Is a long-gun registered in anyones name in the US?

Question

As I understand it, a long-gun is not registered in anyones name, only a handgun is. What the Private Party Transfer on a long-gun protects you from is selling the firearm to a person prohibited from owning firearms. Am I correct? I am about 95% sure. Owner registration is optional on long-guns.

Answer 1

Only in a small amount of states are guns registered. Chicago and Kalifornistan are two example. Some states require registration for handguns but not long guns. But the majority don't. You can legally sell guns privatly save for some states. Massachusettes, Illionios, Kalifornistan, new york, new jersey and a few other new england states private sales must be done through a FFL holder.

Answer 2

On a national level, there is no registration for either long guns or handguns, and there is no liability in selling one, unless it can be shown that you willfully sold one to a person you knew to be prohibited from owning one. It isn't a matter of it being optional; there isn't even a system in which to do so if you wish. States may regulate these things as they wish, within as-yet-to-be-delineated boundaries, but the federal government doesn't have the authority.

The myth of strong restrictions comes primarily from New York, where the Sullivan Act has been in effect since 1911, its primary purpose being to keep handguns out of the hands of politically undesirable elements, though some Italian-Americans with good political connections can now get a permit. This has been portrayed on both the little and the large screen so often that people think it's national, but that's far from the case, and if it had been passed in South Carolina or Mississippi, it would long ago likely have been ruled unconstitutional on fourteenth amendment grounds.

Answer 3

If you buy from a licensed dealer in the U.S., your purchase is recorded.

Private sales do not require this, but dealers must do it,

and keep the record which may be inspected at any time.

You may, or may not have to register with the State in question, but the Fed.s can get the records.

Answer 4

Gun registration is illegal at the federal level. Handguns are required to be registered by a few local and state governments though.  Private party transfers generally don't require any paperwork and protect you from government intrusion. This of course all depends on your local laws.

Answer 5

I cant speak for Kalifornia or Chicago but anywhere else in the USA you do not have to register a rifle or shotgun....  When selling to a private party you do not have to do any paperwork BUT -- smart people make a copy of the bill of sale with the name address, DOB and serial # of the firearm..... This is for your records... Just in case there was a 1 in a million chance it was used in a crime you can show who purchased it from you......  If you are not comfortable selling your rifle or shotgun to a private person then have a local gun dealer sell it to the buyer and they by law will have to do the paperwork.........