Found Firearm

[AudioNut]

I recently found a firearm left weeks after a match on a range in Kalifornia.
I have contacted the match director with identifying attributes of the firearm and he has issued a general email to his membership asking for someone to identify and claim this firearm.
I would like to see it returned to its proper owner, but:

1. Do I need to report finding it to any law enforcement agency?
2. The match director wants to take possession, is this a wise move?
3. If no one claims this firearm in a reasonable period (90 days?) can I keep it?
4. What else should I be concerned about?


Updated information at end of thread

[UserM4]

You should turn it into the authorities. Have them deal with it.

[evidens83]

You "found" a firearm hmmmm...

[JaMail]

i would think giving it to the match director would break a law, i wouldnt go so far as to give it to the LEO's since it could take an act of congress for the original owner to get it back, but LEO would safest bet.

[Mr. Beretta]

You should turn it into the authorities. Have them deal with it.

+1...............

[jmatt511]

You should turn it into the authorities. Have them deal with it.

I agree with M4. California law requires gun owners to report firearms as lost or stolen iftheyr go missing. If you keep the weapon, you could be charged with receiving stolen property which is a felony in California and therefore could preclude you from owning any firearms if convicted. Don't risk your freedom or right to gun ownership. Turn it into the nearest police department ASAP.

[Bill Carson]

You do not know the history of that gun. Give it to the range director or be a complete db and turn it in at a guns for cash drive. Yeah you can keep it but never register it and then some years later have a run in with the law at your house and try to explain how you are in possesion of a handgun stolen in a home invasion robbery where the homeowner was killed.

[AudioNut]

Interesting discussion answers.

Which 'authorities'? The match director is LEO.
I really want the proper owner avoid any legal hassles in getting it returned.
I wonder if the owner is too embarrassed to report it missing.

Thanks

[UserM4]

Call your local police dept. Ask them what you can do to return it to the owner. Maybe they can run the serial number off of it to see if it's been reported missing.

[JaMail]

whoever you return it to, get a receipt with the serial number on it that you turned it over to them.

[Noobert]

So what did you find?

[1911su16b870]

I would turn it into the responsible head of the range or next in charge. Sadly, many times a firearm is left behind after a day at the range...and eventually the owner will come looking for it.

ETA: I just read your other clarifications...the match director being a LEO should mean he will do the right thing and make an effort to get it back to its owner...

[El Gato]

Call the local Sheriff or agency that has jurisdiction...Sheriff is cool as they have jurisdiction over the whole county...
they will try to contact the owner...
if not claimed, you can usually claim it after a period of time...
get a receipt.
good luck.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

I recently found a firearm left weeks after a match on a range in Kalifornia.
I have contacted the match director with identifying attributes of the firearm and he has issued a general email to his membership asking for someone to identify and claim this firearm.
I would like to see it returned to its proper owner, but:

1. Do I need to report finding it to any law enforcement agency?
2. The match director wants to take possession, is this a wise move?
3. If no one claims this firearm in a reasonable period (90 days?) can I keep it?
4. What else should I be concerned about?

Here's what the California Civil Code says about finding property...

2080. Any person who finds a thing lost is not bound to take charge
of it, unless the person is otherwise required to do so by contract
or law, but when the person does take charge of it he or she is
thenceforward a depositary for the owner, with the rights and
obligations of a depositary for hire. Any person or any public or
private entity that finds and takes possession of any money, goods,
things in action, or other personal property, or saves any domestic
animal from harm, neglect, drowning, or starvation, shall, within a
reasonable time, inform the owner, if known, and make restitution
without compensation, except a reasonable charge for saving and
taking care of the property. Any person who takes possession of a
live domestic animal shall provide for humane treatment of the
animal.



2080.1. (a) If the owner is unknown or has not claimed the
property, the person saving or finding the property shall, if the
property is of the value of one hundred dollars ($100) or more,
within a reasonable time turn the property over to the police
department of the city or city and county, if found therein, or to
the sheriff's department of the county if found outside of city
limits, and shall make an affidavit, stating when and where he or she
found or saved the property, particularly describing it. If the
property was saved, the affidavit shall state:
(1) From what and how it was saved.
(2) Whether the owner of the property is known to the affiant.
(3) That the affiant has not secreted, withheld, or disposed of
any part of the property.
(b) The police department or the sheriff's department shall notify
the owner, if his or her identity is reasonably ascertainable, that
it possesses the property and where it may be claimed. The police
department or sheriff's department may require payment by the owner
of a reasonable charge to defray costs of storage and care of the
property.


2080.2. If the owner appears within 90 days, after receipt of the
property by the police department or sheriff's department, proves his
ownership of the property, and pays all reasonable charges, the
police department or sheriff's department shall restore the property
to him.



2080.3. (a) If the reported value of the property is two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) or more and no owner appears and proves his or
her ownership of the property within 90 days, the police department
or sheriff's department shall cause notice of the property to be
published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. If,
after seven days following the first publication of the notice, no
owner appears and proves his or her ownership of the property and the
person who found or saved the property pays the cost of the
publication, the title shall vest in the person who found or saved
the property unless the property was found in the course of
employment by an employee of any public agency, in which case the
property shall be sold at public auction. Title to the property shall
not vest in the person who found or saved the property or in the
successful bidder at the public auction unless the cost of
publication is first paid to the city, county, or city and county
whose police or sheriff's department caused the notice to be
published.
(b) If the reported value of the property is less than two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) and no owner appears and proves his or her
ownership of the property within 90 days, the title shall vest in the
person who found or saved the property, unless the property was
found in the course of employment by an employee of any public
agency, in which case the property shall be sold at public auction.

And here's a little nugget from the California Penal Code...

[SoCal50Lover]

Can't you find the last owner by calling the Bureau of Firearms?