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checking for stolen guns??

lindalecowboylindalecowboy Member Posts: 1,909 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited November 2007 in General Discussion
I just suffered a very scary experience I hope I never have again but need some advice. I inherited a gun from a deceased father-in-law in 1992 and when I tried to trade it recently, the FFL discovered that it was reported stolen in 1987. Thankfully the local PD has taken my statements and other proof my of ignorance/innocence and will not file charges. Here's my question, how do you check out serial numbers of potential purchases without tying yourself to a potentially incriminating gun? I don't want to buy a stolen gun and realize most dealers are careful to do it right but is there a method to checkout a serial number other than calling the local PD?
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Comments

  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    I think calling your local PD is the only option. Florida is the only state I know of that has an online check of firearm serial numbers.
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  • dongizmodongizmo Member Posts: 14,477 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How did the FFL determine it was stolen?
    Who ended up with the firearm?
    Don
    The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
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  • lindalecowboylindalecowboy Member Posts: 1,909 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The FFL I went to was actually an officer from another town and when I traded with him, he ran the pistol with another PD and it came back stolen. The PD he checked it out with has confiscated the weapon, contacted the original owner who still had the box it came in and could easily recite the serial number to verify his ownership. It will be shipped to it's rightful owner some 20 years after it was stolen. I'm ok with all that, I haven't lost anything THIS TIME but just trying to learn the best method to purchase and "legally" own a firearm. I have a carry license and want to make absolutely certain any firearm I'm carrying and could potentially be called upon to use is LEGAL to the uttermost.

    thanks
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  • givettegivette Member Posts: 10,886 ✭
    edited November -1
    Bhale: givette here. Is that FL online site restricted to thefts that occur within the state? (I'd love to see all stolen firearms appear on a public-accessible website). It may increase recoveries.

    PS..pls post the link to the website you are refering to. Thanks, Joe
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    The florida site is for guns stolen in florida only. here's the link
    http://www3.fdle.state.fl.us/fdle/guns_search.asp
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  • iwannausernameiwannausername Member Posts: 7,131
    edited November -1
    On top of that, either someone found my AR15 and never reported it back to me, or they purge items from that DB...
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  • capguncapgun Member Posts: 1,848 ✭
    edited November -1
    There are stolen guns addded everyday to the NCIC national data base, and they stay there forever. I have receipts for all my guns, but at gun shows I see private parties buying and selling with no paperwork (legal in my state). They have no idea the risk they are taking. In my state gun shops do not have to check used guns coming in, so even a gun you buy at a gun shop could be reported stolen.
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by capgun
    There are stolen guns addded everyday to the NCIC national data base, and they stay there forever.
    As previously stated, they don't stay there forever. The entry has to be renewed, and if the entering agency fails to do so it gets removed.
    Also when the victim dies the entering agency has to allow the entry to expire due to inability to confirm it is still un-recovered. The only exception to that is a next-of-kin being readily available for contact.
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  • capguncapgun Member Posts: 1,848 ✭
    edited November -1
    What I meant was the stolen guns stay in the system until they are recovered and removed. They are not purged over time.
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by capgun
    What I meant was the stolen guns stay in the system until they are recovered and removed. They are not purged over time.

    But they ARE purged automatically, unless the agency that initially entered them into NCIC re-enters them semi-annually.
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  • capguncapgun Member Posts: 1,848 ✭
    edited November -1
    I just went to an NCIC update course and was told they stay in until removed, only vehicles are purged. I don't know who would be doing all that updating, not any agency I have worked for. The man hours to do it would be prohibitive.
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  • LostfantumLostfantum Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I believe that the reporting agency has to resubmit it every year as to whether or not it was recovered.At least that is what happened with the revolver that I had stolen from my home several years ago.
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  • lindalecowboylindalecowboy Member Posts: 1,909 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't pretend to KNOW how it works but all I can say is this revolver was stolen in 1987 and it was still in the system today........ who, what, when, etc., ??? but it was there after 20 years missing in action.
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,492 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I hope it was in the same condition when the owner receives it.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Be interesting to know about the FIL's life of crime. Stolen gun sold to x who sold it to x, who sold it to the FIL maybe? Would be an intersting story.
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by capgun
    I don't know who would be doing all that updating, not any agency I have worked for. The man hours to do it would be prohibitive.

    That's what a records division is for, if the agency is too small to have a records division they aren't going to have enough stolen guns that it would cut into man hours.

    I'm looking for the last re-entry form I got. I'll post it as soon as I can find one.
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  • Daddie_TomDaddie_Tom Member Posts: 824 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I may be wrong, but I thought most stolen guns have serial numbers removed...
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  • lindalecowboylindalecowboy Member Posts: 1,909 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not trying to sound like an expert, I'm certainly not, but I would not say "most" stolen guns have the serial removed, only those going into the Saturday Night Special category. It's easier to sell a gun WITH a serial number to a larger audience.

    I didn't buy this gun, I inherited it from a deceased family member(from natural causes) and didn't shoot it or use it, just kept it locked away for the last 15 years and then when I decided to get rid of a couple of wheel guns and get an auto loader, discovered it was reported stolen. Even as a gift, I wouldn't take a gun with a serial number filed off so I believe there are still plenty of stolen guns floating around out there WITH serial numbers in tact, until someone uses it or tries to exchange it. I just wished there was a web site or process for checking out a serial number without tying it to my name so I could check before making a private owner purchase and then discovering it's tainted past the hard way.
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  • bama55bama55 Member Posts: 6,389 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/is/ncic.htm

    D. Gun file:
    a. Unrecovered weapons will be retained in file for an indefinite period until action is taken by the originating agency to clear the record.
    b. Weapons entered in file as "recovered" weapons
    will remain in file for the balance of the year entered plus 2.
    (Job No. NC1-65-82-4, Part E. 13 h.(3))

    Updated January 18, 2006
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    I found that re-entry sheet, it was for LEADS, not NCIC.
    Capgun, sorry, you were right, I was wrong....... [B)]
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