Guns stolen - need advice

[shabr66]

I know someone who had a couple of handguns stolen from his office - they were purchased from an FFL, then trasferred privately to this person, not through an FFL. I told him that we need to call the police and file a report, but he is concerned about the fact that the were not registered in his name. Will this be a problem? I have a good idea of who took them, but have no proof. Knowing who took them, I am sure these will end up on the street. Any help would be appreciated.

[thefifthspeed]

It looks like the person you know already made 2 big mistakes already (not transfering through an FFL and not securing his firearms properly) and now he may face a third. I'd do the right thing and file a police report with the hopes of getting them back. The original seller of the pistol is in more touble than your friend (since he didn't use an FFL to transfer) but regardless your freind needs to report them stolen or there could be a lot more trouble down the road, a lot more trouble...

[SgtDinosaur]

I filed a police report in 2002 for a revolver that was stolen. It was purchased in Atlanta and never registered in Ca. At the time I didn't even know it should have been. There were zero repercussions.

[shabr66]

I agree with you. Myself, I would never buy a firearm without transfering them through an FFL and I keep my collection in a safe. Unfortunately he did not do either and now he is in a predicament. He does not seem willing to go to the police if it means legal problems are iminent. It's frustrating because the person who stole them opened a case to get to them, but left the case behind... Hopefully leaving some fingerprints.

[shabr66]

He doesn't even know how to contact the original purchaser.... He bought them about 10 years ago.

[ke6guj]

prosecution of any illegal firearms transfer would have ran out after 3 years, so that isn't a problem. Just report them stolen.

[Scarecrow Repair]

If for some reason the guy remembers who he sold them to, then "I have no idea what your talking about" should suffice. Say nothing, admit nothing, if in doubt, then get a laywer.

No, that's two pieces of contradictory advice, one of which is really stupid.

You can't have it both ways. Either lie to the police or shut your yap. I suggest that lying to the police is a bad idea. If they have the stolen guns and want to know about them, there's probably a crime involved, and if they find the guy who stole them and he says where he got them, now you're in deep doo doo just for the lies.

[gemini1]

Did Cali already has a law back in 1999 that gun should only be purchased through FFLs? Regardless, I say report it to the police. If these guns ends up with the wrong people and gets traced back to the person your friend bought it from then what? The way I see it, cops may let him go since they wont be able to charge him with anything without the gun.

[Blackhawk556]

if he is legally allowed to own firearms why in hell would he not go through a ffl??

dumb

[stormy_clothing]

the only right thing to do is to report them. possession of a stolen firearm will hopefully add to the thief's misery someday

[deleted by PC police]

if he is legally allowed to own firearms why in hell would he not go through a ffl??

dumb

Some peope just don't know, what he did is perfectly legal in most of the other states in the country.

[SJgunguy24]

Your freind needs to report the guns as stolen. Whom ever stole the guns also comitted burglery. I'm not going to speculate but i'd put money on it that if caught, it'll be a felony charge. And since firearms are involved, a pretty good stint in prison maybe in the future for the thief.

Do what's right, file the report, and if they start asking questions that your friend feels uncomfortable answering, don't answer. The 5th amendment can help you.

[Turbinator]

Did Cali already has a law back in 1999 that gun should only be purchased through FFLs?

Umm, yeah, in 1999 any transfers had to go through an FFL.

Turby

[kurac]

Does he know what he had?, model numbers and serial numbers, if not then it may be a mute point to report them stolen.