Why do gun owners resist reporting a lost or stolen gun?

[UltraVires]

@FordFan

If the theft is not reported, how does anyone know it happened?

Come on man, keep up with the discussion

Let’s say that you live in PA, kill your wife, and dump her body in a local reservoir.

The PA State Police have a record that you bought a .357 magnum revolver two years ago, and they know that your wife was killed by a .357 round.

They get a warrant and ask you for your .357 so they can compare the rifling. You don’t have it because you (lie) and say it was stolen last month.

But, you didn’t report it! D’oh! :smack: So, if nothing else, they can let you rot in jail for that while trying to pin the murder on you.

It’s sneaky and wrong, and a violation of your 2nd and 5th amendment rights, but it works…

[DrDeth]

@jtgain

Penn. registers every handgun sale through the state police. My guess is that if your wife was found shot dead with a 9mm round and according to the database, you were the last purchaser of a 9mm pistol. Cops get a warrant and ask to see it. You reply: It was stolen/I lost it last month.

Blam. You didn’t report it, off to jail you go.

Without the law: They probably know you are lying, but how can they prove it? You get off scot free

I hate how the law could potentially trap a law abiding citizen: I mean, a gun owner would be foolish NOT to report his gun lost/stolen especially if he purchased the gun new. They will trace that gun to you even if your state doesn’t register guns

Let’s say you did not kill your wife and did not realize the gun had been stolen. So now, besides losing your wife, you get a prison term. :dubious:

Sounds like another way to turn non-criminals into criminals.

[Si_Amigo]

Or perhaps your wifes boyfriend stole your gun last week and killed her with it yesterday. Lots of ways that your lost gun does not add up to a murder. Ever hear of reasonable doubt.

I’ve had guns stored at my parents house for years while I was away in school and traveling on business. Who knows which cousin “borrowed” my 20 gauge pump and forgot to return it. I stopped asking and sure as hell didn’t bother with a police report.

[Moirai]

I do not currently own a gun. The only gun I might come into possession of is my dad’s .357 Magnum. It has never been registered- it was purchased from or through my former uncle, a CA highway patrol officer.

Can anyone tell me what happens (generally) when someone registers a non-new handgun? Do you get a big :dubious: or are you in trouble?

[UltraVires]

@EJsGirl

I do not currently own a gun. The only gun I might come into possession of is my dad’s .357 Magnum. It has never been registered- it was purchased from or through my former uncle, a CA highway patrol officer.

Can anyone tell me what happens (generally) when someone registers a non-new handgun? Do you get a big :dubious: or are you in trouble?

I see you are in Cali…you don’t need to register your .357 mag revolver. Who told you that it was required?

If you take it to anyone they will either laugh at you or tell you it isn’t needed.

Registration is from Law and Order on NBC on Friday Nights on location in NYC…

Check your local laws before soiling pants… :smack:

[Airman_Doors_USAF]

@EJsGirl

I do not currently own a gun. The only gun I might come into possession of is my dad’s .357 Magnum. It has never been registered- it was purchased from or through my former uncle, a CA highway patrol officer.

Can anyone tell me what happens (generally) when someone registers a non-new handgun? Do you get a big :dubious: or are you in trouble?

Why would you register it if you don’t have to? If you don’t have to it would be enough to annotate the serial number, make, model, caliber and finish so that if it ever does go missing you can describe it in minute detail.

[Una_Persson]

@EJsGirl

I do not currently own a gun. The only gun I might come into possession of is my dad’s .357 Magnum. It has never been registered- it was purchased from or through my former uncle, a CA highway patrol officer.

Can anyone tell me what happens (generally) when someone registers a non-new handgun? Do you get a big :dubious: or are you in trouble?

You are not required to register a normal handgun in California:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php

How do I know if my firearms need to be registered?

There is no firearm registration requirement in California except for assault weapon owners and personal handgun importers. However, you may submit a Firearm Ownership Record to the DOJ for any firearm you own. Having a Firearm Ownership Record on file with the DOJ may help in the return of your firearm if it is lost or stolen. With very few and specific exceptions, all firearm transactions must be conducted through a firearms dealer.

You can voluntarily give all your information to the State if you feel compelled to do so.

Note as well there may (as in, I’m not certain) be restrictions on private party transfers in California. I know there are if you want to sell or buy, I’m uncertain about inheritance.

[danceswithcats]

This borders on IMO, answer-wise, but as a gun owner, I would call to report any firearm purchased new which was stolen from me, simply to make the authorities aware of the situation and minimize potential liability.
Ed Rendell is trying to make the best of a bad situation. Philly is a mess, in part thanks to John Street. The errors of previous administrations and police commissioners are well beyond the scope of this thread. I wish Frank Rizzo was still around.

[FordFan]

@jtgain

Come on man, keep up with the discussion

…

Seriously- If gun thefts only become statistics after a murder, how can anyone possibly know often guns get stolen?

[DrDeth]

@Una Persson

You are not required to register a normal handgun in California:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php
You can voluntarily give all your information to the State if you feel compelled to do so.

Note as well there may (as in, I’m not certain) be restrictions on private party transfers in California. I know there are if you want to sell or buy, I’m uncertain about inheritance.

But for most intents and purposes, when you buy a gun from a dealer in CA, it is recorded in a way that is very little different from “registration”. But yes, you do not need to register a gun owned from before that period, or otherwise procured legally.