Pistol laws from 40 years ago - help!

T

tpcollins

New member
This past turkey season, my older brother was admiring my Ruger LCP and during conversations, I found out he had the 7 shot .32 cal Arminius that I had sold to our younger brother many years ago. He got it because the younger brother owed him money. Then I got to thinking - who's name is this pistol registered in? I'm positive I bought it in a department store back in 1968 and think I took it to my local police station for the "saftey inspection" required back then. But I don't remeber what paperwork I did with our younger brother when I sold it to him, probably in the early 70's, and my older brother didn't remember what paperwork transpired when he got it. But he is going to give me back this pistol now since it was originally mine.

I went to my local police and they did a search on the model and serial number and it came up as not being registered. So I called the police station where I had the original safety inspection and there was no "electronic" record on file and she didn't seem interested in going thru the archives down in their basement. Since it's at my brother's who is 200 miles away, she suggested having him register it in his name, and then transferring it to me with the proper paperwork when he gave it back to me.

I thought about going over to where I originally filed the pistol at and help them go thru the archives to see if there's still a record of it. And I'd rather wait until I get it back and then just register it in my name. Just wondering what's the simpleist but also lawful thing to do. Right now it could be considered as an unregistered pistol and I'm not sure what. if any, violations are currently present. Thanks.
 
There are no violations. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, we have only a few places with mandatory registration laws. there have not been mandatory registration laws in those years you are discussing. What you did was voluntary. the record is moot. Your ownership status doesn't seem to have been changed, since all of those records have in all likelihood been lost. . Even so, there are no federal laws at this time that demand that a private transaction must be recorded, or that your possession of it be recorded.

Unless you are in serious fear of possible legal repercussions involving the people who have been holding that pistol, just take it, and forget it.

If you really are afraid of legal entanglements, you need a lawyer, not advice here. Contact the NRA website and there are legal resource sections.
 
If you really are afraid of legal entanglements, you need a lawyer, not advice here. Contact the NRA website and there are legal resource sections.
Click to expand...

Yes this is the best advice you can receive here on your personal situation and the laws in your area. Your local NRA (or similar) can possibly recommend a lawyer to you if you do not have one who should be familiar with the laws in your locale.

tipoc
 
Calm down there a bit

I thought about going over to where I originally filed the pistol at and help them go thru the archives to see if there's still a record of it. And I'd rather wait until I get it back and then just register it in my name. Just wondering what's the simpleist but also lawful thing to do. Right now it could be considered as an unregistered pistol and I'm not sure what. if any, violations are currently present. Thanks.
Click to expand...

:eek:woooah overkill there. Since you bought it in the 60s, I wouldn't be worried about paperwork. Since you already found out that its not in your name, I wouldn't be really concerned about it. Since the gun is in someone else's posession, you really aren't breaking any law so who cares really? There is no federal registration and most states don't have even background check laws.
 
I don't understand, you're speaking as if this is some regulated item like a machinggun or something. Let me guess...you are less than 30 years old and have little interest in laws or politics of any sort, am I right?

They lied to you kids in school. Read up on your Constitution and history and discover that you are a free man and do not have to ask permission of your Government.


I took it to my local police station for the "saftey inspection" required back then
Click to expand...


They were lieing then. I've never heard of this type requirement anywhere and would laugh at them if they did.
 
NO, that is not correct. A municipality can require dealers to register sales to individuals, and it was a fact of life even back then. Every handgun that I have ever purchased has been after I filed papers with the sheriff of my area, and returned the papers to the dealer.

This is not gun registration. it is recording of a transaction between a commercial entity and an individual. It has been going on for at least a half century, I have papers for a pistol that my father purchased that confirmed his purchase of a pistol that I now own.

They can also require the same transaction records between individuals, but it isn't done by the people, usually; it is required here. Very few people voluntarily subject their private transactions to the government. Gun shows are in the cross hairs, because commercial dealers unload guns with no checks.

They were lieing then. I've never heard of this type requirement anywhere and would laugh at them if they did.
Click to expand...

