Firearms are instruments of liberty and life. Throughout history, they have long served our Founding Fathers in their pursuit of freedom and the preservation of life. But due to its recent portrayal as instruments of death and destruction, they’re now strictly controlled and regulated by government agencies such as the ATF. Today, firearms are required to be registered, and their sales tracked. A Gun Bill of Sale is a document used to track the sale of firearms and the number of those legally owned.
What Is a Gun Bill of Sale?
A Gun Bill of Sale is a Bill of Sale used to track the sale of firearms. This bill of sale provides personal information about the seller and the buyer, location of the sale, and the type, caliber, model, and the serial number of the firearm sold. A Gun Bill of Sale is also used as a way to keep track of the number of legally owned firearms.
Gun Bill of Sale Form Samples
A Gun Bill of Sale is an essential sales record needed in the private sale of firearms. It is also proof of the legal transfer of ownership of a gun. Below is a list of Free Gun Bill of Sale Form Samples that you can immediately use and print after downloading.
Fillable Gun Bill of Sale Form Template
Sample Gun Bill of Sale Form
Gun Bill of Sale Form Template
Gun Bill of Sale Form Sample
Gun Bill of Sale Form Fillable Template
Fillable Gun Bill of Sale Form
Uses of a Gun Bill of Sale
Americans own firearms for a variety of reasons. These reasons would range from hunting, sports shooting, and home protection. Surveys show that 3 in 10 American adults currently own a gun. The majority of those gun owners live in rural areas where guns are necessary for protecting flocks or herd livestock from predators, protecting crops from pests, and hunting for game during open season. People living in the cities, on the other hand, own firearms for personal and home protection.
Firearms, first and foremost, are dangerous when mishandled. That is why guns are strictly regulated and controlled by government agencies like the ATF or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Legal sales of firearms require a Gun Bill of Sale to be executed during the sale. For those people who wish to purchase and own a gun, below are the reasons why they need to oblige the seller to execute a Gun Bill of Sale.
1. It’s a Legal Sales Document used in Tracking Sales and Ownership of Firearms.
Government agencies responsible for the regulation of firearms need a documentary record of sales to track the distribution of such regulated items. A Gun Bill of Sale is a sales document used to track the distribution and sales of firearms by way of its serial number etched on the receiver (the part which contains the firing mechanism). This sales document also ensures the legality of the ownership of the gun.
2. It’s a Documentary Requirement for Gun Registration.
Firearm registration is an essential step to owning a gun legally. Failure to do so will result in criminal liability for illegal possession of firearms. A Gun Bill of Sale proves the legality of the purchase of the gun and, at the same time, ensures that it’s not involved in any criminal activity.
How to Execute a Gun Bill of Sale
The Second Amendment of the Constitution guarantees an American’s right to bear and possess arms. However, there are certain limits concerning the ownership and sale of guns. A Gun Bill of Sale ensures the legality of the sale and purchase of the firearm, thus making the gun eligible for registration and ownership. Listed below are the steps on how to execute a Gun Bill of Sale.
Step 1. Comply with your State’s Gun Laws
Before planning to sell a firearm to anyone, you must first make sure that you’re complying with your state’s gun laws. Gun laws vary from state-to-state. And most of them explicitly limit the sale to individuals who are legally allowed to purchase and own a firearm. In most cases, the law will not allow the sale of weapons without a license to sell. Doing the contrary makes you criminally liable, and you may face imprisonment.
Step 2. Sell your Gun only to a Fellow Responsible Gun Owner
Do not sell a gun to those who are not educated on how to use it safely. A firearm is, first and foremost, a very dangerous tool capable of taking lives if mishandled. Selling a gun to a responsible and licensed gun owner ensures that the gun will not be used in any criminal activity.
Step 3. Write a Bill of Sale
The most important thing to do in legally selling a firearm is to write a bill of sale. A bill of sale is essential in selling movable property such as Motor Vehicles. Download one of our Gun Bill of Sale Form Samples listed above to avoid the hassle of making one from scratch or finding a template somewhere else.
Step 4. Sign the Disclosure Statement
Signing the disclosure statement certifies that both the seller and the buyer are legally allowed to sell and purchase firearms. A Disclosure Statement is a statement that states the terms, conditions, benefits, and risks during the transaction. Signing the disclosure also signifies the finality of the deal, more specifically in the sale of firearms.
Step 5. Have it Notarized
After writing a Gun Bill of Sale and signing the Disclosure Statement, the last step in making the sale of the firearm legal is to notarize the bill of sale. In notarizing the bill of sale, you must visit a notary public, have the bill of sale stamped with a notary seal, and pay the notary fee. Doing so furthers the legality of the sale and enables you to use it as evidence in court should the gun be stolen and used in a crime.
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