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New gun owners and long-time gun owners alike, are calling in and asking whether or not they must register their firearms.

Purchasing a Firearm

There is no gun registration requirement in Florida, or under federal law, and the Coronavirus has not changed this fact.

Therefore, if you purchase a firearm from a federally licensed dealer, or in a private transaction, you are not required to do anything under the law.

However, we recommend you make a record of all transactions. Whenever you purchase a new firearm, keep the receipt. Make sure you write down the make, model, and serial number of the firearm. Keep this information in a safe location. We also recommend taking pictures of the firearm—including a close up of the serial number—with your cell phone.

If you are purchasing a firearm from an individual, create a bill of sale that includes:

  • the buyer’s and seller’s names;
  • driver’s license states and numbers;
  • make, model, and serial number of the firearm;
  • the buyer’s and seller’s signatures; and
  • the date of the purchase.

For additional protection, you can also request the seller to provide you with an affidavit stating the firearm was not stolen or ever used in a crime. That way, if you ever decide to trade it, pawn it, or sell it at a gun store, and the gun comes back as having been lost, stolen, or used in a crime, you have a record of when you took possession of the firearm and who sold it to you.

Selling a Firearm

We also recommend you create a bill of sale if you sell a firearm in a private sale. Again, this will provide you with protection if the police ever come knocking, asking you about the firearms involvement in a crime after you no longer possess it. Although there is no requirement to register a firearm with the government in Florida, and no mandatory paperwork required by law, we recommend you follow the steps above to protect yourself by creating a paper trail for your records.

If you have any further questions regarding firearm law in Florida, please call U.S. LawShield and ask to speak to your Independent Program Attorney.