Not sure how this will be received: I own an unregistered gun.

[Doubtful Optimist]

A friend of mine passed away last year and among his possessions was a .38 snub nosed revolver. His mother asked if I wanted it, and I said yes.

I never knew that Jim had a gun, even though we had known each other for almost 20 years. It was something he never told me.

Anyway, we couldn't find any registration paperwork on the gun so are presuming Jim never regged it. I've tossed it over in my mind whether or not to register the gun and have decided against it.

I've taken it to the shooting range a few times to shoot and I keep it hidden near my bed. I keep it loaded at the house.

I don't have any children and a burglar would be pretty hard pressed to find it unless he was literally tearing my place up.

I've talked to several people about the benefits of owning a non-registered firearm. I've been convinced that not registering is the way to go for me at this time.

What are your opinions on non-registered guns? Am I nuts or being smart here?

[karlrschneider]

1. We have a couple dozen "unregistered" guns.

I wouldn't even know how or where to 'register' them if I was inclined to. Which I'm not.

;-)

[scrinmaster]

2. Nearly all states don't have gun registries.

Post the make and model of the gun, and someone will be able to tell you if it's worth anything, or whether you should wait for the next gun buy-back and trade it for a gift card or some new shoes.

[BobRossi]

3. Could come in handy..

Say that neocon down the street commits suicide and is found with 5 holes in the back of the head and the gun in his hand cannot be traced........

[BOSSHOG]

4. Wouldn't you like to know the history of the gun?

Was it used in commission of crimes? Is there a registration number on it? Your friend got it at a pawn shop 20+ years ago? Is it HOT? Could its discovery solve a crime? I'd recommend taking it to your local law enforcement authorities and sharing your story. A few years back a friend of mine bought a used pickup truck. The first thing he did was drive it to the police station to have the drug sniffing dog give it a once over. Sure enough, the dog went berserk. He was happy, the cops were happy and his "new" truck got a good scrubbing.

[trotsky]

16. "Could its discovery solve a crime?"

That right there might be the best reason. If there's a chance, however slight, you could bring some closure to a family, it's worth it.

[Doubtful Optimist]

19. I doubt it was used in a crime.

From the looks of it, it hadn't been fired very much and really does look new. The fact that Jim had a gun blew us all away. He was the kindest, most gentle person you could ever want to know.

I don't know when my friend got it. Maybe after he was mugged about 8 years ago. I just don't know.

That's the rub. If I take it to the police to get checked out, then I'll be required to register it.

[BOSSHOG]

21. Lots of guys doubt their wives are cheating on them

[Doubtful Optimist]

25. touche

[sandnsea]

5. You can't register a gun

I don't know where you live, but the best you might be able to do is get a conceal/carry permit because in most states that requires some training, although I don't think the specific gun is registered. The gun owner is.

[dmallind]

13. He's in CA

Which unless I'm mistaken means he does have to register handguns.

EDIT - On a second check I think I AM mistaken - teh gun needs to be on a registry of allowed firearms but he need not register the gun. To be perfectly legal however he should arrange a trasfer via an FFL and get a Handgun Safety Certificate.

Apologies for my confusion.

[sandnsea]

18. If he imports them

Which he doesn't. It doesn't have to be registered unless he's in San Francisco.

[mediawatch]

6. geez hard question

A part of me thinks you should register it for your own protection. If something were to happen and you had to use it, you could create a bigger problem for yourself. Then again, if it is a stolen gun and you go to register it you may have to do some quick talking.

I don't know the laws so I shouldn't even be posting. Goodness be careful!

[benddem]

15. that's what I was thinking

I wouldn't use the gun because of that...and then what is the point in having it?

[mrcheerful]

7. Is it worth losing all future rights to gun ownership if your ever caught with said weapon?

Fines and jail time also come to mind. Also if you used such a weapon on a burgler you better make sure he isn't inside your house if you decide to shoot the burgler. Best bet IMHO is either register it or turn it in to the police. Freedom is a bad thing to lose over not wanting follow the law. Btw, it won't happen to me is what every person in prison told themselves too.

[madinmaryland]

8. What happens if you are pulled over with the gun on the way

to the shooting range or if something happens (whatever that might be) on the way to the range, that causes law enforcement to discover it? I'm not an expert, but would be concerned. It's dumb luck that will always screw you.

:shrug:

[Doubtful Optimist]

23. When I go the range, I keep the gun locked in its case in the trunk

and the ammo gets locked into the glove box.

That's what I was told by some guys at the range.

That way, if you're pulled over, the cop has no right to search your vehicle and can't do anything about it.

[SteelPenguin]

9. are you legally required to register it where you live?

