The issue of gun registration in the United States has been a hot topic for decades now. Supporters of gun registration argue that it would help law enforcement trace guns used in crimes back to their owners and prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms. Critics counter that registration infringes upon the Second Amendment right to bear arms and could lead to weapons being confiscated.
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This article aims to highlight the basics regarding firearms registration in the US, and specifically in your state. We’ve also included information about the permits required for carrying and buying firearms, as well as the legality of open carry.
That said, as a gun owner, it is your personal responsibility to thoroughly research and understand the laws pertaining to your individual situation. This article intends to inform, but does not constitute legal advice. When in doubt, please consult a lawyer to ensure you are fully compliant with all applicable gun laws and requirements.
What Is Gun Registration?
Firearm registration refers to the requirement that gun owners register their firearms with a designated law enforcement agency. The purpose of registration is to create a paper trail linking guns to owners. Registration typically involves providing the personal information of the gun owner along with details about the gun itself.
Specifically, the gun owner may have to provide the serial number of the firearm, their full name, and current address. This creates a record connecting the owner and the gun to that particular gun registry. However, some jurisdictions only require registration for certain types of guns, like assault weapons.
Firearms Registration in The United States
Gun laws in the United States are an extremely complex web of federal, state, county, and municipal laws, codes, and regulations.
A Constitutional Right
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizens the right to bear arms. This amendment has also made it difficult to implement federal gun control laws.
There is no federal law that requires firearms to be registered in the United States. In fact, the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986 explicitly prohibits the federal government from maintaining any gun registry of gun owners or records of their firearm purchases. This Act revised the original Gun Control Act of 1968 to impose limits on the federal government’s authority regarding firearms regulation. In relevant part:
“No such rule or regulation prescribed [by the Attorney General] after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or disposition be established. Nothing in this section expands or restricts the Secretary’s authority to inquire into the disposition of any firearm in the course of a criminal investigation.”