Probably a stupid question.....BUT......

[TexasAggie]

I've posted barely anything on here because I'm still very new to gun ownership. Here's my dopey question: In light of HR 45 (the possibility), what does it mean to "register" a firearm?? Is the 4473 the same as registering??

I have my CHL, so if I go to the local gun store, do they "register" the newly purchased gun, or is there currently no such thing? Should I pay cash at the store or should I go to a gun show? I assume that in order to walk out, someone HAS to see my CHL (at a store) and they're going to be inputting my information.

Please advise as my thoughts are to get something NOW, but I want to do it in a way that benefits me the most...thanks in advance!!

[seamusTX]

In states that have registration (which they are all careful to call something else), all firearms transfers are recorded and sent to the state police or a similar agency. Some states have even more obnoxious forms of registration, where you have to bring the weapon to a police station for inspection or submit a fired bullet and shell (Michigan and Maryland are examples).

Texas does not have this kind of registration. The state does not know or care what firearms you own.

When you purchase a firearm from an FFL, you have to fill out a Form 4473, which the FFL retains (theoretically) for 20 years. If the FFL goes out of business, he sends his collection of Form 4473s to BATFE. I don't know what they do with them.

When you purchase a firearm from an FFL and do not have a CHL, you have to be run through NICS. In the case of Texas, the check is performed by the FBI. Some states have the checks run by their state police or a regional network. In any case, that data is not supposed to be retained longer than 72 hours (IIRC).

Federal law prohibits the compilation of any such data at the federal level.

Paying with a credit card is probably more of a security hole than the federal procedures. There are few restrictions on what credit card companies can record or how they use the information.

If you make a private purchase in Texas and pay cash, there is no record of it except the seller's memory.

I don't worry about any of this. I just assume that the feds can find out anything that they want to know.

- Jim

[Purplehood]

Don't feel bad. When I bought my first handgun I expected to wait 5 days to pick it up.

[seamusTX]

From 1987 until 1994 (IIRC) you would have had to wait. You still do in some states. I have read that in California, you have to wait even to pick up your own weapon after it has been repaired. I don't know this for a fact.

- Jim

[The Annoyed Man]

Don't feel bad. When I bought my first handgun I expected to wait 5 days to pick it up.

Don't feel bad. I had to wait 15 days (California). . . .but that was 15 years ago.

[TexasAggie]

So should I buy at a show or a dealer....or does it really matter here??

[seamusTX]

It's your decision, based on your assessment of what might happen in the future.

- Jim

[TexasAggie]

It's your decision, based on your assessment of what might happen in the future.

- Jim

Jim....what would YOU do??

Again, I'm admittedly ignorant on the issue, so trying to learn from the experts! I want to buy new so an individual sale is probably not applicable.

[seamusTX]

I already said, business as usual. If I want to buy through an FFL, I do. If I want to buy from an individual, I do. I pay with credit cards when it's convenient.

I don't pretend to be an expert on law, politics, or anything else except my narrow technical specialty, which is not relevant to this forum.

I will say that I don't think the federal government has the collective will or the manpower to perform any kind of nationwide seizure. I think an attempt to do that would trigger widespread civil obedience.

I could well be wrong and regret it.

- Jim

[KRM45]

So should I buy at a show or a dealer....or does it really matter here??

You will likely find a better price and greater selection on a new gun at a gun show. You will fill out the same 4473 at a show (from a dealer) as you would at a shop.

If you live in Lewisville, I would contact Sporting Arms. They operate out of their home in Lewisville.

http://www.sportingarms.com/

[TexasAggie]

Got it...thanks guys!!

[barres]

From 1987 until 1994 (IIRC) you would have had to wait. You still do in some states. I have read that in California, you have to wait even to pick up your own weapon after it has been repaired. I don't know this for a fact.

- Jim

I know that was still in effect in 1996, because that was the year I turned 21 and purchased my first handgun, a Ruger SP101 .357 Mag with a 3 1/16" barrel. The dealer allowed me to time the purchase so that the wait would end on my birthday, with one problem. My birthday was on a Sunday that year. I had to wait until two days after my 21st birthday (I had counted that Saturday as one of the five days, too). Darn laws.

[seamusTX]

You are right. There was a federal waiting period until 1998, when NICS went into effect.

- Jim

[RECIT]

I have purchased from a dealer and an individual before with no issues. I have backed out of a deal b/c I got a bad vibe from the seller but that is my right to do so. If the seller seems on the up and up and he has a TX DL I would not hesitate to deal with someone. It never hurts to do a bill of sale with the serial number from the gun and his DL info, but its not madatory in our state.

[cobraman]

I've purchased two hand guns since the beginning of the year. One from Academy Sports and the other from a dealer at a show.
Used a credit card for one purchase and wrote a check for the other. No issues with either and the NCIS check took all of two minutes for each purchase.