“Not for private sales.”
Oh really? So you can probably have a private sale of a gun that’s never been registered (that would be mostly long guns and shotguns), but once a gun has been registered ( that would be nearly all fairly new handguns), transferring it outside the required process in most states is a felony.
Since you are from California, I think you may be confusing California firearms laws; which are very restrictive w/regard to all firearms, with the overall condition of the various other state firearms laws.
For instance, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the only firearms required to be registered are those covered under the National Firearms Act or similar Federal legislation (i.e.: fully automatic weapons, short barreled rifles and shotguns, etc.) In general, rifles, shotguns, and pistols/revolvers are not required to be registered in Virginia. (There was a requirement to register a pistol/revolver licensed for concealed carry under the now defunct “show cause” statute that was in effect prior to the current “shall issue” statute.)