Voluntary Registration

[Maxsplat]

I didn't see a thread on this so I have to ask.

In the past 5 months I've purchased 2 firearms. 1 shotgun and 1 pistol(won it on gunbroker end of march). Each time I filled out all of my paperwork I noticed at the bottom the maryland paperwork where you sign it stated "Purchaser/voluntary Registrant" or something to that effect. Has anyone else noticed this? Thoughts?

I may incorrect with it showing up on the shotgun form though.

 

[Biggfoot44]

For decades the MSP has offered the oppertunity to *volentary register* your firearm. To date this is not required , and involves a similar level of desireability to * volentary hitting your head with a large hammer * .

 

[Maxsplat]

Thanks Biggfoot. I agree with you about registering them. I disagree with it on so many levels. I think what I'm saying is I felt like if I didn't sign the paperwork I wouldn't get my firearm. I'll have to dig out my paperwork and see if I can find a way to post a better explaination.

 

[Mr H]

We now know--thanks to a slipup by Brian Frosh (that he was made to stand by)--that all "regulated" purchases in MD are indeed "registered" (possibly in violation of Federal law, but that's for others to determine for certain).

From the start, if my math is correct, the term "voluntary" related to exactly 2 things...

1 - choosing to register anything other than a 'regulated' purchase from any period in time, and

2 - deciding to purchase a regulated firearm in MD... it WAS your choice, after all....

 

[Maxsplat]

We now know--thanks to a slipup by Brian Frosh (that he was made to stand by)--that all "regulated" purchases in MD are indeed "registered" (possibly in violation of Federal law, but that's for others to determine for certain).

From the start, if my math is correct, the term "voluntary" related to exactly 2 things...

1 - choosing to register anything other than a 'regulated' purchase from any period in time, and

2 - deciding to purchase a regulated firearm in MD... it WAS your choice, after all....

Frosh make me so fraking angry I am however happy he slipped up. Hopefully something good will come of that.

I think, and may be wrong, but the only law i know of in regards to firearm registration is at the federal level. I don't know of one that affects states.

And your math is correct as long as mine is. Thats why I posted the question. I felt like I was forced to register the hand gun and I think I had to do that same for my Mossberg. Pissed me off to no end for both. I'm going to find my shotgun paperowrk and see what it says. I'll also make a trip to my FFL and see what they have for the handgun.

 

[Threeband]

The same form 77r is used for two separate purposes.

Of course it's used when the gun is being transferred, as from a seller to a buyer.
A record of the transfer goes into a Database of Transfers. That Database keeps growing, and serves to register most but not all regulated weapons.

If you move to Maryland and already own handguns, you are offered the privilege of Voluntarily entering your guns into the Database. You may do the same with Grampaw's old Luger, the one he personally captured from Rommel himself. To save paper, the same form is used for this second purpose.

In the second case, there's no change of ownership, so it's not a Record of Transfer. They have to call it something, so they call it a Voluntary Registration.





Of course, O'Malley has been gloating about the Database for years:

O'MALLEY: WE MAP THE LOCATION OF GUN OWNERS AND CCW HOLDERS HOMES!


And the new law removes the "Voluntary" part for new residents. That's only for new residents. You still don't have to "register" Rommel's Luger, though if you lived here before 10/1/13.

 

[CanaryWolf]

@threeband I am moving to Md. From Tx. this month. Is registration for me - an owner who is not transferring ownership - still voluntary?

 

[dblas]

@threeband I am moving to Md. From Tx. this month. Is registration for me - an owner who is not transferring ownership - still voluntary?

If you are planning on becoming a resident, then you have 90 days to register your handguns, and any long gun the was considered regulated, but is now considered banned.

 

[CanaryWolf]

@dblas "but is now considered banned." - the guns or the law?

 

[MikeTF]

@threeband I am moving to Md. From Tx. this month. Is registration for me - an owner who is not transferring ownership - still voluntary?

I am very sorry to hear about your move with regard to gun ownership. I'm a former long time MD resident. I now live in VA. It has taken me about a year to realize how restrictive and ridiculous MD gun laws are. Keep in mind I left MD because of the new gun laws and other silly laws that were passed. I never plan on moving back to MD even though my friends and family lives there.

