26 U.S.C. § 5842
Section 5842 · Identification of firearms
This is § 201 of the Gun Control Act of 1968
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 38 court decisions — leading case United States v. Casamento (1989)
Most recently applied in 140 Nev. Adv. Op. No. 30 - Sisolak v. Polymer80, Inc. (April 2024)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Each manufacturer and importer and anyone making a firearm shall identify each firearm, other than a destructive device, manufactured, imported, or made by a serial number which may not be readily removed, obliterated, or altered, the name of the manufacturer, importer, or maker, and such other identification as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe.
Any person who possesses a firearm, other than a destructive device, which does not bear the serial number and other information required by subsection (a) of this section shall identify the firearm with a serial number assigned by the Secretary and any other information the Secretary may by regulations prescribe.
Any firearm classified as a destructive device shall be identified in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Prior Provisions
A prior section 5842, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 725, related to books, records, and returns, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in prior section 5843, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 725, as amended by act Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title II, §203(e), 72 Stat. 1427, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
Amendments
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.