If not, then don't. If so, then what reasons do you have to desire an unregistered gun?

[Madspirit]

10. Personally

I would keep it unregistered. People here are always surprised that I am not one of the anti-gun people because I am far to the left on most issues. However, this is what happened to the Jews in Germany...first take the guns. I used to be one of the biggest anti-gun folks around but now am just too scared of the right wing. So, since it's not criminals I am scared of, it's the government and the RWers, IF I did buy a gun, it would not be registered. The very people I would be getting it to protect myself from are the very people I would be registering it with. I wouldn't want the government to know I had a gun.
Lee

[dmallind]

11. IANAL

and not even a Californian, but I have a sneaky feeling this is illegal.

Illegal however is different from immoral or even unwise.

Because you did not buy the gun there may be more questions asked if you try to register it than if you don't. Especially as CA law states this has to be done through a FFL (yes even if no cash is involved) unless you are spouse or executor of an estate (not just inheritor). I'm assuming a .38 reveolver is allowed under safety regs so you should at least be OK there, providing it is not anything exotically modified.

Tou also need a handgun safety certificate to take possession. This at least would be worth getting IMO. No training hurts even if you have experience.

Obviously be very careful, and be damn sure you're in the right if you ever need to use this or you are in for a nasty sentence.

EDIT _ actually another poster appears to have been correct and you do not need to register the gun anyway (although you HAVE taken possession of it illegally in a technical way of speaking). My bad - I was confusing this with the registry of GUNS which can be sold in CA.

[liberalnurse]

12. Nothing wrong with a back-up piece.

I'm sure there are a lot of common sense folks here. O8)

[tech3149]

14. I don't own any guns but my Dad has a P-38 (WW II vintage) unregistered

I think it was back in the early 80's that the state wanted to have all handguns registered and he never did. When it comes time to sell it for collectors value, it might raise some problems with fines. If I remember correctly, the fine would be about equal to the value of the gun.

[meldroc]

17. What are the gun laws in your area?

Where I live, there is no gun registration - as long as you got the gun legally - either informally through a private transaction the way you got it, or from a store as long as you pass the instant background check.

Of course, other states may require you to register your guns. I hope you don't live in Chicago...

[madokie]

20. good for you, that way the powers to be won't know you have them

I depend on you gun owners to protect me as I am not a gun owner, personal reasons.

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. I think one of the first things the Government will do upon Martial Law, is collect ALL guns

from the citizens by using gun registration data. I wouldn't register it.

[Doubtful Optimist]

24. This is my biggest fear of all.

I know it makes me sound like a hysterical shrieking fundie (they're gonna take mah guns!!) but I don't know what will happen if the gov't makes a gun grab.

[Swamp Rat]

31. I do

There would be shootouts across the nation.

Nevertheless, the government does not need to take away our guns. They have many more effective ways of destroying people. :hide:

[MUAD_DIB]

26. In Massachusetts an unregistered gun gets you jail time.

Know your state laws.

[sandnsea]

29. People need a license

Gun sales need to be registered. Not every gun is required to be registered.

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/ciswel/weltomas.htm

[Justitia]

27. I have an unregistered .357 Magnum in the safe, hubby traded it for cattle 40 yrs ago, never shot it

We don't have any ammo. It is appropriately scary looking though.

I asked him if we should register it, clean it, shoot it or do something with it.
He just shrugged and said make sure it stays locked up in the safe.

It will probably be there until I croak and my friends / family will be appropriately stunned to find it - ha.

[murloc]

28. Most guns are unregistered

Theres only a handful of states that do.

[sandnsea]

30. Which states?

California requires assault rifles to be registered. A few cities have various gun laws. What state requires all guns to be registered?

[murloc]

34. I think Hawaii is the only one

That requires all guns to be registered.

About 6 or 7 more require registration of handguns and assault weapons.

[sandnsea]

35. Hawaii is the only one

Some require a license to transport a gun, or reporting the sale of a gun. California requires registration of certain assault weapons. A few cities have actual gun registration laws. That's about it.

[spoony]

42. Maybe I'm not thinking of the same thing, but what

would you call this: after getting a permit to take possession of the handgun I bought, I had to take it back to the police (within a few days, I can't recall) and they recorded the serial number and did a "safety check" of the gun. I'm in Michigan.

Isn't that registration? Or is registration something more comprehensive?

[sandnsea]

45. It's a License to Purchase

Not a requirement to register every single gun in the state.

[benEzra]

46. The "safety check" is registration...

has nothing to do with any sort of safety inspection. They record the serial number and file it.

