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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: TAB on April 28, 2015, 09:09:56 PM

Title: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on April 28, 2015, 09:09:56 PM
Any one know of a way to check and see if a gun is stolen. Outside of a leo/ atf check?

A family memeber has a few fire arms of questionable origin,  as the executor of their estate. I would like to check before I sell them to some one.  I don't want to have to deal with giving a refund etc etc

Ps I would never sell firearms, but the benefactor is want the money versus the guns.  they do not interest me at all and I am NOT in financial place to purchase them at this time.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: Big Frank on April 28, 2015, 10:16:39 PM
This may help to ease your mind but I don't know how well it works. http://www.hotgunz.com/
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 07:47:37 AM
TAB,

Do you have reason to believe that the guns are stolen or otherwise illegal?  Is there a registry that the guns must go through on sale or transfer?

If the answer to #1 is yes:  Don't have anything to do with it.
If the answer to #2 is no:  Don't worry about it, and have the owner provide you with a Bill of Sale you can use for the sale.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: tombogan03884 on April 29, 2015, 08:28:33 AM
M58, reread TABs post, the owner is dead, he's not providing anything. ;D
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 12:19:37 PM
The executor of the estate is the current owner of record of the property.  They are responsible for transferring all titles, deeds, proof of ownership, etc.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on April 29, 2015, 02:39:54 PM
If its face to face no, if its interstate yes.

I would not feel good about selling someone stolen property.  The deceased, was how to put it lightly,  a scumbag.

I doubt any of them were bought at a dealer.  They were the kind of person with connections to the criminal element.

Nothing of any real value,  maybe a couple grand. 

I may just head to the pd station with make model s#  and paperwork.  Worst case is . Have to turn them over,  iI just did not want to invite leo to my house.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 03:32:35 PM
Based on your response TAB, I would just stay out of it.  Walk away, and let the executor find someone else.  No reason for you to take the risk if you are uncomfortable, and no reason for you to open a can of worms for others if you don't get involved.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: Timothy on April 29, 2015, 05:00:48 PM
I believe he said he IS the executor, M58!

I'd hand them in if they're questionable..
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 06:14:41 PM
I need to remember that not only can TAB not spell, but he has no idea how to use punctuation.

Let's just go back to basics:

1.  This is the free United States;
2.  Someone legally holds these firearms as executor of an estate;
3.  Keep it simple - Pay $25 for a table at a gun show, or go to a local gun shop;
4.  Sell them to people who are willing to complete a 4473 and let you verify their identification;
5.  Put the cash minus expenses in the estate, and sleep easy.

Pretend you never lived in California, and exercise your protected Rights!
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on April 29, 2015, 06:45:02 PM
I can't walk away, I made a promise to someone before she died.  My word is my bond. 

M58 I do not want people to have to deal with this at a later date, that is not fair to them.   That being said, I don't want to hand them over to le.    Every thing else is handled money wise, just waiting on probate. 
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 07:04:09 PM
So what is the question?  Just sell them and be done with it (I refer you to my most recent reply).  As far as your word being your bond:  If you have questions concerning the legality, that is an out that does not break your word.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on April 29, 2015, 10:06:25 PM
What I don't want is me to sell you a gun, ship it off too your ffl and have it come up stolen.  I don't want or need that headache right now.  Between fundraising, consulting and  dealing with this its lucky I have any hair.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 10:13:01 PM
If you are that concerned you need to take my other advise:  Explain to the family that you feel you cannot ethically represent these firearms as legal, so you will not handle the transactions.  This is not a breach of your word, because it is based on the belief that the firearms are illegal.

By the way, why are you dealing with shipping the firearms?  The quickest way to LEGALLY sell arms is a table at a local gun show.  Get a table, ask people to complete the form (for your records only), and verify their information against their ID.  Done deal!
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on April 29, 2015, 10:20:56 PM
I honestly don't have time.  Gun broker is a way I can sell them while I am traveling for work.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: MikeBjerum on April 29, 2015, 10:25:13 PM
If you don't have time to sell them, why don't you just sell them to a dealer and be done with it.  A package deal at wholesale price, which isn't that much of a ding, and it is over in a couple hours max. 
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: Big Frank on April 29, 2015, 10:33:01 PM
M58 you must have read my mind. I was just going to suggest he take them all to a dealer and get what he can for them. That's what I would do.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: tombogan03884 on April 30, 2015, 06:02:40 AM
TAB, just ignore all the preceding BS and use the link in the first reply. That proves you did due diligence and if by any chance a stolen gun slips through your check the statute of limitations renders the fact irrelevant.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on May 08, 2015, 07:47:08 PM
well I found a solution, a buddy in LEO ran them for me...  guess what?


ALL STOLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!( some times I hate being right)


after speaking with a probate lawyer, the best solution is to take all the paper work and the fire arms to the local pd station and turn them in.    I was told by said lawyer that the likely hood of the ATF crawling up my but is very low, as the documentation I have from the court system should end any investigation. he also said this comes up from time to time.  the best part is I can bill his hour to the estate.   ;D

sad part is I am sure they will just be destroyed and not returned to the rightful owner.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: DanPatWork on May 09, 2015, 06:36:31 AM
Just curious,  do any of those show up on the previously mentioned website? This would be the only opportunity I know of to use one to check the other, and show how effective the website is.
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: tombogan03884 on May 09, 2015, 06:57:01 AM
Just curious,  do any of those show up on the previously mentioned website? This would be the only opportunity I know of to use one to check the other, and show how effective the website is.

Great minds work alike.
TAB, What's the verdict ?
Title: Re: stolen gun check.
Post by: TAB on May 09, 2015, 07:33:42 AM
Didn't show any, but you have to add your gun to the list.  When I was running the values I check when they were made all of them were in the 70s or earlier.  So they could have been stolen 40 years ago.