Reporting a Stolen Gun

At a Glance: A federal firearms licensee who has a firearm stolen or lost from inventory must report the theft to the ATF Stolen Firearms Program Manager and to local law enforcement within 48 hours of discovery. The initial report is made by phone to 1-888-930-9275, followed by ATF Form 3310.11 (Federal Firearms Licensee Theft/Loss Report). Under 27 CFR § 478.39a and 18 U.S.C. § 923(g)(6), the 48-hour clock starts at discovery, not at the time of the underlying theft or loss.

How to Report a Stolen Gun

To report a stolen gun as an FFL, call the ATF Stolen Firearms Program Manager at 1-888-930-9275 and file a police report with your local police department or sheriff’s department within 48 hours of discovering the theft or loss. Complete ATF Form 3310.11 with the firearm’s serial number, make, model, and caliber, then submit it to the ATF Stolen Firearms Program. Private citizens report a stolen firearm through their local law enforcement agency.

Steps to Report a Stolen Gun as an FFL

Federal firearms licensees have a responsibility to maintain the security of their firearms inventory. If a stolen firearm is used in a crime, the FFL’s federal firearms license may be at risk. Follow these steps within the 48-hour reporting window:

1. Report to local law enforcement: Call your local police department, sheriff’s department, or non-emergency line to file a police report. Provide the serial number, make, model, caliber, and any known suspect information. Request an incident number or permanent case number for your records.
2. Contact the ATF: Call the ATF Stolen Firearms Program Manager at 1-888-930-9275. After business hours, leave a message, and your call will be returned the next business day. You can also email your report to stolenfirearmsprogrammanager@atf.gov.
3. Complete ATF Form 3310.11: Fill out the Federal Firearms Licensee Theft/Loss Report with all missing firearms, serial numbers, and the incident number provided by local law enforcement. Use ATF Form 3310.11A as the continuation sheet when the number of stolen firearms exceeds the space in Section B.
4. Reflect the loss in your A&D records: Under 27 CFR § 478.39a, licensees must reflect the theft or loss as a disposition entry in the Record of Acquisition and Disposition no later than 7 days after discovery. Note the ATF-issued incident number and the local law enforcement report number.
5. Retain and distribute the report: Keep a copy at your business premises as part of your permanent records. Forward a copy to the ATF Stolen Firearms Program. For firearms stolen or lost in interstate shipment, use ATF Form 3310.6 instead of Form 3310.11.
6. Report recovery if the firearm is found: If a firearm reported as stolen or lost is later located, notify the ATF Stolen Firearms Program and re-enter the firearm as a new acquisition in your A&D records. The original disposition entry stays intact.

Following ATF Regulations

Failure to report a stolen firearm within 48 hours can result in civil penalties, additional inspection scrutiny, or revocation of the FFL. Federal law requires timely reporting to prevent stolen firearms from entering the illegal market, being used in gun trafficking, or ending up in the hands of a straw purchaser or prohibited person.

To maintain compliance, FFLs should:

• Establish clear procedures for reporting firearm theft or loss to local law enforcement and the ATF.
• Train employees to recognize signs of firearm theft, inventory shrinkage, and record-keeping discrepancies.
• Maintain detailed records of every firearm in inventory, including serial number, make, model, and caliber.

State-Specific Stolen Gun Reporting

Federal law sets the 48-hour FFL reporting baseline. State law adds separate requirements for private citizens, and some states impose tighter timelines for licensees.

States that require private citizens to report a lost or stolen firearm:

• California: Within 5 days of discovery under Cal. Penal Code § 25250.
• Colorado: Within 5 days of discovery under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-113 (Isabella Joy Thallas Act).
• Connecticut: Within 72 hours of discovery under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202g.
• Delaware: Within 7 days of discovery under 11 Del. Code § 1461.
• District of Columbia: Immediately upon discovery under D.C. Code § 7-2502.08.
• Hawaii: Within 24 hours of discovery under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-29.
• Illinois: Within 48 hours of discovery under 720 ILCS 5/24-4.1 (effective January 1, 2026).
• Maryland: Within 72 hours of discovery under Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-146 (handguns and certain assault weapons only).
• Massachusetts: Reporting required under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 121B and Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024.
• Michigan: Within 5 days of discovery under Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.430 (theft only, not loss).
• New Jersey: Within 36 hours of discovery under N.J. Stat. § 2C:58-19.
• New York: Within 24 hours of discovery under N.Y. Penal Law § 400.10.
• Ohio: Report “forthwith” under Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20(A)(5). Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and several other Ohio cities have enacted additional local ordinances.
• Oregon: Within 72 hours of discovery under Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.397.
• Rhode Island: Within 24 hours of discovery under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-48.1.
• Virginia: Reporting required under Va. Code § 18.2-287.5.
• Washington: Within 24 hours of discovery under RCW § 9.41.368.

States without a statewide reporting mandate:

• Georgia, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Arizona, and Indiana do not appear on current lists of states requiring private firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms. Reporting to local law enforcement is still recommended and supports recovery through NCIC.

Reporting a Stolen Gun for Non-FFLs

The ATF does not accept stolen firearm reports from private citizens. Individuals must report a stolen gun through local law enforcement. If you do not have the serial number recorded:

• Contact the firearms dealer where you purchased the firearm. Any licensed firearms dealer is required to maintain acquisition and disposition records with each firearm’s serial number.
• If the dealer is no longer in business, your local police department may request a Records Search Request through the ATF National Tracing Center, contingent on the case being part of a bona fide criminal investigation.
• If your state operates a firearms registration office (such as Hawaii or D.C.), contact them for records assistance.

Providing full details, including the serial number, make, model, caliber, and any physical evidence, helps law enforcement recover stolen firearms and reduce gun trafficking.

NCIC Stolen Gun Search and FBI Coordination

When law enforcement recovers a stolen firearm, the agency runs the serial number through the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC). NCIC cross-references the firearm against theft and loss reports entered by agencies nationwide. This is separate from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which handles background checks for firearm purchases. FFLs and licensed firearm dealers can check a firearm’s stolen status through FastBound’s NCIC Stolen Gun Search before completing an acquisition.

Why FastBound

FastBound gives federal firearms licensees the compliance platform to prevent, document, and recover from firearm theft and loss.

FastBound provides:

• NCIC Stolen Gun Search integrated into your acquisition workflow
• Fully ATF-compliant Electronic A&D Bound Book with serial number tracking
• Multi-state NICS background check integration
• Automated multi-sale reporting for ATF Form 3310.4
• Audit Trail documentation for every acquisition and disposition
• Legal defense through FFLGuard

For additional information on reporting stolen firearms, visit the ATF’s website or contact FastBound to learn how our software supports compliance with federal reporting requirements.

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