Question!

Posted by Chambered_Enforced@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 12 comments

I'm looking for some advice or guidance. I've done some research but haven't found what I need, and while I could consult a lawyer, I wanted to ask here first.

I own two firearms. One I bought when I was about 19, but since I wasn't 21, it was registered in my father's name. The other was a Christmas gift. I have paperwork for the gifted firearm, but none for the one purchased at 19 since the transaction was done electronically, all I have is a receipt that pretty much is unreadable today and the 4473 was done on an iPad. I haven’t spoken to my father in over seven years, and given his character, I suspect he may have reported the firearm as stolen. I'm concerned about taking either gun to the range in case they've been flagged as stolen, even though one was a gift and the other was purchased by me.

Is there a way to verify that these firearms are legally mine, even though they aren't in my name sadly.

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ilikerelish@reddit

Couple schools of thought... Take it to the range, WTF is going to walk up and start examining another man's serial numbers, or fingering his guns? Do you think someone is following you just looking for you to slip up? 7 years.. and he didn't already implicate you, and you have not seen Johnny Law at your door? Not likely...

Go, shoot, have fun. If somehow Johnny law does show up, hand the gun over willingly, tell them it was a gift, and if the old fuck wants to reneg on it 7 years after, fuck him and his gift. The cops in that situation aren't really looking to make an arrest, it is a property recovery operation. If they recover the property willingly that is 90% of the battle, give them a plausible story, and the incident will be over, or at least it was with my brother and his ex, who stole several thousand in guns from him, and had to give them back.

The other school is to nip it in the bud. Go to the police, and have them run the serials in Codis (?) Not sure what their stolen gun registry actually is called. You could lose the gun on the spot that way, but then you know for sure.

You also haven't said where you are. Look into your local laws. There may be nothing to do at all. I live in a place where there is no registration at all. You fill out the 4473, take the gun home, that's it.. You sell it, the 4473 is still in your name, but the gun has a new owner, and another, and another.. however it shakes out.

Overall, I think you are just overthinking it. Go use your guns and be happy.

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Chambered_Enforced@reddit (OP)

Thank you for the advice! I might be overthinking it, but all my firearms were purchased in Arizona, and I’m now living in California – unfortunately, I know. It’s just that I’ve invested a lot of money into them, and I’d hate to lose them. But again, I appreciate your input.

Spartanic_Titan@reddit

If you lived in the same state where I reside, you would laugh it off and move on with your life.

No sir all the firearms were purchased in Arizona and I currently reside in California for the time being.

Oof.

That sucks, sorry homie.

All good😂

MomsFister@reddit

WHAT FUCKING STATE ARE YOU IN?

California sadly but the firearms were purchased in Arizona

Michigan456@reddit

Ask r/caguns

generalraptor2002@reddit

Please remember that in any criminal case, the burden of proof lies on the prosecution to prove their case against you beyond a reasonable doubt

You have no duty to prove you lawfully possess or legally own your own property. That is completely the opposite of how our legal system works.

_SCHULTZY_@reddit

As for you looking up the firearms, that's not possible for you to do.

As for taking them to the range, you should have zero issue there as I don't know any range that logs serial numbers of firearms that come in.

Some states have a "voluntary registry " of firearms if you want to investigate that further in your state and try to register them to you, but honestly I think you're just opening up a can of worms for zero upside.

I appreciate your feedback thank you!