local sherriffs dept. wont help me out

[retired]

If the seller is ok with the suggestion of doing this, the chances are pretty good that the piece is clean.

I realize that. That last part I put in was for the laugh of course.

Steyrip10, no, I never had that happen, but people would call and ask us if we could run the serial number. We would tell them they would have to come in to the station. That was our policy.

I actually find it hard to believe any dept. would have a policy where they would give that info over the phone since they have no idea who is calling. I'm not saying what you wrote ajaffe is not true, I'm just surprised they would do that.

[Cokebottle]

The only ones we've had were the ones where the bad guy called 911 because he got rolled in a bad dope deal and wanted his dope back!

Buddy of mine told me of hundreds of times when someone was taken in for dope that "wasn't theirs"... first thing the next morning after they were released or made bail, they'd be back in the front lobby of the station wanting "their stuff" back.

[Cokebottle]

I actually find it hard to believe any dept. would have a policy where they would give that info over the phone since they have no idea who is calling. I'm not saying what you wrote ajaffe is not true, I'm just surprised they would do that.

I could certainly understand them not giving any info that the caller doesn't already have, but what would be the potential problem with answering:
Does this gun show reported stolen?
Is the registered owner's last name "Smith"? (to allow for perhaps a husband/wife sale).