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U.S. Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Office of Enforcement Programs and Services

Safety and Security for

Firearm Owners

Taking Home a Gun?. . .

 . . . Take Responsibility.

Unload it, Lock it, Store it.

U.S. Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

99 New York Avenue, N.E.

Washington, DC 20226

www.atf.gov

ATF Publication 5300.22 

April 2016

Selling a Personal Firearm

In States or localities where the personal sale of a 

firearm is not regulated, ATF recommends that you 

check some form of purchaser identification and that 

you record the information, along with the date, place 

of sale, and firearm description, in your own records. 

Also, we encourage you to utilize the services of a 

federally licensed firearms dealer to facilitate the 

transaction. For additional information, see ATF P 

5300.21, Best Practices: Transfers of Firearms by 

Private Sellers.

Persons Prohibited from Possessing 

Firearms 

l Persons convicted of a crime punishable by more

than one year in prison;

l Fugitives from justice;

l Users of illegal drugs or persons addicted to such;

l Persons adjudicated mentally ill or incompetent

and persons committed to a mental institution;

l Persons dishonorably discharged from military;

l Illegal aliens and nonimmigrant aliens (some

exceptions);

l Persons who have renounced their U.S. citizenship;

l Persons under a qualifying order of protection; and,

l Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of

domestic violence.

Purchasing a gun for someone who is prohibited by law 

from possessing one, or for someone who does not 

want his or her name associated with the transaction, 

is a Federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in 

prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This crime is called 

a “straw purchase.”

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By completing this record and maintaining it in a safe 

location, separate from your firearm, you will be not 

only protecting your own property, you will be taking an 

important first step in the effort to prevent thefts and to 

keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.

This is a personal record only. The information will not 

be collected or maintained by ATF or any other federal 

government agency. 

Firearm Handling and Storage

l Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.

l Always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed 

in a safe direction.

l Always keep your finger off the trigger and 

outside the trigger guard unless you intend to 

fire the weapon.

l Unload each firearm before storing. Keep 

ammunition locked in a secure location 

away from the firearm. If you do store your 

firearm loaded, use trigger or cable locks or

other commercially available locking

mechanisms on your firearm and/or keep your

firearm locked in a secure location accessible

to responsible adults only. 

l Keep keys to the gun cabinet or gun locks, 

as well as the keys to ammunition storage, 

in separate locations and out of children’s

reach.

Familiarize yourself with and obey all Federal, State, 

and local laws regarding the purchase, possession, 

carrying, use, storage, and disposition/sale of firearms. 

Visit https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/publicationslibrary (Search Title “State Law”) for information on 

State Laws and Published Ordinances.

If Children are in the Home

l Use trigger or cable locks on your firearm and/ 

or keep your firearm locked in a secure location 

accessible to adults only. 

l Teach your children about firearm safety. Talk to 

your children about the hazards of improper firearm 

use. Teach them never to touch or play with a 

firearm and to tell an adult if they find a firearm. 

l Check with neighbors, friends, relatives, or adults 

in any other homes where your children may visit 

to ensure they follow safe storage practices for any 

firearm in their home. 

Persons at Risk

A firearm should always be stored and handled 

with care. Firearm safety is especially important in 

households where persons may be suffering from a 

mental health condition, which might affect personal 

judgment or that may place a person at risk for injuries 

to themselves or others. While having a mental health 

condition does not in itself indicate that a problem 

might arise involving a firearm, it is wise to ensure that 

appropriate measures are in place for the safety of all 

persons in the home.

The following suggestions are provided to help you 

assess the possible need for additional firearm security 

in your home:

l Consult a licensed physician, or mental health 

expert, if you or a household member are suffering 

from a mental health condition which could affect 

personal judgment or which may increase the risk 

for personal injuries;

l Educate yourself by visiting a mental health 

website (e.g., the American Psychiatric Association 

and the American Psychological Association) to 

review the signs of depression, and similar 

conditions;

l If at all possible, take steps to deny access to your 

firearm by people who may be at risk:

a Make sure all lock keys are accounted for and 

 move them to a secure location unknown to the 

 person at risk;

a Make sure that all ammunition is stored and 

 locked separately from any firearms; and

a If you yourself are at risk, consider asking 

 a responsible and knowledgeable person to take 

 temporary control of your keys or firearm.

Educate yourself about domestic violence resources 

(e.g., the National Domestic Violence Hotline) and 

how you can help yourself, a friend or family member 

who is being abused. While all persons suffering from 

domestic abuseor caring for someone who may be 

in an abusive situationshould seek help, if there is an 

incident of domestic abuse and a firearm is present in 

the home, it is especially important to seek help and 

inform local law enforcement if and when you can do so 

safely. 

Firearm Safety

The purpose of firearm safety is to eliminate or 

minimize the risks of unintentional damage, injury 

or death caused by improper possession, storage, 

or handling of a firearm. Firearm owners should 

handle the firearm safely and protect themselves 

and the public from the theft, loss or misuse 

of their firearm. The following suggestions for 

safety and security are recommendations only.

However, please be aware that there may be 

State or local laws pertaining to the possession or 

storage of a firearm.

Using a Personal Firearms Record and 

Reporting Firearm Thefts 

Upon discovery of any theft or loss of your firearm, you 

should call your local law enforcement agency to report 

the theft or loss.

A complete description of each firearm is vitally 

important to law enforcement in the investigation 

and recovery of your firearm. Insurance claims and 

reacquisition of a recovered firearm will also hinge on 

the ability to correctly identify your firearm.

Use the fillable ATF Publication 3312.8, Personal 

Firearms Record to record personal firearm information 

and to accurately report this information to law 

enforcement in the event of a theft or loss of your 

firearm.