[gollygee]

32. I have no idea what gun laws are as I don't own one

is there a law that you have to register it? I'd be worried about a call from Agent Mike, our own friendly DU Homeland Security liaison.

[MiaCulpa]

33. Looking for trouble?

As someone who supports the right to keep and bear arms, I know how disgusted I get when I see one of those long threads started by the gun control advocates. (Perhaps disgusted isn't the word, it's just that generally they turn quickly into attack anyone who isn't anti-gun, is all.) But, this thread I find more annoying. You have an un-registered, loaded handgun 'hidden' near your bed and you want opinions? Yeah, right.

I haven't yet checked out all the forums here at DU, but surely there is one just for folks who want to get into pissing matches over the do's and don'ts of owning a weapon. If I'm off base, I'm off base, but what an attention grabbing headline. :P

[meldroc]

37. Some safety tips.

Even if you don't register it (it's your choice, I'm not going to tell you to register or not register,) I think you should learn some gun safety and basic marksmanship.

You might consider calling the NRA (yes, that NRA.) Besides all the political stuff they do, they hold firearms safety and marksmanship classes that anyone can take, and they're not particularly expensive.

Barring a real gun safety class (which I'm begging you to take, so you don't hurt yourself,) at least learn Cooper's Four Rules of Gun Safety.

1. All guns are always loaded. Even when you don't think it's loaded, it is loaded. A semi-auto pistol like a gun can have a round in the chamber even if the magazine's removed, and if you squeeze the trigger, it will fire.
2. Never, ever allow the muzzle of a firearm to cover anything you don't wish to destroy, especially people. I don't just mean don't point your gun at a person (that isn't about to kill you,) but when you handle the firearm, watch where that muzzle points. Do not let the muzzle sweep people - that can end very badly.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your target is lined up in your sights and you're ready to fire.
4. Always be aware of your target, and everything behind it and near it. Bullets go through walls, they go through car doors, they go straight through lots of things, and ricochet off of others. If you're target shooting, you'll probably want to make sure you have a backstop, which can just be the side of a hill right behind the target. Don't fire at hard rocks or big chunks of metal, otherwise, you'll get bad ricochets.

I also recommend that you get a quick-open gun safe. I have one next to my bed that I can open in less than five seconds. Don't leave a loaded firearm just lying around - that's quite dangerous.

Just be safe. Go get that gun safety training. You'll get to shoot the gun and have fun.

[madinmaryland]

40. Thank you for the tips.

Part of the reason I don't own a gun is for Rule #1. GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED. It only takes one mistake and I am not perfect.

:hi:

[illinoisprogressive]

36. for your own sake, please take it to get registered. If anything were to happen

you could get into big trouble. If you register it and say someone tries to do something and you have to use it the gun will be legal. Don't tempt fate.

[Redneck Socialist]

38. PM Slackmaster if you want info on California gun laws

He's our resident expert.

[ThomWV]

39. Great!

Around here you can buy guns at flea markets and sometimes from roadside vendors.

[benEzra]

41. Very, very few jurisdictions require registration. Where do you live?

Outside of D.C., the state of Illinois, NYC, possibly Massachusetts (?), and some places in California, everybody who owns guns owns unregistered guns. You're OK. And personally, I think it's a good thing that Gonzales et al don't have a "Who Has What and Should We Let Them Keep It" list.

.38's are nice guns. I'd like to have a .38 or .357 someday, but it's a good ways down the list.

My personal handgun is a Smith & Wesson 3913 Ladysmith (not registered, but the BATFE could trace it via a Form 4473 inquiry if they needed to).

[aikoaiko]

43. Most people are suprised at who owns guns. There are many people on this board who do

A lot of people don't talk about it, but have firearms just in case. For others, firearms are a hobby as well as for personal defense. There is nothing contradictory about being a swell person and owning a firearm.

I would NOT go to the police with you firearm. In my experiences its a coin flip as to whether or not the police will know the law accurately with regard to firearms. In truth, getting accurate information about gun laws is always difficult. Even reading State code is confusing.

I find packing.org to be a fairly reliable source, but they concentrate on carrying a concealed weapon.

If I lived in California I would PM DU board member Slackmaster. He knows his CA gun laws.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

44. Is owning unregistered guns where you live legal?

If not, you're a common or garden criminal, if not not.

Keeping any kind of loaded firearm about the house is extremely foolish, though.

[Digital]

47. What makes you think...

That it was not registered to your friend? If it is used in the future for some illegal activity it will take the cops about 10 minutes to find out his mom gave it to you.

If you want an unregistered gun, you need to get it from someone who doesn't know you or where to find you. Otherwise you're setting yourself up for even bigger trouble.