Results 1 to 10 of 14
-
April 4th, 2010, 03:26 PM #1Junior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Location
-
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia County) - Posts
- 22
- Rep Power
- 0
Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
Hi All,
I'm new to Pennsylvania so I'd really appreciate your explanation of a couple things. I moved to Pennsylvania about 6 months ago and bought a handgun and a 16" rifle.
I know that Pennsylvania doesn't require firearm "registration," but I was wondering what this really means and what agencies and government bodies know that I possess firearms?
I got a Pennsylvania State Police Application/Record of Sale for my handgun - What is this for? It sounds like registration to me.
Also, I got no documentation for my rifle when I bought it from my FFL. Does that mean that no agency or government entity knows that I have the rifle? I felt a little uncomfortable not getting any sort of proof that I had purchased the rifle legally, while I got the Application/Record of Sale for my handgun.
I'm confused because I had to fill out ATF form 4473 for both the handgun and rifle. I'm assuming the ATF has records of the guns I've bought?
I'm just incredibly confused about who has what information, at both the state level and federal level, especially because Pennsylvania doesn't require "registration" of guns.
I'd really appreciate you filling a newbie in on this.
Thanks!Last edited by 6.8Shooter; April 4th, 2010 at 03:28 PM.
-
April 4th, 2010, 05:24 PM #2
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
The PA supreme court ruled the sales record the PSP keeps via the sales records is incomplete thus not a registry. but the leo types treat it as one.
You should have received a copy of the 4473 with the rifle. Unless the ATF or someone hits up the FFL you bought the rifle from. Nobody knows you have it except everyone that reads this forum.
USNRET '61-'81
-
April 4th, 2010, 07:13 PM #3
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
you will never get a 4473 copy when you buy a longgun in PA..
-
April 4th, 2010, 08:12 PM #4
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
Though there is no official registration in PA there is a lost or stolen database. It seems to be not unusual for police to use this to confirm your firearm is not stolen. They may confiscate your gun to run the numbers and for "officer safety" during an encounter. A lot of debate on this issue around here, you'll want to read up on this and see how you want to stand should it occur to you. But as we all know, someone somewhere has the ability to know what you own if done through an FFL. Long guns bought in a private transaction do not have to be done with any paperwork so any trail may become lean, but they can know where it was and can follow it should they choose to. It's a complicated issue and has led to some heated debates here. Sometimes the police engage in an illegal activity in disarming you and checking numbers. How you want to handle it is a matter of reading up on this issue. But the gist of it is you don't have to prove it's yours, any more than you have to prove you own a pack of gum.
When the SHTF......be the fan.
-
April 4th, 2010, 08:55 PM #5
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
You do not need proof of either handgun or longgun. You get a copy of the PSP form for handguns. The State Police maintains a record of the properly transferred handguns. That record is supposed to be purged after so long once its been established you are not prohibited, but they dont in defiance of the law and courts.
A longgun is treated like any other piece of personal property after the FFL sells it, like say golf clubs, wide screen TV, washing machine, jewelry, etc.. There is NO need to prove anything.
This isn't Washington DC, NJ, NY, HI, CA or any other goofy place that makes it a point to know who owns what guns.RIP: SFN, 1861, twoeggsup, Lambo, jamesjo, JayBell, 32 Magnum, Pro2A, mrwildroot, dregan, Frenchy, Fragger, ungawa, Mtn Jack, Grapeshot, R.W.J., PennsyPlinker, Statkowski, Deanimator, roland, aubie515
Don't end up in my signature!
-
April 4th, 2010, 09:57 PM #6
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
Doh.....
Sorry, forgot to welcome you to Pennsyvania! We may not be the land of the truly free, but were closer than most and aiming for more.
Read up on the gun laws, get your LTCF, figure out where you stand on the issues and help us get the laws a bit saner, the authorities a bit less wanton and the masses a bit more educated.When the SHTF......be the fan.
-
April 4th, 2010, 10:10 PM #7Grand Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Location
-
Effort,
Pennsylvania
(Monroe County) - Posts
- 2,262
- Rep Power
- 3681644
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
That's what they said back in the days before the instant check system went online (July 1, 1998), before that they used to fill out "record of sale" forms for all purchases. These forms were the size of a medium index card and at one point they were send to the Sheriffs office and then the PSP and were supposed to be destroyed after a certian period of time. They denied it back then just like they do today.
-
April 4th, 2010, 11:08 PM #8Junior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Location
-
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia County) - Posts
- 22
- Rep Power
- 0
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
Thank you all for being so welcoming and for taking the time to explain these issues to me.
I'm from New York, so being able to own handguns and rifles so easily is a dream come true (as well as the way it should be).
Looking forward to getting to know this state's laws better. I'm already a fan of PA.
-
April 5th, 2010, 12:08 AM #9
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
Here is a list of important stuff for new members to go through. Read through these links and it will help you tremendously. :
Members, please use the correct forums
Best single source of firearm information here
Where you can and can't carry
The U.F.A. (Pa. firearm related laws) Sections are also available in our reference library, the link to which is located at the top of each page here..
Common acronyms
Forum rules
How rules are enforced here
Reputation points guide
How to report a post
Rules for classified section posts
Open Carry primer
I hope this list helps make it easier for you to figure out what questions to ask and makes your time here more enjoyable
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty
than to those attending too small a degree of it."~Thomas Jefferson, 1791
Hobson fundraiser Remember SFN Read before you Open Carry
-
April 5th, 2010, 02:18 AM #10Banned
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
-
Barsoom,
Pennsylvania
(Allegheny County) - Posts
- 1,270
- Rep Power
- 0
Re: Explanation of Pennsylvania Gun Records
Don't you have the receipt from the gun shop?
I'm confused because I had to fill out ATF form 4473 for both the handgun and rifle. I'm assuming the ATF has records of the guns I've bought?
Similar Threads
-
Explanation of Ammunition Shortages
By Blazingbush in forum GeneralReplies: 8Last Post: September 28th, 2009, 09:31 PM -
Stimulus Bill Explanation.....
By xXWildPonyXx in forum GeneralReplies: 0Last Post: May 13th, 2009, 02:07 PM -
No explanation needed here...sad, so sad
By Bearhands in forum GeneralReplies: 16Last Post: October 17th, 2008, 02:51 PM -
I need a logical explanation. Please!
By Michele in forum GeneralReplies: 42Last Post: August 26th, 2008, 09:09 PM -
The other side of an incomplete CCW revocation explanation
By pex in forum GeneralReplies: 1Last Post: May 6th, 2008, 05:32 PM
Bookmarks