Running Gun Serial Numbers

[marshman]

Anyway to run serial
Numbers from a gun to see who's name its registered in? Or is that something I'd have to go to the local PD to do?

[tvc184]

There used to be a website called hotgunz.com but I just ran it and it has either been taken down or they are having server issues.

I would gladly run a gun that I was looking at but if it came back stolen, the gun would be going to our evidence locker along with some questions.

[tvc184]

... and I will be glad to run it for you if you bring over this way.

[JustinJ]

Correct me if I'm wrong TVC, but running a gun's number will not give you the name on the 4473 correct? Only tells you if the gun is reported stolen.

Guns are NOT registered.

[fishingsetx]

Correct me if I'm wrong TVC, but running a gun's number will not give you the name on the 4473 correct? Only tells you if the gun is reported stolen.

Guns are NOT registered.

This!!! In Texas, guns are NOT registered. There is no way to see previous owners without some pretty extensive digging including warrants, trips/call the the mfgr, distributor, ffl that sold the gun, etc.

Now if you are just wanting to see if it's stolen, your local PD should be able to help you.

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[Artos]

Why do you have concerns?? I'm curious.

[marshman]

Long story but here goes...first off the guns are not stolen, but they were bought out of state, several states in fact. They belonged to my brother in law who moved around quite a bit with his work. Well he eventually got into some trouble and ended up doing time in federal prison. He did not go to trial as he plead guilty and took the sentence offered. Before he was sentenced time his lawyer told him to get all the guns he had out of his name so he gave them all to me. At this time I lived in Mississippi but was in the process of moving to Texas. In fact my wife and kids had alreaDy moved and I stayed behind until our house in Mississippi sold. Anyways, she mailed me some forms and I filled them out with the info for each gun and sent them back to her to send it wherever she needed to send them. That was 4 years ago but with move going on at the same time and all she can't remember if she sent them
In or not and we can't find them. Her brother will be getting out in 3 years and we have to make sure they are no longer in his name.

[xman59]

Long story but here goes...first off the guns are not stolen, but they were bought out of state, several states in fact. They belonged to my brother in law who moved around quite a bit with his work. Well he eventually got into some trouble and ended up doing time in federal prison. He did not go to trial as he plead guilty and took the sentence offered. Before he was sentenced time his lawyer told him to get all the guns he had out of his name so he gave them all to me. At this time I lived in Mississippi but was in the process of moving to Texas. In fact my wife and kids had alreaDy moved and I stayed behind until our house in Mississippi sold. Anyways, she mailed me some forms and I filled them out with the info for each gun and sent them back to her to send it wherever she needed to send them. That was 4 years ago but with move going on at the same time and all she can't remember if she sent them
In or not and we can't find them. Her brother will be getting out in 3 years and we have to make sure they are no longer in his name.

having a gun in his name is not a crime, having a gun in is possession is... since there is only a few states were guns are registered to someone, he needs to only follow what ever law exists of the state he will reside in. if that is texas zero problem unless he possess the gun and maybe if it is in his residence, then he could be determined he was in possession...if yall want to work out a bill of sale that's fine but not needed

[Artos]

having a gun in his name is not a crime, having a gun in is possession is... since there is only a few states were guns are registered to someone, he needs to only follow what ever law exists of the state he will reside in. if that is texas zero problem unless he possess the gun and maybe if it is in his residence, then he could be determined he was in possession...if yall want to work out a bill of sale that's fine but not needed

This is correct, you are overthinking it...it doesn't matter if he has a 4473 with a gun tied to his name. His only responsibility is to not have firearms in his possession.

Think about it...what if he had sold all those guns to some guy in a parking lot at a gun show before he talked to the lawyer?? What is he supposed to do at this point?? Having a gun with a 4473 w/ his name before the sentencing is not the crime.

I do have some customers who are weird about this & if they buy a gun from a friend or stranger from a gun show they will pay me to do a 4473 for the gun, which isn't necessary but important for them for some reason??

[marshman]

Well he's expressed his concern about getting them out of his name before he gets out. Again all were bought outside of Texas in other states. Would that make any difference?

[xman59]

Well he's expressed his concern about getting them out of his name before he gets out. Again all were bought outside of Texas in other states. Would that make any difference?

if he no longer lives in a state they can no longer tell him what he can or can not do, unless it is a probation/parol requirement,,,, it does not matter were the guns were bought if it was legal for him to dispose of when he did and how he did,,, if he bought them in florida and moved to texas, he is a texas resident and florida law has no say so,, if he lived in main and gave them to you there, unless there was a law in maine about transfer, there is no violation... federal law does not split hairs on were they were bought or sold, as long as they were legal received by the new owner, a non criminal...and of legal age

[Bowen Aero]

Guns aren't registered. Don't know how folks get that idea.

Your local Sheriff can run a number to see if it's stolen.

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[BrandonH]

This!!! In Texas, guns are NOT registered. There is no way to see previous owners without some pretty extensive digging including warrants, trips/call the the mfgr, distributor, ffl that sold the gun, etc.

Now if you are just wanting to see if it's stolen, your local PD should be able to help you.

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They sure can find the original purchaser like you mentioned with some work. I actually had a Harris County DA contact me last week about a handgun that I bought from Academy in 2012 that was used in some sort of crime. I sold the gun here on TBH so I'm hoping the other TBH'er didn't go rogue[emoji33]

[kae006]

As a couple others have stated, there are only a few states that have gun registries. Odds are he didn't live in one of those states and the guns were never "registered". He cannot do anything about removing his name from a 4473 and if it was more than a few years the 4473's have probably been shredded anyways (Artos, how long are they required to be kept on file?). In a state with no registry, such as Texas, it is physically impossible to "put the guns in your name."

[tvc184]

Guns aren't registered. Don't know how folks get that idea.

Your local Sheriff can run a number to see if it's stolen.

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That is completely true... in this state. Not necessarily in others.

If he was in a state where guns are registered, then he has a registered gun in his name.

As has been mentioned above in various ways, possession is the crime. If he doesn't have care, custody or control over a firearm, he is good to go in my opinion.... but some guns are registered.