Purchasing a handgun...got some questions?

Question

i'm thinking about buying this handgun from this guy i work with.

how and where can can i look up the history of this particular gun? isn't there a database where i can put in the seriel number and get the history of it? i trust the guy and everything but just to be 100%

also, after i buy it, do i need to register with the state or what?

i've never bought a gun from a private party before so i don't know all the legality to it. i want to make sure everything is on the up and up.

Answer 1

I would just call your local police Dpt. ask for the desk officer and just tell him or her your story and go with what they say... I had to sell a gun because I was pregnant and my ex husband was starting to scare me ,so I didn't want any gun in the house...the cops gave me perfectly good and legal advice and you should trust them too...who better to know about guns than the cops?

Answer 2

id do like the other guy said and def dont try to register it

Answer 3

if i were you, i would deny ever having seen the gun in question, delete this question, buy the gun and not tell ANYONE, EVER that i have it.

Answer 4

CAll a gun shop and ask what the procedure is in your jurisdiction. THe police department should also have information.  You don't want to buy an illegal gun because the day you use it to protect yourself, is the day all the other bodies on that gun get matched to it.

Answer 5

I am a Sheriff's Deputy...the answer I would give you is...ask this individual bring the gun to the local police station...they can run a check on it...on top of that, on terms of the legality...you would have to inquire as to your stated laws...Here in missouri you no longer are required to register the handgun...but most states you still are...

you best bet is almost always to buy from a certified vender...warranty and all...

Answer 6

I will respectfully disagree with the posters above who state to just buy the weapon and not report it or register it.

If this weapon had been reported as stolen at any time in the past, it will remain on record (in the computer) forever. If you are caught with a reported stolen weapon at any time, you will lose it, face charges of RSP (receiving stolen property) and lose any other weapons you currently own.

My best advice ( and something I have done for over 20 years) is to have the current owner bring the serial number of the weapon to your local police department/sheriff's office and have them run it. They will do this for free. The reason I say to have the current owner do this is that if the weapon is listed as hot, HE will have to surrender it and not you.

Other than that, check with your local laws for weapon ownership. In Ohio, where I am, there is no law prohibiting a private sale of a weapon providing the buyer is not a felon and is over 21 years of age ( for a handgun).

Best of luck and I hope this is useful to you