Is it true...

JCOJR · December 10, 2001, 02:37 PM

.... that if I send my handgun to have night sights installed, that it will be registered with the Feds? I 've heard different opinions on this. Thanks--JCO

Fatcat · December 10, 2001, 07:25 PM

No, never heard anything like this.

Jim Watson · December 10, 2001, 07:39 PM

As I understand it:

A gunsmith has to have a FFL to ship and receive guns.
A FFL holder has to log guns in and out in his "bound book."
The feds can inspect his "bound book."

Registered? A matter of definition, it doesn't go into a central file, but you are on record in that shop as owning that gun.

C.R.Sam · December 10, 2001, 08:13 PM

Doesn't go into a central file untill the Feds visit the smith and copy the info from his bound book and 4473 forms. That is not legal but they are doin it anyway.

Sam

George Stringer · December 11, 2001, 10:54 AM

I've never heard of the ATF copying anyone's files unless they are looking for info on a specific person. Or unless the smith was involved in illegal activity. In 27 years I've never had them come in and copy my bound book. I have been asked to provide one copy of a 4473 on a guy who was turned down for a handgun back when the 5 day Brady wait was going on. And you are not on record as necessarily owning a handgun but merely as the person who brought it in for repair or whatever. If you're that concerned about having it "on record" you either have to fix it yourself or use it for a paperweight. George

JCOJR · December 11, 2001, 11:48 AM

That's what I thought. You all are thinking the same way I am. Technically, it's not registered, but later if they want to find people they can. I guess I'm getting paranoid!

Thanks All! JCO

LIProgun · December 12, 2001, 10:01 AM

I think we've lost "sight" of the original question.

Since it asked about "night sights" in particular, I assume the confusion may be caused by the fact that (IIRC) companies that handle tritium (a radioactive substance) and make night sights are regulated by the feds. Note that those who simply install night sights made by others do not need to be licensed.

So, tritium handlers are registered, but guns with tritium sights are not necessarily registered with the feds.

James K · December 12, 2001, 01:42 PM

Hi, George,

When BATF decides that "too many" guns sold by a single store have been "subject to tracing" or "associated with a crime" (press quotes), they have been wholesale copying the store's "bound book". There was a suit filed in the Baltimore area recently on this, and the store lost, though they will appeal. As of now, it looks like BATF has taken blanket authority to copy dealer's books and then check the names out; effectively this is registration, which the law never authorized.

Again, we have a case where "give 'em an inch and they will take 100,000 miles" with a federal bureacracy. Of course, they will define "too many" as anything they want.

Jim

WESHOOT2 · December 13, 2001, 06:31 AM

Please remember that YOU take your gun to UPS and ship it 'for repair' to the night-sight installer; no gun shop or BATF involved.

Insure your gun.

GrandmasterB · December 13, 2001, 03:54 PM

No. If you want to have night sights installed, then just send your slide. You don't need to send the whole gun. There are no serial #'s on most slides (serail #'s are on frames), so even if this were true, how could they register anything since you are just sending a slide?

JCOJR · December 13, 2001, 05:21 PM

I'd rather be lucky than good. All I did was UPS the slides

JCO

December 10, 2001, 02:37 PM	#1
JCOJR Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2001 Location: Tennessee Posts: 142	Is it true... .... that if I send my handgun to have night sights installed, that it will be registered with the Feds? I 've heard different opinions on this. Thanks--JCO __________________ "There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. " -James Madison, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 16, 1788 "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.....those who torment us, for our own good, will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis

December 10, 2001, 07:25 PM	#2
Fatcat Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2000 Location: Rockaway Beach, OR Posts: 376	No, never heard anything like this. __________________ Patrick J. Sullivan :: [email protected] "When I whet my flashing sword, and my hand takes hold in judgement, I will take vengeance upon mine enemies, and I will repay those who haze me."

December 11, 2001, 11:48 AM	#6
JCOJR Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2001 Location: Tennessee Posts: 142	That's what I thought. You all are thinking the same way I am. Technically, it's not registered, but later if they want to find people they can. I guess I'm getting paranoid! Thanks All! JCO __________________ "There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. " -James Madison, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 16, 1788 "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.....those who torment us, for our own good, will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis

December 12, 2001, 10:01 AM	#7
LIProgun Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2000 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 489	I think we've lost "sight" of the original question. Since it asked about "night sights" in particular, I assume the confusion may be caused by the fact that (IIRC) companies that handle tritium (a radioactive substance) and make night sights are regulated by the feds. Note that those who simply install night sights made by others do not need to be licensed. So, tritium handlers are registered, but guns with tritium sights are not necessarily registered with the feds. __________________ MOLON LABE. - Leonidas of Sparta, 480 B.C.

December 13, 2001, 06:31 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	WHOA NELLY Please remember that YOU take your gun to UPS and ship it 'for repair' to the night-sight installer; no gun shop or BATF involved. Insure your gun. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 10, 2001, 07:39 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	As I understand it: A gunsmith has to have a FFL to ship and receive guns. A FFL holder has to log guns in and out in his "bound book." The feds can inspect his "bound book." Registered? A matter of definition, it doesn't go into a central file, but you are on record in that shop as owning that gun.

December 10, 2001, 08:13 PM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Doesn't go into a central file untill the Feds visit the smith and copy the info from his bound book and 4473 forms. That is not legal but they are doin it anyway. Sam

December 11, 2001, 10:54 AM	#5
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	I've never heard of the ATF copying anyone's files unless they are looking for info on a specific person. Or unless the smith was involved in illegal activity. In 27 years I've never had them come in and copy my bound book. I have been asked to provide one copy of a 4473 on a guy who was turned down for a handgun back when the 5 day Brady wait was going on. And you are not on record as necessarily owning a handgun but merely as the person who brought it in for repair or whatever. If you're that concerned about having it "on record" you either have to fix it yourself or use it for a paperweight. George

December 12, 2001, 01:42 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, George, When BATF decides that "too many" guns sold by a single store have been "subject to tracing" or "associated with a crime" (press quotes), they have been wholesale copying the store's "bound book". There was a suit filed in the Baltimore area recently on this, and the store lost, though they will appeal. As of now, it looks like BATF has taken blanket authority to copy dealer's books and then check the names out; effectively this is registration, which the law never authorized. Again, we have a case where "give 'em an inch and they will take 100,000 miles" with a federal bureacracy. Of course, they will define "too many" as anything they want. Jim

December 13, 2001, 03:54 PM	#10
GrandmasterB Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2000 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 205	Just send the slide... No. If you want to have night sights installed, then just send your slide. You don't need to send the whole gun. There are no serial #'s on most slides (serail #'s are on frames), so even if this were true, how could they register anything since you are just sending a slide?

December 13, 2001, 05:21 PM	#11
JCOJR Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2001 Location: Tennessee Posts: 142	I'd rather be lucky than good. All I did was UPS the slides JCO __________________ "There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. " -James Madison, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 16, 1788 "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.....those who torment us, for our own good, will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis