Serial numbers in pictures

[mike415stone]

Ok here is my question. Should I block serial number in pictures of weapons I list for sale or not.

I understand it can be a privacy issue but is there any info that the average nit-wit is going to get from the serial number being shown.

Thanks for input

[Sapperforward]

tagged

[laurelpark]

I think it may be a bad idea to put a serial number out there, but I'm very privacy conscious. There are lookup tools out there where people could theoretically get personal information, but the bigger threat is some a-hole that decides to go into some site like hotgunz and list your gun as stolen. I've never heard of that happening, but just think about the pain in the butt it would be to undo that.

Better to be safe than sorry.

[dozer wright]

I think it may be a bad idea to put a serial number out there, but I'm very privacy conscious. There are lookup tools out there where people could theoretically get personal information, but the bigger threat is some a-hole that decides to go into some site like hotgunz and list your gun as stolen. I've never heard of that happening, but just think about the pain in the butt it would be to undo that.

Better to be safe than sorry.

This

Better to be safe than sorry.

[mike415stone]

I think it may be a bad idea to put a serial number out there, but I'm very privacy conscious. There are lookup tools out there where people could theoretically get personal information, but the bigger threat is some a-hole that decides to go into some site like hotgunz and list your gun as stolen. I've never heard of that happening, but just think about the pain in the butt it would be to undo that.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Dang, never heard of that site

[Wes C Addle]

I've purchased a few rifles and sold a few on here and other sites and never even asked the seller for the SN. I always blur the SN on pictures I send out, you never know who's on the other end.

[The Gleam]

I used to be of the crowd that did not see the harm in sharing serial numbers or posting them in pics, because it was good for C&R history or often interesting facts, in the same way Ferrari owners have voluntary VIN/chassis registries to share collector/rarity information about their cars, verify authenticity, track sales and auctions of specific specimen, and verify production numbers.

That was up until just a few years ago.

• But as information-sharing has became more detailed and interconnected,
• as some real dicks in society did things like exposing CCW holders and gun owners by name in local newspapers or on websites,
• as examples of people like Anonymous, Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and talented others that have proven they can grasp what is thought highly-protected and share that publicly (their motives being different, but what about someone who may be wholly Anti-2nd Amendment?)
• as cities like Los Angeles have its "purchaser letters" attempt to intimidate by tapping into the DROS, as CA DROS now includes long-gun serial numbers,
• as assmunches on Armslist started stealing photos from across the internet to create fraudulent for-sale ads,
• as there are surely people with groups like VPC and the Brady Campaign that wish to make their own connection of those on the internet to serial-numbers and likely even pay people to gather such information,
• AND that I do not doubt that one day, someone with questionable motives will hack the CA DROS data-file system and steal that information, possibly even post it publicly or use it for their own advantage to triangulate, cross-reference, and use it for who-knows-what....
• AND that I don't need someone from Harris' office connecting some funny, off-color, non-serious thing I've posted here on Calguns and distort it out of context, then track the serial number of a gun in some photo I've posted online to a DROS in her APPS database, and then fall victim to her "Gun Task Force" out of some trumped up charge to confiscate guns. Really not asking for a no-knock exigent-circumstance visit from her BOF/DOJ Gestapo even if it would give her the biggest orgasm of her lifetime.

...no, I have joined what was once considered to be "tin-foil" and the crowd that thinks it's not a good idea to include serial numbers. Besides, what's it matter to anyone that I do share the serial number? Now if I have a potential buyer that is serious, I will advise them of it if they ask, as I realize for collectible guns that can be very important or if the serial number is exceptionally unique or say only a dozen of that model were made.

Any other reason, forget it. I no longer include it in photos for any reason.

[Wicked Pete]

What if: a guy says you stole his gun, produces a receipt (?) with that number? Could be an issue.

What if: one of your firearms (?) had been reported stolen 4 owners prior and an officer who just happened to be viewing, runs the number.

The gray bar hotel.

[russ69]

Do you block out the VIN number on your car that you leave in public places? Why not? What is the difference?

[Kowan]

Do you block out the VIN number on your car that you leave in public places? Why not? What is the difference?

The amount of people seeing it in person vs. the numbers online would be the huge difference.
I block my license plate on any pictures I post online of my Harleys.

[Divernhunter]

I see no benefit of posting it.
It may be possible that it could cause you trouble. Why take the chance?
I have listed a partial number when the first park can help determine when it was made. That matters to some people...especially C&R firearms.

russ69----VIN numbers are not allowed to be blocked by law. So that does not come into play. Most people do not wish for their DL or SS numbers to be made public either for what it is worth. I do understand you do not feel a need to block the numbers on a firearm and that is your choice. You will get no argument from me that you cannot/should not if that is what you want to do.

[The Gleam]

Do you block out the VIN number on your car that you leave in public places? Why not? What is the difference?

• Nobody hates me for being a car owner - (and I mean real hate such as Kamala Harris or LA City Attorney Mike Feuer nurtures).
• Nobody wants to ban my car (well, maybe California Air Resource Board does, because most are pre-1976, but they don't see them as a threat).
• Police don't assume I'm a criminal just for owning a car.
• Nobody wants to track me down because of my car, just because it's a car.
• Governments don't see my car as a threat to their power.
• Anti-car groups and environmentalists do not have a perverted wish to expose that I'm a car owner in the local newspapers, and if they did, nobody would care.
• If someone wants to steal my car, they will do so; they don't have a specific wish to steal my car just for being what it is, and track me down for it.
• There are plenty of cars to steal, everywhere, within a stone's throw; it's a bit more difficult to find were the guns are located and who has them.
• I can "open carry" and "brandish" my car in California and nobody calls in SWAT.

[Snerk]

If someone wants to steal my car, they will do so; they don't have a specific wish to steal my car just for being what it is, and track me down for it.

This one is not necessarily true. Targeted theft of vehicles is a very real thing. It's just that it doesn't typically apply to many vehicles. Typically

[71MUSTY]

I see little harm in posting it. BUT I SEE NO BENEFIT so why do it.

[bombadillo]

I generally try to, but occasionally one slips.