When I visit, I follow all laws.

Now that I've been gone for a while, I often wonder if these laws are even enforced?

 

[CanaryWolf]

This is still online: can anyone comment? https://www.mdsp.org/Organization/S...ation/Registration/VoluntaryRegistration.aspx

 

[Threeband]

"Voluntary Registration" is still optional for residents who already possess legal handguns (and I suppose now-banned long guns) which were never previously entered into the Database.

That could be Grampaw's old Luger, the one he captured "from Rommel hisself." It might be a handgun a Maryland resident bought in a legal face-to-face/no paperwork sale before 1996. Perhaps someone moved here from Texas back in 2010 and now wants to get his handguns "on the books" to clarify their legality or ownership. Perhaps he got a Maryland Carry Permit and wants to carry that "unregistered" H&K P7 he bought in Houston back in '87.

In all those cases, "registration" would still be "voluntary", so it makes sense to retain that language, I suppose. Remember, the confusion comes from using the same form 77r for two separate purposes.

Under the new False Security Act of 2013, new residents are now required to "register" any gun considered "regulated" under the old law. "Regulated" was/is a term peculiar to Maryland. It meant all handguns, plus any long gun specifically on the List. Now it also includes so-called "Copycats" (another Maryland-peculiar term).

I'll let someone else tell you about our peculiar List, and other peculiarities. Must go now.

 

[JVP409]

It's funny you mention grand pa's pistol. I actually had that exact scenario. I was given one of my deceased grandfathers pistols about 15 years after his death. Because of the age, the fact that I had moved from PA between the death and taking possession and multiple other factors, I had questions about what I had to do to be legal. I got multiple answers here, at the licensing division and the MSP barracks. To be on the safe side so I never had an issue and more importantly never lost this pistol I did voluntarily register this pistol.

 

[Boom Boom]

@dblas "but is now considered banned." - the guns or the law?

The guns. Firearms Safety Act of 2013 (FSA 2013, formerly SB281) banned a bunch of "evil" long guns, including the M1A, and created the Handgun Qualification License (HQL). If you owned the banned long guns prior to 10/1/13, you can bring them here as long as you register them with MD State Police within 90 days. For clarity, since you're moving here from out of state, registration is mandatory. There's an ongoing lawsuit against FSA 2013:
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=148158
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=159961
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=164337

 

[Applehd]

I did voluntarily register this pistol.

...andand...
...just my .02...

 

[Boom Boom]

It's funny you mention grand pa's pistol. I actually had that exact scenario. I was given one of my deceased grandfathers pistols about 15 years after his death. Because of the age, the fact that I had moved from PA between the death and taking possession and multiple other factors, I had questions about what I had to do to be legal. I got multiple answers here, at the licensing division and the MSP barracks. To be on the safe side so I never had an issue and more importantly never lost this pistol I did voluntarily register this pistol.

Don't sweat it. In a situation like that with "residents of different states" complicating things, you're best off doing what you did.

There are people who would risk a felony arrest instead. Never be that guy.

 

[JVP409]

I would rather endure your multiple emoticons , than risk losing my grandfathers pistol. I know some have strong feelings on this but I'm not in the tinfoil hat.... They are coming to get us camp. Just my personal decision.

 

[Alphabrew]

...andand...
...just my .02...

If he was under 21 in 1996 he may have had no legal choice (assuming his grandfather gave him the gun in 1996 of course).

 

[Applehd]

If he was under 21 in 1996 he may have had no legal choice (assuming his grandfather gave him the gun in 1996 of course).

I took the post at face value. HIS age... if that is his reference... yes ... I get it now. I might have consulted an attorney... as I HAVE done in the past. The bash on the head is more for the legal hoops supplied to us by the State of Maryland than to for OPs melon... I just hate to see "Registration" of anything. And I'm not suggesting you/he be that guy.. To each... his own.

 

[dblas]

@dblas "but is now considered banned." - the guns or the law?

The long guns that used to be regulated, but are now banned. If they were purchased prior to Oct 1, 2013, they can still be brought into the state. If you intend to become a permanent resident, they must be registered along with handguns.