A gun registry is a government record of firearms and their owners. Not all jurisdictions require gun registration.
United States
In the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, there is currently no national gun registry, but some states, such as Hawaii, have provided the federal government with information on gun owners. At the federal level, legislation has been introduced to criminalize creation of a gun registry.
Australia
Under
gun laws of Australia
Gun laws in Australia are predominantly within the jurisdiction of Australian states and territories, with the importation of guns regulated by the federal government. In the last two decades of the 20th century, following several high-profile ki ...
, a person is required to have a
firearm licence
A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions).
The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes ...
to possess or use a firearm. Licence holders must demonstrate a "genuine reason" (which does not include self-defence) for holding a firearm licence
and must not be a "prohibited person". All firearms must be registered by
serial number
A serial number is a unique identifier assigned incrementally or sequentially to an item, to ''uniquely'' identify it.
Serial numbers need not be strictly numerical. They may contain letters and other typographical symbols, or may consist enti ...
to the owner, who must also hold a firearms licence.
See also
*
Canadian Firearms Registry
References
Firearm terminology
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