Sister found a shotgun

[strega7]

Hey,

My sister was about 10 minutes ahead of me enroute to our parents ranch on the 1st when she spotted "something" that looked funny leaning up against a fence along side the road. Turned out to be a shotgun that some duck hunter had forgotten when loading up their stuff to leave. She knew that wasn't good, so she stopped, made sure it was unloaded, then took it back to town. Called the Sherriff and they sent a guy out to pick it up. Took down my sisters info and said they'd give her a call.

Turns out it was a local kid and the family is going through the motions to get it back.

My question is how did LE "trace" the gun back to the family? I know AW and handguns are registered, but what about other long guns? Is there a quasi-registration list of DROS stuff that's in a DOJ database somewhere? Is it true a CHP could put the serial number of the shotgun into the PC in the patrol car and get the same answer?

For some reason I thought long gun/shotgun/OLL purchase info "left" the computer system after some period of time. Then you'd have to start at the begining (manufacturer) and trace it to the last purchase.

How does this work?

[Blue]

They may have reported it lost, and thats how they got it back.

[5150Marcelo]

They just run the numbers on the rifle.

I have had the numbers on one of my rifles ran by SB County Sheriffs and my info popped up.

[Gryff]

If it it was a purchase in the last few years, I absolutely can't believe that the state DOJ would ever delete that info.

[bballwizard05]

So people talk about rifles not being registered. But I have had my rifle for slightly less than a year. (not trying to thread jack but I have had this same question)

So the number on my rifle is as good as registered isnt it? And it will never leave the system?


and no its not an AW. Just a sporting rifle.

[Cokebottle]

If it it was a purchase in the last few years, I absolutely can't believe that the state DOJ would ever delete that info.

Look at your copy of the long gun DROS.
How can they "delete" what they never had?

[RP1911]

Reverse trace through BATFE.

If it was sold via manufacturer (to distributor if any) to retailer, it can be traced all the way to the shop and the purchaser.

[Librarian]

Reverse trace through BATFE.

If it was sold via manufacturer (to distributor if any) to retailer, it can be traced all the way to the shop and the purchaser.

If everyone along the path is obeying the law, that tracing is done "by hand". Takes a couple days, at least.

[IrishPirate]

I get what you're saying. We're told long guns aren't registered, but if they can trace a lost gun back to the owner....then there is a data base with that info so it's as good as registered. Here's my question then: does that info get update if the gun is sold? would the new owner then be the one getting the call or would the original? If the info about the gun is following it around and being changed and updated...that's registration...they just probably call it something different.

I dont know why they would report it missing and not just drive back to get it first....unless your sister picked it up first. the time line on that scenario would be very interesting though...

[Cokebottle]

It was reported lost/stolen.
When it was turned in, the cops knew who to call.

[Librarian]

I get what you're saying. We're told long guns aren't registered, but if they can trace a lost gun back to the owner....then there is a data base with that info so it's as good as registered. Here's my question then: does that info get update if the gun is sold? would the new owner then be the one getting the call or would the original? If the info about the gun is following it around and being changed and updated...that's registration...they just probably call it something different.

If it's legal to transfer a gun without using an FFL - as it is in some/many states other than CA - then the trace capability stops with the last buyer recorded by an FFL. Of course, lost/stolen guns also drop out of 'trace-to-current-owner'.

It is not a requirement to notify the .gov of new addresses (except RAW? I don't recall) but if you stay in one state, new addresses on driver licenses could be matched.

But it's against the law for BATF to create what we now think of as a 'data base'; old manual systems are all that are permitted. See PDF report.

[forgiven]

Give the cops a call and ask. I would love to hear the answer.

[Plisk]

If it was that quick it must have been reported.

To go through manufacturer > distributor > FFL, etc. It takes a lot of foot work. The Manufacturer would give you a distributor. The distributor may give you another distributor, or go straight to the FFL. If it was a recent purchase (within a few years) the FFL may still have the info on hand, but every 2 or 4 years (can't remember which) the ATF will confiscate the FFLs record books. So if it's been that long, they have to search through one of the ATFs giant warehouses of books and go through them to look it up. THEN when the find who the gun was originally released to. Then that person may have non-FFL given the shotgun to another person. And what if that person doesn't have the info for who they have it to? You're stuck.

This is why is was most likely reported stolen.

[okimreloaded]

^^ yeah what he said.
I should read all the posts before ... POSTING.

It is my understanding that if they wanted to trace a long gun, they would have to contact the manufacturer to find out which distributor it went to, then contact the distributor to find out which retailer it went to, then contact the retailer to find out who bought it.

It seems much more likely to me that it was reported lost or stolen and thats how the kid got it back.

[Cokebottle]

Or it's possible that they had run a Vol'reg or Op'law on it when they gave it to the kid.