Are Shotguns Usually Registered To Their Owner

Firearm registration systems are a useful method of curbing illegal gun activity and encouraging responsible gun practices.

Laws requiring gun owners to register their firearms ensure gun owner accountability and assistance police enforcement solve crimes and disarm criminals. Despite the clear advantages inherent in registration laws, few states have such laws on the books—and some prohibit them outright.

Background

Firearm registration laws crave individuals to record their ownership of a firearm with a designated police enforcement agency. These laws enable law enforcement to identify, disarm, and prosecute violent criminals and people illegally in possession of firearms. Registration systems also create accountability for firearm owners and discourage illegal sales. Information generated by firearm registration systems can as well help protect police force enforcement officers responding to an incident by providing them with information about whether firearms may exist nowadays at the scene and, if and then, how many and what types.

Crime Gun Tracing

Firearm registration laws can lead to the identification and prosecution of vehement criminals by helping police enforcement speedily and reliably "trace" (identify the source of) firearms recovered from crime scenes. Firearm registration laws create comprehensive records of firearm buying, which include a full clarification of each firearm and identify the owner. Comprehensive registration laws also crave a firearm to be re-registered whenever title to the firearm is transferred, and police force enforcement to be notified whenever the weapon is lost or stolen. As a effect, registration laws help constabulary enforcement speedily and reliably identify the owner of any firearm used in a criminal offence.

Boosted information on crime gun tracing, firearm sales reporting requirements and retentivity of firearm sales records is contained in our summary on Maintaining Records of Gun Sales.

Disarming Ineligible People

Firearm registration laws also help law enforcement retrieve firearms from persons who have become legally prohibited from possessing them through criminal convictions or other prohibitions. Comprehensive registration laws crave gun owners to renew their registration annually or explain why they should no longer be legally responsible for the weapon. During the renewal process, owners undergo additional background checks to ensure that they have not fallen into a course prohibited from possessing firearms. The renewal process, therefore, creates an opportunity for police force enforcement to remove illegally possessed firearms.

Gun Owner Accountability

In improver, registration laws help reduce illegal firearm sales and transfers by creating accountability for gun owners. A firearm possessor who knows that constabulary enforcement has the ability to trace the firearm back to him or her may be deterred from transferring the firearm to a potentially dangerous individual, and may be encouraged to shop his or her firearm safely and so equally to forestall unauthorized admission or theft. Registration laws likewise assist deter "straw purchases," in which an eligible person purchases a firearm on behalf of an ineligible person or a person who wants to avoid having the gun traced back to him or her. For more than data nearly harbinger purchases, see our summary on Gun Trafficking & Straw Purchasing.

Combining Registration with Licensing

Registration laws are almost constructive when combined with laws requiring licensing of firearm owners and purchasers.^ane A 2001 written report analyzing the firearm tracing data of criminal offence guns recovered in 25 Us cities revealed that states with some form of both registration and licensing take greater success keeping firearms initially sold past dealers in the state from being recovered in crimes than states without such systems in place.ⁱⁱ This information suggests that licensing and registration laws make it more than difficult for criminals, juveniles, and other prohibited purchasers to obtain guns, and assistance ensure that firearm owners remain eligible to possess their weapons. For more data on licensing laws, see our summary on Licensing.

Public Support

The American public strongly supports laws requiring gun registration.A nationwide survey conducted in August 2019 found that 62% of respondents favor laws requiring every gun owner to annals each gun he or she owns as part of a national gun registry.³ A poll conducted in May 2001 constitute that seventy% of respondents mistakenly believe that a registration organization already exists in the United States.⁴

Summary of Federal Law

At that place is no comprehensive national organisation of gun registration. In fact, federal law prohibits the utilize of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to create whatever system of registration of firearms or firearm owners. ^v

A limited system of federal firearms registration was created by the National Firearms Deed, 26 United states of americaC. § 5801et seq. The National Firearms Act (NFA) was enacted in 1934 to impose an excise taxation and registration requirements on a narrow category of firearms, including machine guns, short-barreled shotguns or rifles, and silencers, and these weapons must also be registered under the NFA.⁶

In 1986, Congress banned the transfer and possession of car guns not already in lawful circulation.⁷ Machine guns that were lawfully owned prior to the ban'due south constructive engagement may go along to exist owned and transferred provided they are registered in accord with requirements of the National Firearms Act.⁸ It is also unlawful for a licensed dealer to sell a short-barreled burglarize or shotgun to any person, except as specifically authorized past the Chaser General consistent with public safety and necessity.^nine

With its provisions finer limited to pre-ban machine guns and transfers of short-barreled rifles and shotguns that are specifically authorized by the attorney general, the registration organisation created by the National Firearms Human action falls far short of a comprehensive registration system.

