me, one to the dealer and one to the PSP. These forms were still in use in 1991 when I became a Dealer. AND, there was no wailing period; that came and went later.

Steve

There was one in 1991 when my uncle transferred his Python to my dad to gift to me(I was 19 then). It was a week or two then, cant remember. I am almost certain it was at least 5 days. Could have been a pre-preemption thing in Jefferson County too.. I donno, too many years ago.