You won't be buying a handgun at a store in this county, then. but that is your choice.
 
Slow down . . .

"I don't understand, you're speaking as if this is some regulated item like a machinggun or something. Let me guess...you are less than 30 years old and have little interest in laws or politics of any sort, am I right?"

*********************************************************

Edward - actually I'm 63, I would have thought that if I said I bought in 1968, it would tell you I'm a bit older than 30 - and I live in Michigan. I'm just trying to understand what my legal obligations are with this pistol - I have no agenda.
 
TP I live in Michigan today but I didn't live here in 68. My understanding is that like your LCP, all handguns have to be registered and the owner must possess the "green" registration card. I don't know what you should do but I would explain the situation to your county law enforcement office and follow their instructions. Let us know how this works out.
 
Ok Gents and older Gents

When I was a LEO, I used to have people ask me all kinds of legal if's !

I finally got a good answer for them that made perfect sense.

Are you a criminal = Yes or No.

If no, then you don't have anything to worry about.

This is for real folks. Not a joke, the hangun was purchased legal in the 60's
and been in your family all this time, nobody in your family loaned it to anyone
who is known as a criminal so there is no known legal troubles related to this firearm. Just enjoy it, keep it clean and pass it on to your next generation.

And just an FYI, I don't remember all the terms and acronyms for the various legal data bases, but do somewhat remember that if a firearm was reported stolen, then this would probably show up someday in someones search, but everyday purchased firearms, being recorded for record of ownership would probably drive everyone nuts trying to keep it up to date. So it's not typically done in most locals.
And please note, I don't live in Michigan, or Jersey or Maine or ILL. And wouldn't. Oh and I'm a native born CA kid, left 35 years ago and won't go back. LOL.
Regards.

Duane USN/ret
 
Last edited:
I don't know the Michigan law now, but at one time they had gun registration disguised as a "safety inspection." The "inspection" was supposed to prevent sale of dangerous guns, but few officers acting as "inspectors" had any idea of what they were doing.

From what I have been told, that law, like most "gun control" laws, had a hidden agenda, never discussed but well understood by the police and politicians. A gun brought in by a white person was automatically "safe"; a gun brought in by a black person was automatically "unsafe." Nuff sed.

Jim
 
i personally would not worry about it. you bought it in 1968. you registered it in 1968. you now have it in your possession.........if there is a problem, let them go thru the archives.
 
From what I have been told, that law, like most "gun control" laws, had a hidden agenda, never discussed but well understood by the police and politicians. A gun brought in by a white person was automatically "safe"; a gun brought in by a black person was automatically "unsafe." Nuff sed.
Click to expand...

Always plenty of that. My father in law told me a story that goes back well into the 50s about buying a handgun, having to register the purchase, and being asked by the sheriff why he felt he needed it.

My father in law said; "I told that idiot i needed it so that whenever I get a knock on the door late at night I can shoot through it at whoever it is."

he got his gun, and he swore that the sheriff congratulated him on giving him the right answer.

So much for keeping guns out of the hands of idiots. :rolleyes:
 
In Michigan, there are no more "green cards" issued when a pistol/revolver is registered by the local police. The new form is a pure registration, with no pretense as to "inspection".

If you have a CPL, you only need to fill out the four-part form showing your brother transferred the revolver to you. Michigan is only interested in who currently owns the handgun. If you don't have a CPL, go get a purchase permit from your local PD, and do the transfer that way.
 
"... because commercial dealers unload guns without checks."

Where exactly does this occur? I go to a lot of gun shows, but I've never seen a dealer willing to risk his FFL to bend the rules, even a little. In fact, I was once trying to assist my wife with the paperwork and was reprimanded by the dealer, because she needed to answer the questions independently.
Around here, gun show vendors are typically just small business owners, trying to make an honest buck. Strangely, it's not like they show on TV investigative news reports.
 
so, let me see.

In michigan, you must, by law, register all handguns in your possession or face criminal prosecution? Really?

Tell me the truth, I really want to know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top