For information about the federal law relating to firearms tracing, come across our summary on Gun Trafficking & Harbinger Purchasing.

Summary of State Law

Six states and the District of Columbia require registration of some or all firearms. Hawaii and the District of Columbia crave the registration of all firearms, California maintains a database of gun transfer records, and New York requires the registration of all handguns through its licensing constabulary.^x Hawaii, New York, and four other states also have a registration organisation for certain highly dangerous firearms, such as attack weapons. These states by and large ban such firearms, but allow the connected possession of grandfathered weapons if they were owned before the ban was adopted and are registered. For more information about such laws, see our summaries on Attack Weapons, 50-Caliber Weapons, and Large Chapters Magazines.

Boosted states require the reporting of firearm sales and transfers to a state or local agency, which maintains these records. For information almost such laws, come across our summary on Maintaining Records of Gun Sales. California and Maryland too crave new residents to report certain firearms that they bring into the state.

Conversely, viii states have statutes prohibiting them from maintaining a registry of firearms except in limited circumstances.

States that Require Registration of All Firearms

California*
Hawaii^xi
Commune of Columbia¹²

*While California does non accept a traditional gun registration organisation, it generally requires all gun transfers to be processed through a licensed dealer and requires a state law enforcement agency to maintain records of these transfers in a central database. This organization functions similarly to a gun registration system. ¹³

Hawaii

Hawaii requires registration of all firearms with the county law chief within five days of acquisition. The registration must include: (ane) the name of the manufacturer and importer; (2) the model, type of action, caliber or gauge, and serial number of the firearm; and (three) the source from which the firearm was obtained, including the name and address of the previous registrant. In addition, every person who brings a firearm into Hawaii must register the firearm inside three days of the arrival of either the person or the firearm, whichever arrives subsequently.^fourteen Hawaii does not crave renewal of the registration. Hawaii also has a licensing scheme, requiring that all firearm purchasers obtain a permit prior to acquisition.^xv

The District of Columbia

The District of Columbia'due south registration law limits the availability of many classes of firearms within the District. While the District requires a valid registration certificate for every gun that is purchased, sold, transferred, or possessed in the District,¹⁶ many classes of especially dangerous firearms may not be registered. For instance, sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, curt-barreled rifles, assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and "dangerous firearms" as defined past District law, may not be registered.

The Commune of Columbia requires that an application for registration be made prior to taking possession of a firearm from a licensed dealer or any person or organization belongings a registration certificate for the firearm. In addition to providing detailed identifying data near the registration applicant and the firearm, applicants are also required to provide detailed information concerning: 1) whether the bidder has e'er been denied any firearm-related license, permit or registration certificate and, if then, the reasons for such denial; 2) the bidder'south role in whatever mishap involving a firearm, including the appointment, place, fourth dimension, circumstances, and names of the persons injured or killed; 3) if the applicant has practical for other registration certificates; and 4) where the firearm mostly will be kept. Applicants undergo a background cheque conducted by the Main of Constabulary.

Registration applicants are required to complete a firearm safety form. Registered owners are required to notify the Chief of Police of the loss, theft, or destruction of the registration document or of a registered firearm. Registrants must also notify the Chief of the auction, transfer, or other disposition of the firearm inside two business days of such sale, transfer or disposition, and must return the registration document for any firearm that has been lost, stolen, destroyed, or otherwise tending of or transferred.¹⁷

States that Require Registration of Handguns

New York^xviii

New York mostly requires anyone wishing to possess a handgun to commencement obtain a license, following a background check. The license must specify the weapon past caliber, brand, model, manufacturer'south name, and series number, and must signal if the handgun may exist carried on the person or possessed in a particular location. A license holder may utilise at whatever fourth dimension to his or her licensing officer for amendment of the license to include more weapons or to cancel weapons held under license. As of Jan 15, 2013, such license must exist "recertified" with the division of state police every five years. The recertification grade requests the license holder'south name, engagement of birth, gender, race, residential accost, social security number, all firearms possessed by such license holder, email accost (at the choice of the license holder), and an affidavit that such license holder is non prohibited from possessing firearms. A failure to re-certify results in the revocation of the license.

States that Require New Residents to Study Their Firearms

California¹⁹
Maryland²⁰ (handguns and assault weapons)

California and Maryland crave new residents to provide a written report regarding firearms they own to law enforcement. More specifically, whatever handgun owner who moves into California from out-of-state on or after Jan ane, 1998, or whatsoever firearm owner who moves into California on or after January 1, 2014, is accounted a "personal firearm importer." Within threescore days, the person must sell or transfer the firearm through a licensed dealer or to a sheriff or police section, or provide a report to DOJ regarding the firearm. Maryland enacted a similar law in 2013 that requires whatsoever new resident to register all handguns or assault weapons within 90 days of moving into the state.

