Question of the Day: Do The Cops Know You’re A Gun Owner?

[whodat2710]

I was buying a gun today and asked the guy specifically about this. He said it depends on the state. Some states (un-Constitutionally) record all transactions on firearms by gun serial number or have you register them after purchase. In VA specifically, the 4473 is submitted to LE, but does not state model or serial #. The other form with the model and serial is retained by the seller for 20 yrs and can be "back-checked" but would not be available to a dispatcher.

 

[wuzfuz]

This must be something unique with Kittitas County. I live in Centralia (Lewis County) and to the best of my knowledge, guns are not registered. If you have a Concealed Pistol License, it is linked to your license plate . If an officer radios your tag in, the dispatcher will know that someone in the vehicle may have a weapon. I was informed that Washington state does not have gun registration, and what you have in your home is nobody's business but your own.

 

[whodat2710]

I am a South Carolina resident, but as military got a resident CCL from Virginia. They know nothing about my license plate (SC), and my drivers license is from Tennessee and has been expired since 2001. (don't need to renew because military). Bought most of my guns in VA, so they're probably confused as hell.

 

[Warrior1256]

Some States you have to get permission to buy a weapon. And some the same plus register that weapon also. In Texas and Arkansas you don't have to do either.
For clarification I was wondering how it is in other states around the country and if the police know about your guns.

Don't have to do either here in Kentucky.

 

[crapgame]

Some do some dont, it depends on your jurisdiction and the amount of funds they have. I live just outside of Pittsburgh Pa, and I listen to my local police on a scanner and they are aware upon calling in your plate or seeing your drivers liscense. Some police forces, state, county have cameras that read your plate while behind you, and this is automatically sent to the in car computer and then the DMV. This allows the police advanced warning of felons, or fugitives. The local rural forces are generally still relying on information called in. So yes the police know for the most part.

 

[gejoslin]

Some do some dont, it depends on your jurisdiction and the amount of funds they have. I live just outside of Pittsburgh Pa, and I listen to my local police on a scanner and they are aware upon calling in your plate or seeing your drivers liscense. Some police forces, state, county have cameras that read your plate while behind you, and this is automatically sent to the in car computer and then the DMV. This allows the police advanced warning of felons, or fugitives. The local rural forces are generally still relying on information called in. So yes the police know for the most part.

Your first post! Welcome to the forum.

 

[apvbguy]

I was buying a gun today and asked the guy specifically about this. He said it depends on the state. Some states (un-Constitutionally) record all transactions on firearms by gun serial number or have you register them after purchase. .

in some states like NY and NJ you need to get permission from the cops to even buy a gun, in NJ you can only get a permission slip for 1 gun a month. in some NY counties it can takes many months before the cops will grant you permission to buy a handgun

 

[XD40scinNC]

This. People that get in trouble with the law which causes the police find out the person has firearms, they may make note of it for their safety.

For the safety of all responding agencies, police, fire, and EMS, a call history for the address comes up in the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) and can be relayed to the responding agency if appropriate. Everything from nuisance calls to serious threats.

 

[S&W645]

I found out, after the fact, that in our county (Maricopa, AZ) if you purchase more than one gun at a time the FFL dealer where you purchase is required to advise the county sheriff of the transaction & information on you & the weapons.

First off, it is a Federal Law that covers multiple purchases. We have to report it to the Chief LEO of the area and BATFE if a purchaser buys two or more handguns within 5 business days from the same FFL. 3 copies are made. 1 to CLEO, 1 to BATFE, 1 for store. BATFE copy can be faxed to the National Tracing Center instead of mailed. Must be done on the same day as the second or more handguns are transferred if within the 5 business day window. This is the form: https://www.atf.gov/files/forms/download/atf-f-3310-4.pdf

 

[S&W645]

I was buying a gun today and asked the guy specifically about this. He said it depends on the state. Some states (un-Constitutionally) record all transactions on firearms by gun serial number or have you register them after purchase. In VA specifically, the 4473 is submitted to LE, but does not state model or serial #. The other form with the model and serial is retained by the seller for 20 yrs and can be "back-checked" but would not be available to a dispatcher.

If they are getting the Form 4473, then it does have the serial numbers on it. That info is on page 3 and must be completed before the form is signed and dated by the FFL. It is not a Form 4473 unless it is complete. Now VA can say that the FFL has to submit the first two pages to them but it is not a completed Form 4473 without the third page. Part of the NICS background check is on page 3 also. And as per my reply above, buy 2 or more handguns or receivers in 5 business days from the same FFL and the CLEO and BATFE have the model and serial numbers of the items transferred.

 

[XD40scinNC]

FFL's keep the 4473, in addition to entering the information in their Bound Book. The ATF can inspect the Bound Book, and request a copy of the 4473 during a criminal investigation.

The FFL must retain them for 20 years, and if the dealer goes out of business, the forms are then forwarded to the ATF.

Of course in that time frame, how many times has a gun been sold legally in individual transfers? I purchased a handgun from an individual, and I am the one that kept the bill of sale, so where is the trail? There isn't one.

