Un-Registered Handgun........

[RifRaf]

I purchased a handgun years ago, (more than 15) and never had it registered. I know this is foolish on my part not to register it. But I have forgotten about it for many years and recently came across it again cleaning storage boxes out.

The person whom I bought it from is long gone, and I would like to keep it. (its a real nice gun and I remember paying a high price for it back then)

Is there any way of registering it without a bill of sale or having the owner present? Or am I out of luck?

Thanks for any comebacks.

[Mike G from NC]

Man your screwd! You better just go ahead and ship that thing to me so you wont get into more trouble! LOL

I wish I could help you but I am not at all familiar with CA handgun laws. But I will gladly take it if your worried. You can never have to much peace of mind can you?

[koolvk]

You need to move out of the United Soviet Socialist Republic of California...

[JKralC104]

I do not believe you need to register a firearm in any way when it is purchased from a private party

[MountainCop]

Here's the NRA's info on California's gun laws...

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/CASL.pdf

Glad I live in Colorado

[Sleuth]

Whatever you do, do NOT send that gun to Mike G in NC!

Better yet, take a weekend trip to the free state of Arizona (where there is no registration of guns), where I can hold it for you. While you are here, you can shoot machinguns, tracers, supressors, and all the neat stuff that the PRC does not trust you with!

[FrozenNorthAK]

Come up to Alaska, We welcome firearms with open-arms! Alaska has some of the most relaxed firearms laws in the US.

[SoCalFed]

I do not believe you need to register a firearm in any way when it is purchased from a private party

That may be the case in Ohio, but not in California. ALL purchases of handguns, whether it is from a dealer or a private party, MUST go through a dealer. The state does keep a record of who the gun is registered to through a DROS (dealer record of sale). The record is sent electronically to Sacramento, which will then associate the fireram serial number to the registered owner. So if for instance you bought the gun at a gun store five years ago in LA and were stopped in San Diego, they could run the serial and it should come back to you. This law went into effect over ten years ago.

To get the factual answer of whether or not the law covers your purchase, which MAY have happend prior to the enactment of the law, contact the firearms division of California DOJ. Here is link to their website and contact numbers:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/

General Information
Phone: (916) 263-4887
Fax: (916) 263-0676

[pkagel]

SoCalFed, didn't that law go in not long after the Patrick Purdy shooting up in Stockton in 89? I'd guess maybe 1990 since it was pretty late in the year when it happened IIRC.

[SoCalFed]

SoCalFed, didn't that law go in not long after the Patrick Purdy shooting up in Stockton in 89? I'd guess maybe 1990 since it was pretty late in the year when it happened IIRC.

I think the law went into effect after the shooting, however to play it safe it is always best to get information straight from the horses mouth. In this case, California DOJ firearms is the authority.

[armoredman]

Move East to Free AZ. No registration/waiting period/magazine limits/ammo restrictions/"assault weapons" ban/FOID/licensing, just legal open carry, shall-issue firearm non specific CCW, NFA friendly, lots of public and private shooting ranges, (Ben Avery named a "Jewel of the state" by our Democratic governor), and we promote firearms education in schools.
Lots of room still...

[RifRaf]

Mike G from NC Man your screwd! You better just go ahead and ship that thing to me so you wont get into more trouble! LOL

Thats what I was afraid of.

koolvk You need to move out of the United Soviet Socialist Republic of California.

I will never move out of California, so I guess I really am screwed!

Sleuth:

Better yet, take a weekend trip to the free state of Arizona (where there is no registration of guns), where I can hold it for you. While you are here, you can shoot machinguns, tracers, supressors, and all the neat stuff that the PRC does not trust you with

Right on, as long as I don't have to become a resident!

MountianCop, pkagel,and SoCalFed thanks for the links/info. I will have to do some research and might have to find someone to register it in another state and sell it back to me(on paper) in California. Can this be done legally? Its too nice of a gun just to let go, you know what I mean?