States that Crave Registration of Pre-Ban Attack Weapons, 50 Caliber Rifles, or Large Capacity Magazines

California²¹ (set on weapons and 50 caliber rifles)
Connecticut²² (attack weapons and big capacity magazines)
Hawaii²³ (assail pistols)
Maryland²⁴ (attack pistols)
New Jersey²⁵ (assault weapons)
New York²⁶ (assault weapons)

Six states (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York) accept banned set on weapons,²⁷ but allow continued possession of such weapons if they were lawfully owned on a specified date and are registered, except that grandfathered set on long guns in Maryland do not need to be registered. In California (the only state that currently bans the possession of 50 caliber rifles) any person who lawfully possessed a fifty caliber rifle before January i, 2005, must accept registered it no afterwards than April 30, 2006, in lodge to retain possession of the firearm.²⁸

In 2013, Connecticut enacted legislation which bans large capacity armament magazines (capable of holding more than ten rounds), and requires persons lawfully possessing such magazines prior to Jan 1, 2014 to utilise with the state earlier January 1, 2014 in order to maintain possession. A person moving into the state with a large capacity magazine must apply to maintain possession within 90 days.

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States that Prohibit Registries of Firearms

Delaware²⁹
Florida³⁰
Georgia³¹
Idaho³²
Pennsylvania (long guns just)³³
Rhode Island³⁴
South Dakota³⁵
Tennesse³⁶
Vermont³⁷

Viii states are explicitly prohibited by law from maintaining a registry of any firearms. Withal, many of these prohibitions comprise general categories of exceptions, such every bit records relating to persons who have been bedevilled of a crime.

States that Require Reporting of Gun Sales or Transfers

Many states require the reporting of firearm sales and transfers to a state or local bureau, which maintains these records. For data about such laws, see our summary on Maintaining Records of Gun Sales.

Key Legislative Elements

The features listed beneath are intended to provide a framework from which policy options may exist considered.³⁸ A jurisdiction considering new legislation should consult with counsel.

Registration is required for all firearms prior to taking possession, or, in the example of firearms already owned or brought into the jurisdiction, immediately after the firearm is brought into the jurisdiction or the effective date of the law(District of Columbia; Hawaii requires registration within 5 days of acquisition of firearm and within 3 days of moving into the state with a firearm).
Registration includes: proper name, accost and other identifying information nigh the owner of the firearm; names of manufacturer and importer; model, blazon of activity, caliber or guess, and serial number of firearm; and name and address of source from which firearm was obtained(Hawaii, Commune of Columbia).
Registered owners are required to renew registration annually, including submitting to a background check(New York requires handgun licensees to recertify their licenses every 5 years).
Registered owners are required to study whatever loss, theft or transfer of the registered firearm to law enforcement within a short time of the event and to turn in their registration carte du jour or document upon loss, theft or transfer(District of Columbia).
Registered owners are required to shop all firearms safely and securely.
Additional restrictions may include limitations on where registered firearms may be possessed and to whom they may be transferred (especially relevant for sure classes of firearms such every bit assault weapons, fifty caliber rifles, and large capacity magazines).

Universal Groundwork Checks

Universal background checks are essential to close deadly loopholes in our laws that allow millions of guns to cease up in the easily of individuals at an elevated take chances of committing violence each year.

Licensing

Licensing laws are safety measures proven to promote rubber gun ownership and reduce gun deaths.

Firearm Relinquishment

Firearm relinquishment laws are critical to forestall people from remaining illegally armed after they've become legally ineligible to possess firearms.

