Gun control in the USA

[Ayahuasca]

In certain parts of the US it is legal to wonder into your local purveyor of fine semi-automatics and stare in wander at the weapons of fast destruction on offer. AK-47? No problem, sonny. Sure, they may be a little paperwork...

But soon Billy Bob is able to put his Kalashnikov in his trunk and drive home for a beer and a scratch.

My question is, after that initial purchase does anyone check up on what Billy Bob is doing with his AK? Does anything stop Billy Bob from selling it to Juan 'we don't need no stinking badges' Gomez, the local supplier of AKs to ruffians and ne'er-do-wells?

??

[Taffer]

Does it not differ from state to state? I believe the seller has to make a note of the serial number of the weapon and who it was sold to, though checks are not made on the owner afterwards. If the gun is recovered from a crime scene and the serial number is not registered as a stolen weapon, then I'm sure the ATF will be asking lots of questions.

[GTIR]

Wonder, wander.

Is this thread a trick?

[sneijder]

I'd just like to offer a warm welcome to the fine officers of the F.B.I. You'll enjoy Pistonheads. For the record, I personally love America godammit.

[GC8]

The rules differ greatly for different states. For the most part though, rifles are sold without a deal of checking, even in the tighter states which limit magazine size etc.

[ZOLLAR]

You mean like a gun version of a V5 form? I'm sure they would do! Don't know the answer but I'm interested in finding out too!

[Fidgits]

yes.

The gun has a serial number - when you buy the gun, this serial number is registered to you (by the gunsmith) - you cannot sell this gun to another individual (i dont think), only back to a registered gunsmith (who has the ability to register a gun).

If your gun turns up having been used in a crime, generally questions are asked

[TEKNOPUG]

Fidgits said:

yes.

The gun has a serial number - when you buy the gun, this serial number is registered to you (by the gunsmith) - you cannot sell this gun to another individual (i dont think), only back to a registered gunsmith (who has the ability to register a gun).

If your gun turns up having been used in a crime, generally questions are asked

So you just file the serial number off before you sell it, yes?

[sneijder]

O/T : http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-military-weapons-...

Rifle sights with bible verse references in the serial numbers.

[ErnestM]

All firearms sold in the US through dealers are tracked through serial numbers

When you purchase one, you fill out a form 4473 at the dealers (yes - even at a gun show if bought from a dealer)

If that weapon is used to commit a crime, and is recovered, the dealer and then purchaser is then tracked down. If you sell a firearm to somebody, proof of the sale, while not required, is suggested for this very reason.

If somebody purchases a gun with the intent to transfer ownership to somebody that does not qualify for ownership, that is illegal. It is commonly referred to as a "straw man" purchase. Anybody doing that is subject to a visit from the BATFE (and they won't be there about the alcohol or tobacco) If a dealer even THINKS that you are purchasing on behalf of another (even if you say to them "Yes, buying this for the wife".. etc) they will refuse to sell to you.

[Fidgits]

TEKNOPUG said:

Fidgits said:

yes.

The gun has a serial number - when you buy the gun, this serial number is registered to you (by the gunsmith) - you cannot sell this gun to another individual (i dont think), only back to a registered gunsmith (who has the ability to register a gun).

If your gun turns up having been used in a crime, generally questions are asked

So you just file the serial number off before you sell it, yes?

which is why things turn up like this:



Though generally hard to produce the weapon when police knock on your door and request to see your registered weapon

[TEKNOPUG]

Fidgits said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Fidgits said:

yes.

The gun has a serial number - when you buy the gun, this serial number is registered to you (by the gunsmith) - you cannot sell this gun to another individual (i dont think), only back to a registered gunsmith (who has the ability to register a gun).

If your gun turns up having been used in a crime, generally questions are asked

So you just file the serial number off before you sell it, yes?

which is why things turn up like this:



Though generally hard to produce the weapon when police knock on your door and request to see your registered weapon

Why would they knock on my door and ask to see my weapon (ooo-er!)? It's already been stated that random checks aren't made.

[Ayahuasca]

ErnestM said:

If somebody purchases a gun with the intent to transfer ownership to somebody that does not qualify for ownership, that is illegal.

So no gun-owner can sell a gun except to an official gun-dealer?

[ErnestM]

Most States don't have a weapon registration.

Filed serial numbers can be recovered through modern forensics.

[Fidgits]

okay.

Say the police recover a Glock 17 at a crime scene - its been used in a murder - they've done a ballistics check on this weapon to confirm its the murder weapon.

They have no suspect and the serial number has been filed off.

Now, a quick check of the local registered Glock 17 owners would bring up, what, a few hundred max? So to go around and check these would be little effort, compared with finding a potential murder suspect...

[ErnestM]

Ayahuasca said:

ErnestM said:

If somebody purchases a gun with the intent to transfer ownership to somebody that does not qualify for ownership, that is illegal.

So no gun-owner can sell a gun except to an official gun-dealer?

No you can - but there had to be an "original purchaser" somewhere down the line that bought the weapon from a dealer. The law enforcement agency would simply backtrack to which dealer sold the weapon originally and then go and visit the original purchaser. That would lead them to any subsequent owner.

[Ayahuasca]

Reason I asked is because the violence in most dangerous city in the world is apparently being powered by guns that were sold legitimately in the USA. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where the cocaine heading north meets the guns and dollars heading south.

[ErnestM]

"apparently" is a good word. I like that word. Very useful.

[g4ry13]

Thought the rules for assault rifles was different. Much more difficult to obtain them.

[TEKNOPUG]

Fidgits said:

okay.

Say the police recover a Glock 17 at a crime scene - its been used in a murder - they've done a ballistics check on this weapon to confirm its the murder weapon.

They have no suspect and the serial number has been filed off.

Now, a quick check of the local registered Glock 17 owners would bring up, what, a few hundred max? So to go around and check these would be little effort, compared with finding a potential murder suspect...

Apart from the fact that there have been over 2,500,000 Glock 17's produced....