 

[r1derbike]

I believe in AR your CHCL info is sent to county sheriffs. Also the ASP administers the license, so it is in their computer records. Come to think of it, that information is probably accessible to any branch of LE in Arkansas, during a stop. I don't know if they know the brand/caliber of weapon you carry, however, but in this socialist, dictatorial criminal administration, nothing would surprise me, if they did, by illegal 4473 culling from a store.

My brother works at wally-world, and the ATF downloads digital 4473 information to jump drives there, and all he may do is look-on as owners' constitutional rights are bastardized, "We only came after 5 records. Damn! How did the search for data jump 2 decimal places! Must be a defective jump drive, we'll sort it out back at the office..."

"We'll be back for cash office receipts and surveillance video, as soon as we get this jump drive fixed..."

 

[Deserteagle]

For the safety of all responding agencies, police, fire, and EMS, a call history for the address comes up in the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) and can be relayed to the responding agency if appropriate. Everything from nuisance calls to serious threats.

Exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[JimTh]

Suggestion, NEVER on web sites etc mention anything re type, brand or any other evidence that could be seen by thousands and stored in Utah digital storage facility. I don't have any g u ns, they were all lost in a tragic boating accident last summer.

The 4473 for an FFL sale should be your first clue that government is tracking your firearms. Sure the 4473 doesn't say what or if anything was bought but the FFL is required to keep a registry of all sales...just ask one where they log in the gun sales. You can look up the guide lines that an FFL is required to follow at the BATF website. I have read them! If you did not make a straw purchase and have not sold the gun in a private sale...guess what?

 

[JimTh]

FFL's keep the 4473, in addition to entering the information in their Bound Book. The ATF can inspect the Bound Book, and request a copy of the 4473 during a criminal investigation.

The FFL must retain them for 20 years, and if the dealer goes out of business, the forms are then forwarded to the ATF.

Of course in that time frame, how many times has a gun been sold legally in individual transfers? I purchased a handgun from an individual, and I am the one that kept the bill of sale, so where is the trail? There isn't one.

A prudent seller of a gun might just remember who he sold the gun to so when the cops ask to see that particular gun he sold he can say "See that little white house across the street? That guy bought it"

 

[Blackhawk 93]

Suggestion, NEVER on web sites etc mention anything re type, brand or any other evidence that could be seen by thousands and stored in Utah digital storage facility. I don't have any g u ns, they were all lost in a tragic boating accident last summer.

Hilarious!

Yep, I had terrible bicycle wreck, was moving to California and lost all my belongings. They slowly fell off the rented trailer I was pulling and no longer own any B b g u n s or kitchen k n i v e s. When I realized I had left the door open on the trailer and had slowly let all my belongings fall out on my trek to Sand Fran Siscoooooo I stopped to report it and someone took my bike. So I arrived finally penniless and broke. Hope the government captured THOSE keystrokes and that MY pile of papers is closer to the moon side of the stack than on this end, in case they lose power out there in Utah.

 

[S&W645]

The 4473 for an FFL sale should be your first clue that government is tracking your firearms. Sure the 4473 doesn't say what or if anything was bought but the FFL is required to keep a registry of all sales...just ask one where they log in the gun sales. You can look up the guide lines that an FFL is required to follow at the BATF website. I have read them! If you did not make a straw purchase and have not sold the gun in a private sale...guess what?

You are under the wrong impression if you don't think the gun info is on the Form 4473. Here's a link directly to it in pdf format. http://www.atf.gov/files/forms/download/atf-f-4473-1.pdf
Go to page 3, Section D, Blocks 26 to 30. That is where the gun or receiver info is written. If the bound book shows a transfer out, there had better be a matching Form 4473 unless it went to another FFL. Instructions for Section D:

Section D
Immediately prior to transferring the firearm, the seller must complete all of
the questions in Section D. In addition to completing this form, the seller
must report any multiple sale or other disposition of pistols or revolver on
ATF Form 3310.4 (see 27 CFR § 478.126a).
Question(s) 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, Firearm(s) Description:
These blocks
should be completed with the firearm(s) information. Firearms manufactured
after 1968 should all be marked with a serial number. Should you acquire a
firearm that is not marked with a serial number; you may answer question 28
with “NSN” (No Serial Number), “N/A” or “None.”
If more than five firearms are involved in a transaction, the information required
by Section D, questions 26-30,
must be provided for the
additional firearms on a
separate
sheet of paper, which must be attached to the ATF Form 4473 covering
the transaction.

 

[K7lvo]

I've had Washington and/or Oregon CHPs for the past 25-30 years. Over that period of time I've been on the civilian end of traffic stops a few times. I have never had the officer mention my CHP.

 

[bustmopd]

the only way dispatch would have knowledge of his specific guns if they had prior contacts with this subject. At one time they may have taken them on a prior domestic. They may have logged them down and then associated them with this person on their computer, for safety concerns. I do find it odd that they list specific guns, and not just that their are guns in the house.

 

[blacksharkL82]

how do the cops know?

NYS hasn't linked the DMV with permits so when getting pulled-over, LEO don't have any way to know. There is no duty to inform them either. If executing a warrant they may have obtained the info before coming. The local PD knows about me only because I sponsored many of them at my local club. I give the department range time as well.

FORM 4473. That yellow sheet that you and the dealer filled out.
Public records! Not suposed to be but it is.
Freedom of information act.