Conceptually, licensing is directed to the owner or purchaser of the firearm, while registration is directed to the weapon itself. As shown in this analysis, some jurisdictions incorporate elements of licensing in their registration laws, and vice versa.[↩]
Daniel W. Webster et al.,Human relationship Between Licensing, Registration, and Other Gun Sales Laws and the Source Land of Criminal offence Guns, 7 Inj. Prevention 184, 188-89 (2001). The report included jurisdictions with concealed carry permits and dealer sales reporting, which have elements of licensing or registration merely are not comprehensive licensing or registration systems.[↩]
"Public Divided On Assault Weapons Policy" Monmouth University Poll. Sept. 9, 2019 at https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/monmouthpoll_us_090919/.[↩]
Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates, Inc. Poll,Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (May xv-21, 2001), at http://www.commondreams.org/news2001/0612-05.htm.[↩]
18 U.S.C. § 926(a); 28 C.F.R. § 25.9(b)(3).[↩]
26 U.s.C. § 5845(a). The Act also includes, in a category defined every bit "whatsoever other weapon," certain smooth-bore handguns. 26 The statesC. § 5845(a), (eastward). The vast majority of handguns are excluded.[↩]
18 The statesC. § 922(o).See as well xviii The statesC. § 922(b)(4). Transfers to or by, or possession by, federal, state or local regime agencies are exempt.[↩]
Id.The National Firearms Human activity requires each importer, manufacturer, or dealer in firearms covered by the Human activity to register annually. 26 U.S.C. § 5802. In addition, anyone wishing to manufacture, make, import, or transfer such weapons must first annals them. 26 U.Due south.C. §5841(b). The transferee of whatsoever of these weapons cannot take possession until the Secretary approves the transfer and registration of the weapon to the transferee. 26 United states of americaC. § 5841(c). The registry includes: (i) an identification of the firearm; (ii) the engagement of registration; and (3) the identification and accost of the person entitled to possess the firearm. 26 United states of americaC. §5841(a).See also 27 C.F.R. §§ 479.101, 479.105.[↩]
18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(iv).[↩]
New York's licensing law functions equally a handgun registration system, with handgun owners existence required to recertify their licenses every five years.[↩]
Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 134-3(a), (b), 134-4.[↩]
D.C. Code Ann. §§ seven-2502.01-7-2502.x; D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, §§ 2311- 2320.[↩]
For more than information, encounter our summary on Maintaining Records of Gun Sales, and our page on Retention of Sales Records in California.[↩]
Hawaii'southward registration statute also provides that all registration data that identify the registrant's proper noun or address shall be confidential, except for use by law enforcement or a use mandated by court order.[↩]
Hawaii's permitting laws are described in our summary on Licensing.[↩]
These registration requirements do not apply to anyone holding a valid firearms dealer license, so long as the firearm is caused in the normal course of business organization, stored at the dealer's business location, and is not for the dealer'due south personal employ or protection.[↩]
Police force enforcement personnel, members of the armed forces, licensed dealers and not-residents participating in lawful firearm-related recreational activities are exempt from the registration requirements.[↩]
North.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00(22)(due east)-(f), 265.00(23), 400.00(10), (16-a), 400.02.[↩]
Cal. Penal Lawmaking §§ 17000, 27560.[↩]
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-143.[↩]
Cal. Penal Code §§ 30510-30530, 30600-30675, 30900-30965.[↩]
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53-202d(a), 53-202p(a)(1), 53-202q.[↩]
Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 134-3(a), (b), 134-4. Hawaii bans assault pistols, but not assault long guns.[↩]
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-303. Maryland bans both assault pistols and assault long guns, but only grandfathered assault pistols must be registered.[↩]
Northward.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2C:39-5f, 2C:58-12.[↩]
N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00(22)(e)-(f), 265.00(23), 400.00(10), (16-a), 400.02.[↩]
Hawaii bans assault pistols, but not assault long guns. DC bans assault weapons and does non permit the continued possession of pre-ban assault weapons.[↩]
D.C. did not grandfather 50 caliber rifles endemic or possessed at the time the ban was adopted. Boosted information on assail weapons, 50 quotient rifles, and large capacity magazines is contained in our summaries on Assault Weapons, 50-Caliber Weapons, and Large Capacity Magazines, respectively.[↩]
Del. Code Ann. tit 11, § 1448A(d)(1), (3); Delaware'southward registration prohibition does not apply to person's prohibited from possessing a firearm equally defined under Delaware law.[↩]
Fla. Stat. Ann. § 790.335(2), (3). Florida's prohibition does not apply to records relating to licenses to behave concealed firearms. Florida law contains a number of other exceptions to the prohibition, including but not limited to: records of firearms that have been used in committing a offense, records relating to any person who has been convicted of a offense, records of firearms that take been reported stolen, or records that must exist retained by firearm dealers nether federal law.[↩]
Ga. Code Ann. § 16-eleven-129(a). Georgia's registration prohibition applies to the application process to obtain a license to behave and prohibits the application form from requesting data that could be used as ade facto registration.[↩]
Idaho Const., fine art. 1, § xi. Idaho'southward prohibition is function of the state'due south constitution and mandates that "No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition."[↩]
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6111.4. Although Pennsylvania'southward statute appears to prohibit the land from maintaining a registry of any firearms, the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom ruled in Allegheny County Sportsmen's League v. Rendell, 860 A.2d 10 (Pa. 2004), that the statute did not prohibit Pennsylvania'south database of handgun sales.[↩]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-41. Rhode Isle's prohibition does not apply to firearms that have been used in committing whatever crime of violence, or to any person who has been convicted of a crime of violence.[↩]
S.D. Codified Laws § 23-vii-8.6.[↩]
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1367(b).[↩]
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 20, § viii(b)(3)(B).[↩]
The most comprehensive system of regulating the purchase, possession and ownership of firearms combines licensing of gun owners with registration of all firearms. Boosted information on licensing of firearm owners is contained in our summary on Licensing.[↩]