1980s American Cars, Guns, Gadgets and Consumer Goods [Atmosphere, look, minutiae]

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

The firearms retailer keeps the paperwork and does not forward it to state, county, or city authorities. I think the police would need a warrant before they could look into the retailer's records - it's certainly not anything that the cops can do routinely.

Sales taxes from firearms are going to be paid on a monthly or quarterly basis based on the aggregate sales. So the state might know that Gloria's Guns sold $150,000 worth of merchandise in January, but probably doesn't even know the mix of pistols, shotguns, and rifles, much less the individual number of pistols sold or who they were sold to.

11a) But if the firearm ever turns up as evidence at a crime scene or ballistics evidence matches a firearm in possession of someone with evidence of a crime, they can find out who originally bought it?

If someone had gotten a Concealed Carry Permit in Maine in 1985-1988 (or earlier), would the State Police, Sheriff's Office or local Police Department have any information on what kind of firearm(s) that person owned at the time?

What about hunting licences? Did you have to show anyone or generate any paperwork for a gun legal on the type of animal in question when you applied for a licence to take deer, elk or bear?