Registering a firearm.

[B. Graves]

Hi, Im about to buy a shotgun from my buddy. How can I get it registered to me? Can a local gun shop do it? And how much will it cost? Do I need a bill of sale? Anything else? Thanks.

[MedicMudder]

I have never "registered" any of my firearms. If you buy a new one I  assume
when you buy a gun new the shop owner sends paperwork to the Government
for tracking.If you buy one from a individual make and receipt and keep it.

[B. Graves]

yes, when you buy one new, its registered to you. the gun shop takes care of it. i believe that youre required to register it to yourself if you buy a used one.

[jrpro130]

Ok, let me clear this up.  Guns are not registered like cars.  There is no such thing as having a gun 'registered to you'.  When you buy a gun from an FFL dealer, and you will out that yellow form, your name is attached to that serial number stating you bought it.  One thing to remember is that if you buy it and sell it to someone private party, that serial number still has your name attached to it (sayign you bought it), so if that gun is used in a crime...they are knocking on your door.

The way to get around the paper trail right now is to buy/sell to a private party. 

But contrary to popular belief, guns are not 'registered'.  They aren't like cars.

Some laws are beginning to come around that will require guns to have a 'paper trail', but different story.  If you want your firearm to have your name attached, buy/sell it from an FFL even if you are going through private party.

[TRX450R_Racer]

Go to www.gunbroker.com and ther is a list of FFL dealers that will do the paper work for you. Most of them charge around $25.

[B. Graves]

cant you get in trouble if its serial number is not attached to your name?

[SpeedQuest]

cant you get in trouble if its serial number is not attached to your name?

Not if you buy the gun from a private party.

It's actually illegal for the government to 'track' standard firearms.  As this presents an infringement on your Second Amendment rights to 'bear arms'.  The anti-gun people continually try to make more laws and permits to get around this, but thanks to the Supreme Court, it keeps getting thrown back.  It's an ebb and flow deal for sure.

The only weapons the Federal or State governments are allowed to 'track' are those weapons that qualify as 'machine guns' and they 'track' those through the use of the $200 tax stamp that you must purchase when owning this type of gun.  Additionally, when you purchase the Tax Stamp, you agree to allow the FBI, ATF, or any other qualified law enforcement access to your homestead at any time to 'verify' the location of said weapon.

You can get into big trouble by having a gun without a serial # (unless it is verified as an antique).  You can get into big trouble for removing the serial # from a gun as well.

But as far as 'registering' it, a dealer will know all the ins and outs, do's and don'ts.

Shotguns are very minor in the world of guns and 'tracking'.