Transfer of Ownership in SC

[phoenixcrash]

Hi guys. Quick question for you. I live in SC, own several registered firearms, I'm not a felon, and have no CWP. My stepfather passed away back in 2012. When he passed, I inherited his Colt Officers Model 1911. I know that the gun is not stolen, as he owned the gun since around 1994, and endured several traffic stops in which the serial numbers were ran. My question is: How do I go about registering the pistol in my name? I don't have any sort of documentation showing my inheritance of the gun. Can I just walk into my local FFL and have it registered to me? Any and all help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[bofh]

SC has a firearms registry? Serial numbers are run at traffic stops? Did I miss the Russian/Cuban/Nicaraguan invasion? Wolverines!!!

Seriously, there is no registration requirement for your 1911. You inherited the gun. It's yours. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

 

[phoenixcrash]

It may be because I don't have my CWP, but I've had my serial numbers ran by a SC State Trooper at a license check. I was asked "Sir, do you have any weapons in the vehicle? Any guns, knives, weapons of mass destruction?" Yes, I swear to you: WMD's!!! He may have given me a hard time simply because I laughed at his question. I would just like to have my name as the owner of the firearm sort of for the same reason I want a deed from the bank when I pay off my house. Simple peace of mind. Can I go to my usual FFL, pay the usual $25, let him make his usual call to SLED, and be the recognized owner of the gun? I understand that it's not required for me to do so but, if I wanted to go through the trouble, how would I go about it?

 

[XD40scinNC]

No, he ran the serial number because he believed you were in possession of a stolen gun, withOUT probable cause. I would consider any LEO running the serial# of my gun as an illegal search.

OBTW, when you filled out the 4473 form when you purchased the firearm, that is NOT registering the firearm, but a record of purchase. That paperwork is probably still sitting in a filing cabinet at the gun store you purchased it from, and has never been entered in any database searchable by any government agency.

A couple of states do require you to register your guns, but they are no where near SC.

 

[bofh]

A serial number check of a firearm by a LEO at a traffic stop is a search. You do have rights, you know. You can refuse such searches. Know your rights and know the laws. Don't lie to LEOs and exercise your rights.

Flex Your Rights | The CORRECT Way to Handle a Traffic Stop

Why do you think you need proof of ownership for your firearm? There is no such requirement. Not only that, there is no proof of ownership that can be verified by a LEO at a traffic stop. Once again, there is no firearms registry. A serial number check crosschecks a firearm against a list of serial numbers of reported stolen firearms. A typical proof of ownership document is a bill of sale and it would be used if there are disputes between parties about ownership.

FFLs process transfers between parties. The gun is already yours through inheritance, so there is no transfer.

 

[phoenixcrash]

Okay. Thanks for the info guys. Just a question I had that Google couldn't answer.

 

[Waffles]

SC has no "Weapons Registry" or anything like that. Weapons purchased ANYWHERE in the US are not required to be registered in SC. No such thing. What you got is yours and no one cares (unless its stolen).

 

[Reba]

As a Lowcountry resident, I agree with those above who posted that SC doesn't have a required gun registry.

If you would feel better to have some documentation of ownership, get a notarized copy of the will. You can also insure your guns on your homeowners' policy and they will include your guns' serial numbers there. You should keep a copy of your serial numbers written down in a safe place anyway in case they're stolen.

I reread your first post and noticed that you said, "I live in SC, own several registered firearms." Since there is no gun registry in SC, I'm not sure what you mean by "registered." Did you buy them in other states that required registration? Or are you referring to the normal firearms purchasing process that you thought included registration?

 

[hgk1979]

The Troopers will possibly run the serial numbers to insure the weapon is not stolen. To my understanding, when you purchase a weapon in this state, the form you complete for your background check stays with the seller and is kept into infinity. It does not go to the Feds or to SLED.

 

[Reba]

I agree with hgk1979.