If you need proof of residence to buy guns or ammo....
- Thread starter natman
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Obturation
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In Illinois a FOID card is required, so no out of towners or residence without a card can buy ammo. They don't issue cards to nonresidents
MedWheeler
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If you showed up in your car, you should also have a state-issued driver's license with you. Some, if not all, states won't let you register a vehicle if you don't have one.
CapnMac
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Each of the States is unique in this. Texas does not require the registration to be in the vehicle--the paid-for licensing registration sticker on the windshield is considered enough.
However the point is well enough taken, as a Texas registration renewal carries more than enough identifying information.
However the point is well enough taken, as a Texas registration renewal carries more than enough identifying information.
It's probably more accurate to say that the TX vehicle registration (for non-commercial vehicles) IS the sticker. You are correct; for TX non-commercial vehicles, there's no need to carry any additional paperwork in the vehicle if the sticker is in place.
herrwalther
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I bought many firearms when I was out of my home state attending college. Student ID was one form of in state ID. I also had a cell phone bill that was delivered to the campus. I didn't get a driver's license or car for years after. When I bought my very first firearm, I walked to the gun store from my girlfriend's house. Still have that first handgun. The girl is long gone.
ColtPythonElite
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If all you have is a car registration, how do you prove who you are?
I should have been more explicit. In SOME states, like California, a normal drivers license sometimes isn't enough. For some transactions proof of residency. is required as well. Not everyone carries a recent utility bill, but your vehicle registration is usually in your car and its presence is often forgotten.
MedWheeler
Member
^^ Does California not put addresses on driver's licenses?
People who have recently moved may not have their DL address updated yet. Also, you are not allowed to have two DLs, so people who have a residence in more than one state must be able to demonstrate that they are actually a resident before buying a handgun even though their DL may show an address in a different state.
Theohazard
Member
A utility bill can only be used as proof of residency if the utility company is government-run.
Well, no, not exactly. In Arkansas, a utility bill is accepted as proof of address (residency) by the DMV for issuing a REAL ID version of the drivers license, and it is accepted by the library system as proof of address (residency) within the service area of the library system. The bill does not have to be from a government-operated utility. Residency is about where you live, and depending on context, may or may not relate to requirements or privileges with regard to citizenship or other legal issues, such as purchase of ammunition or handguns.
Your experience in Pennsylvania may be different, and the basis for your comment.
Of course they do. But if you want to buy a handgun, for example, that's not enough. They want proof of current residency as well. And you have to pass a test and pay for a license also.
Perhaps where you live, but in California:
https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/dlrfaqs#14G
What documentation is acceptable proof of residency for handgun purchasers?
- Utility bill from within the past three months that bears on its face the individual's name and either of the following:
- The individual's current residential address as declared on the DROS form; or
- The individual's residential address as it appears on his or her California Driver License or California Identification Card, or change of address attachment thereto.
"Utility bill" means a statement of charges for providing service to the individual's residence by either a physical connection (i.e., hard wired Internet, telephone connection or cable connection, or a water or gas pipeline connection) or a telemetric connection (i.e., satellite television or radio broadcast service) to a non-mobile, fixed antenna reception device.
Theohazard
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No, that still applies in CA. I was referring to federal ATF regulations. All gun dealers — even ones in CA — have to follow federal regulations. This is from the back pages of the 4473:
“Question 18.b. Supplemental Documentation: Licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the law. The required valid government-issued photo identification document bearing the name, photograph, and date of birth of transferee/buyer may be supplemented by another valid, government-issued document showing the transferee's/buyer's residence address. This supplemental documentation should be recorded in question 18.b., with the issuing authority and type of identification presented. For example, if the transferee/buyer has two States of residence and is trying to buy a handgun in State X, he may provide a driver's license (showing his name, date of birth, and photograph) issued by State Y and another government-issued document (such as a tax document) from State X showing his residence address. A valid electronic document from a government website may be used as supplemental documentation provided it contains the transferee's/buyer's name and current residence address.”
A utility bill from a private utility company wouldn’t qualify. Is it possible that all utility companies in CA are government-run, so this discussion is moot?
Theohazard
Member
I was referring to federal ATF regulations, so my comment in post #11 qualifies at every FFL in the US. You can’t use a private utility company bill as proof of residency when buying a firearm from any FFL, including in Arkansas.
Your DMV example is a state issue and is an entirely different thing; it that has nothing to do with federal firearms regulations. See my post above.
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Good catch. The quote in my post is from the office of the CA Attorney General, but it appears to be wrong. No, not all the utilities in CA are government run.
Theohazard
Member
Maybe it’s not wrong, but maybe it’s just used in a different content beyond the federal regulations I was referring to. One thing I seem to have seen mentioned a few times by CA residents is that you need an additional proof of residency in CA to buy a firearm besides just your photo ID. Is that true?
Under federal regulations, if you have a valid government-issued photo ID with your current address on it — such as a drivers license — then that satisfies both the ID and the proof of residence requirements to buy a firearm. The only time you’d need to supply an additional government-issued document as your proof of residence is if your photo ID had an old, invalid address on it. Is it possible that even if your photo ID has your current address on it and therefore satisfies the federal regulations, CA state law requires an additional proof of residence? In that case, CA can make whatever rules they want when it comes to the validity of that extra proof of residence since federal requirements have already been met.
rodregier
Member
It may not be legal, but some folks have US state DL and vehicle registration pointing at a PO box.
Theohazard
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You’re right, it’s not. The ATF says you can’t use a PO box as your residence. That makes sense because it’s hard to live in a PO box
.
whughett
Member
I’m a little confused by this thread, a normal state of affairs these days. Are we talking ID in general. ID as related to gun purchases, Ammo purchases. Some states don’t require residency as a requirement for Ammo, firearms I don’t know about. RI does for guns not for Ammo, Massachusetts does for both. Residency may not mean full time voters type residency just property owner ship. As a Florida resident that also resides owns and occupies a house in Rhode Island I can but a gun in Rhode Island by submitting a property tax bill or utility bill.
Several of my current credit cards have a photo of me on them. Legal ID, I don’t know.
Would suspect, in this country at least, if one has a gun one has a drivers license, that has the Federal Mandated red star.
Several of my current credit cards have a photo of me on them. Legal ID, I don’t know.
Would suspect, in this country at least, if one has a gun one has a drivers license, that has the Federal Mandated red star.
FlSwampRat
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whughett
Member
Only those in Rhode Island that renewed in the last year, I believe. I held a Rhode Island license for some 40 odd years Florida the last 15. Florida has issued the fed approved for a number of years. My current is from 2012.
On all State Drivers Licenses a gold star (or a bear for California) means that the DL is a REAL ID, and can be used for ID to board commercial airlines. Some states use a black star, and some a black in red star. To issue a REAL ID license, the state DMV has to go through more stringent identity verification processes (more documents) as specified by Department of Homeland Security and TSA.
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There is no Federal requirement to register gun owners and if you have a red star on a DL. it has nothing to do with firearms.
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