Aguila Blanca
Staff
The problem is that PA -- by law -- does not have a "registry." However -- the PA State Police DO maintain a database of firearms sales through FFLs. So if your parents purchase a handgun and give it to you, their purchase (Mom or Dad, only one will be the actual purchaser) will be entered into the PA State Police database.
There is NOTHING illegal about your parental unit then giving the handgun to you, and the transfer does not have to go through an FFL or be reported to the State Police.
The problem is, even though the sales database is not a complete registry and is KNOWN not to be a complete registry -- and the courts in PA have ruled that it is NOT a "registry" in violation of the state law specifically because of the fact that it is NOT a complete registry ... nonetheless, many PA police departments like to behave as if the database IS a complete registry. If they have any excuse to interact with you on an official basis, many of them WILL take your pistol and run the serial number, and if it doesn't sow up as your name they may confiscate the firearm. This is illegal, of course, but it happens regularly.
However, if the firearm is a gift from your father, the last name will be the same, the first name may even be the same, and you're living at home so the address will be the same. So there shouldn't be a problem.
There is NOTHING illegal about your parental unit then giving the handgun to you, and the transfer does not have to go through an FFL or be reported to the State Police.
The problem is, even though the sales database is not a complete registry and is KNOWN not to be a complete registry -- and the courts in PA have ruled that it is NOT a "registry" in violation of the state law specifically because of the fact that it is NOT a complete registry ... nonetheless, many PA police departments like to behave as if the database IS a complete registry. If they have any excuse to interact with you on an official basis, many of them WILL take your pistol and run the serial number, and if it doesn't sow up as your name they may confiscate the firearm. This is illegal, of course, but it happens regularly.
However, if the firearm is a gift from your father, the last name will be the same, the first name may even be the same, and you're living at home so the address will be the same. So there shouldn't be a problem.