Can you just throw it away? Do you have to take it to a gun shop? Are there any laws out there that one must follow?
Thanks,
SFP
Probably depends where you are. Go to the police station and ask them. Don’t take the gun with you, tell them you’ve got one and want to dispose of it.
I will take it off your hands for you!! Where are you?
Microwave it on high for about 60-70 minutes 
If it is not totally useless, a gunsmith can probably use it for parts, and handle any legallities that need to be handled.
eBay, baby!
Just kidding. Contact the local police. You might be able to trade it in for toys or something. At the very least, they’ll take it off your hands. Before doing that, though, do some research on the off-chance your gun is valuable or something. Local dealers might be interested.
Is it a handgun, rifle, or shotgun? Has it been modified, home made, or full auto? Registered or unregistered?
There are different state and federal laws for different types of guns - check out the NRA website.
It’s a hand gun. And it is a piece of crap. (it has a plastic handle for crying out loud). I’m not even sure it works any more.
A friend gave it to me a looooooong time ago when we were plunking beer cans. I forgot all about it and recently stumbled on it.
I may just bend the barrel in a vice and toss it. Can I do that?
How do you dispose of a gun?
Two word: East River
By the time the thing sinks to the bottom it’ll be so corroded from the chemicals it will be a usless piece of slagg:D
another thing to think about, if the gun is yours, and always has been, the police would be the best route to go. If not, and you’re not certian of the weapons’ origin, it would be best to dismantle it, and bring it, in pieces, to a local firearms dealer.
OR, if you’re sure the weapon has been used in some kind of illicit activities, still dismantle it, and throw it out, in several foreign trash containers, miles from your particular area, stopping to toss the most important parts (after the serial number has been filed off, and the parts acid etched to get rid of the fingerprints) into a large, moving body of water.
If nothing else, sell it to me.
If the barrel unscrews, or is detachable in any way, wrecking the barrel will not stop the gun from functioning. Lots of places have buyback events where the police take in unwanted guns, no questions asked, and give you $50 besides.
If you legally own the gun, and it was never used in a crime, you can turn it in to a police station.
If you dont legally own/possess the gun, if you are in violation of current law in your state, or if it might have been used in a crime in the past, then you should see a lawyer.
What is wrong with taking the unwanted firearm to a local gun dealer, and accepting their offer, along with completion of appropriate BATF forms?
I’m at a loss to understand why people want to create some sort of forensic detectives special out of this simple query.
Receiving ownership of a firearm should be handled identically to disposal of a firearm: legally, along with appropriate paperwork.
Because we dont know his situation. He may be, may likely be, in violation of the law right now just by possessing it, not having it registered, etc. not knowing the state he lives in. Also, we dont know if this gun was used in a crime.
Lots of police and prosectors dont like people who illegally own, possess, and transport illegal guns, even if the gun was never used in a crime.
It may also be possible that transporting that gun may be illegal in his state. If he was stopped with an illegal gun in his car, he could be in even more trouble.
If you think the cops would just laugh it off if they caught him with it, then you dont know about the 20,000 gun laws that we now have.
Okay, given additional information about the unknown origins of the gun, I have to side with Susanann on this and be cautious about involving law enforcement.
I’d recommend just quietly destroying it. Take the gun completely apart, break or bend any pieces possible, buy a cheap bucket and a small bag of plaster, pour the plaster into the bucket along with the gun parts and water, let it set, toss plaster-entombed gun parts out with the trash, never speak of it again.
Whoa whoa whoa… “plastic handles” do not necessarily make a gun a piece of crap. One of my handguns is a Ruger P95, a 9mm with a polymer frame (read: “plastic handle”). That’s a major selling point for lightness and therefore carriability.
While I’m not too fond of them, all Glock handguns have polymer frames, and are prized by many for that feature.
Your gun may, in fact, be a piece of crap. But don’t blame it on the material of the frame.
Well, the OP should check. If “NO DEPOSIT, NO RETURN” is stamped into the plastic handle of his particular gun, I’d say the “crap” assessment is fair.
If it was used in a crime, this is called destroying evidence, just take it to a pawn shop, get a few bucks for it.
Out of curiosity, what brand is it?
In Washington State, there is a form to fill out for disposition or transfer of a handgun, but turning in the form is voluntary.
I agree with the posters who advise caution. If you do not know the full history of the gun, would you rather be caught trying to follow proper disposal (or selling) procedures and claim innocence, or would you rather be caught trying to hide evidence and immediately be a suspect?
FISH
Wait for one of those “turn in a gun” days and they give you something for it.
Speaking from the standpoint of PA law only: § 6111 PA Crimes Code refers to transferall of ownership from gun dealer to private citizen, between private citizens, and between family members.
§ 6106 refers to conditions under which a firearm may be transported without a permit, included being (8) which covers persons transporting handguns to or from their place of business, point of purchase for said firearm, and to or from a place of repair for firearms.
I stand by my previous statement: call a local dealer, make arrangement for sale, and effect completion of appropriate BATF forms. Knowing I’d committed no illegal action with the firearm, I’ve nothing to fear.