# SDMB: Where we battle the war against ignorance.... as long as it's not important **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 30, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598 "2002-11-30T04:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/1 "2002-11-30T04:03:14Z")
Over [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147000) our friend **TV time** is in a pretty big kosher dill and is looking for answers. The right answers. Wants to find out what the right thing to do is. I post to him, and find out that the thread is closed because of what lawyers for the paper might think. About what? About somebody looking for how to legally take care of this situation? About how anybody else might be able to legally take care of a similar situation? Yes there were some dumbass answers in there, meant to be humorous, but could result in disaster. But who cares? Let’s leave TV Time hanging in the wind over a touchy subject because of _image_. Let’s close the thread so we can pretend that it never happened so we can get to REALLY important knowledge like recipe exchanges, car repair, best band names, metallurgy, and how to clean jewelry. Yeah, I’m real fucking impressed to be a part of this board right now. **TV time** your email isn’t listed so if you see this, send me an email please. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/2 "2002-11-30T04:13:08Z")
Oh for fuck’s sake! No, they’re afraid they could be in trouble with the fucking LAW. No discussions of possible ILLEGAL activities? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/3 "2002-11-30T04:20:55Z")
I’m frankly surprised it wasn’t closed earlier. Discussion of illegal activities, including federal offenses, is verboten on this board. Having a sawed-off shotgun definitely qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/4 "2002-11-30T04:25:17Z")
This is not about someone wanting to know how to engage in illegal activities. This is about someone who unwittingly did and was wanting to correct it. What has been posted is already there. It is on record. Is that how this place works? Once someone has done something illegal they are cast aside, even though they want to know how to do what is right? ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/5 "2002-11-30T04:27:19Z")
How many threads are there about how to get out of a traffic violation, or other misdemeanor that go on for eternity? It’s not about the law or how to get around it. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/6 "2002-11-30T04:30:50Z")
Actually, it looked like **TV time** , did get some suggestions on what he could do. Some legal, some not. He wasn’t left hanging. I think it has been policy on this board to close threads that have topics that may leas to illegal activity. I know there have been threads asking about how to beat urine test, that have been closed. This doesn’t seem to be any different. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/7 "2002-11-30T04:38:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*This is not about someone wanting to know how to engage in illegal activities. This is about someone who unwittingly did and was wanting to correct it. \*\* From the OP of the closed thread: > [@](#): > > Anyway, so now I have a sawed-off shotgun. So what do I do with it? I know it is illegal (snip) From what I read, he was in a poker game, the other guy ran out of $$, and the OP agreed to accept the SASG in lieu of cash. (his reasoning was something about how he’d prefer some one loosing at poker to be unarmed). but I certainly didn’t get that it was an “unwitting” acquisition. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/8 "2002-11-30T04:47:57Z")
And the points so far? He has an illegal weapon and wants to know what to do with it. He’s not trying to beat the system. He’s not asking how to do illegal things. He wants to know what to do. Semantics aside, he wants to do what is what is right. Why is this a bad question? ---
**Author:** ![Witch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Witch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Witch)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/9 "2002-11-30T05:02:28Z")
Well, probably what is _right_ is to bring it directly to the nearest law enforement agency. Actually TV Time wants to know how to get rid of it without getting in trouble. Which is exactly what I’d do in the same situation. I can see why the thread got closed. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/10 "2002-11-30T05:02:57Z")
well, it seems to me that you portrayed the situation in an erroneous manner. It wasn’t an ‘innocent mistake’. He knowingly acquired something illegal then came here and wondered what to do with it. My advice in general would be “don’t acquire things that you know to be illegal to possess”. And he kept insisting that he ‘didn’t want to be out the $50’. (in response to things suggesting that he destroy the item). So, he aquires something he knows to be illegal, comes here and posts “what should I do w/it?” and to the suggestions that he should simply destroy/dispose of it, he responds “I don’t want to be out the $$”. Gee. perhaps he was looking for some way to recoup his investiment into an illegal item. You still want to question the closing? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/11 "2002-11-30T05:17:13Z")
I dunno, Turbo. I’m all about fighting ignorance too, but what was being discussed in that thread was a bit more serious than a traffic violation. I’m surprised the thread wasn’t deleted, not just locked. And I’m surprised the OP didn’t receive a warning of some sort. You had people in that thread advocating throwing it in a lake, in somebody’s yard, filing off the serial numbers, etc. - obviously the thread was a prime candidate for closure/deletion. I’m glad I know a bit more about gun disposal, though - might come in handy someday. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/12 "2002-11-30T05:35:33Z")
Seems **TV time** mentioned closing it himself > [@](#): > > I hate to give any more information. I kind of feel that I am causing you guys to become accessories or something (Mods, if you feel this is the case you might close this down). He knew it was iffy. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/13 "2002-11-30T05:57:26Z")
It wasn’t unwittingly. Read the OP of that thread again. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/14 "2002-11-30T09:28:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*And the points so far? He has an illegal weapon and wants to know what to do with it. He’s not trying to beat the system. He’s not asking how to do illegal things. He wants to know what to do. Semantics aside, he wants to do what is what is right. Why is this a bad question? \*\* Because he got the answers already. There were 2. 1. Turn it in to the cops. 2. Anonomously turn it in to the cops. Those are his only legal options. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/15 "2002-11-30T15:06:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*From the OP of the closed thread: > > From what I read, he was in a poker game, the other guy ran out of $$, and the OP agreed to accept the SASG in lieu of cash. (his reasoning was something about how he’d prefer some one loosing at poker to be unarmed). > > but I certainly didn’t get that it was an “unwitting” acquisition. \*\* I did. Imagine the following scenario: “Hey guys, I’m out of cash, but I got an old shotgun. Say it’s worth $50 since it’s kinda beat-up. Any takers?” Followed by “Well, let’s see this shotgun I won. Hey. Look at the barrel: 12”???! FUCK! I’m a felon!" He knew he was getting a shotgun: perfectly legal. We don’t know if he knew it was sawed-off before he won it. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/16 "2002-11-30T15:11:03Z")
Good god. Could the rules be any clearer? Don’t ask for advice on how to break the law, and don’t give advice on how to break the law. And while bitching about those two rules is permissible, it is pretty damn whiny. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/17 "2002-11-30T15:28:46Z")
Once again, he’s not asking how he can break a law. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/18 "2002-11-30T15:31:26Z")
He knew it was a sawed off when he accepted it. But many, if not most, police departments will be happy to take it off his hands no questions asked. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/19 "2002-11-30T15:41:07Z")
Monty, true. Personally, though, I’d be worried about _which_ police department to turn it into: Denver cops are notorious assholes about firearms and while the vast majority of police departments would just accept it, unasked, imagine the grief you could get were the cops inclined to give you trouble. Were I **TVTime** , I’d take it down to the Colorado Springs police department. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598/20 "2002-11-30T15:52:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Good god. Could the rules be any clearer? Don’t ask for advice on how to break the law, and don’t give advice on how to break the law. He was asking for advice on how to _comply_ with the law. That’s different from asking for advice on how to break it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-where-we-battle-the-war-against-ignorance-as-long-as-its-not-important/139598.md?page=2)