US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

26 U.S.C. § 5841

Registration of firearms

(a)

Central registry

The Secretary shall maintain a central registry of all firearms in the United States which are not in the possession or under the control of the United States. This registry shall be known as the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The registry shall include—
(1)
identification of the firearm;
(2)
date of registration; and
(3)
identification and address of person entitled to possession of the firearm.
(b)

By whom registered

Each manufacturer, importer, and maker shall register each firearm he manufactures, imports, or makes. Each firearm transferred shall be registered to the transferee by the transferor.

(c)

How registered

Each manufacturer shall notify the Secretary of the manufacture of a firearm in such manner as may by regulations be prescribed and such notification shall effect the registration of the firearm required by this section. Each importer, maker, and transferor of a firearm shall, prior to importing, making, or transferring a firearm, obtain authorization in such manner as required by this chapter or regulations issued thereunder to import, make, or transfer the firearm, and such authorization shall effect the registration of the firearm required by this section.

(d)

Firearms registered on effective date of this Act

1

1 So in original. See References in Text notes below.
A person shown as possessing a firearm by the records maintained by the Secretary pursuant to the National Firearms Act in force on the day immediately prior to the effective date of the National Firearms Act of 1968  shall be considered to have registered under this section the firearms in his possession which are disclosed by that record as being in his possession.

(e)

Proof of registration

A person possessing a firearm registered as required by this section shall retain proof of registration which shall be made available to the Secretary upon request.

Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 20182 Stat. 1229Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A)90 Stat. 1834(Added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 721The National Firearms Act in force prior to the effective date of the National Firearms Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (d), probably means the National Firearms Act in force prior to the effective date of the National Firearms Act Amendments of 1968, which is , , and which was classified generally to prior chapter 53 (prior § 5801 et seq.) of this title.

section 207(a) of Pub. L. 90–618section 5801 of this titleThe effective date of this Act and the effective date of the National Firearms Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (d) catchline and text, probably means the effective date of the National Firearms Act Amendments of 1968, which is . See , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Prior Provisions

act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 725Pub. L. 90–618A prior section 5841, , , consisted of provisions similar to those comprising this section, prior to the general revision of this chapter by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 94–4551976—Subsecs. (a), (c) to (e). struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 207 of Pub. L. 90–618section 5801 of this titleSection effective on first day of first month following October 1968, see , set out as a note under .