What's with hiding serial numbers?

[docflash]

I see that most people blur out the serial number when they post pictures of their guns. What is the advantage of that?

Jeff

[AJAX22]

Well, its theoretically possible to do an operation of law transfer on a pistol, and then report it as stolen...

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/oplaw.pdf

Hell, if you wanted to be a dick, you could even assign someone's guns to someone else....

If you could get a person's drivers licence info (not all that hard to do) you could assign them someone else's guns.... even unregistered named assault weapons that would get flagged in the system...

Now they get to try to prove that they did NOT own one and file registration paperwork with the state and then hide the gun.

Proving a negative is quite difficult.

[fiddletown]

This comes up often, and there are probably several ways to look at it. The bottom line for me is that the serial numbers of my guns are no one's business but mine. Maybe there's a real risk to disclosing them, and maybe there isn't. But it doesn't really matter. Some things are private, and I see no reason to publish such things to the entire world.

[Sinister_1]

kinda like putting your social in your sig...just not a good idea... better SAFE than SORRY.

[Sniper3142]

Personal preference and added security.

As others have said, Their property, Their rules.

[Wicked Pete]

Don't give out any information on the internet.

[shooting4life]

Obviously you don't hear the helicopters.

[shooting4life]

And no one expects the Spanish inquisition!

[Ape]

And can anyone give out some stats on how often this has happened...If ever? Because I've never heard or read of anything remotely close to this scenario happening. Maybe I just don't dig far enough into the black files? lol

Well, its theoretically possible to do an operation of law transfer on a pistol, and then report it as stolen...

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/oplaw.pdf

Hell, if you wanted to be a dick, you could even assign someone's guns to someone else....

If you could get a person's drivers licence info (not all that hard to do) you could assign them someone else's guns.... even unregistered named assault weapons that would get flagged in the system...

Now they get to try to prove that they did NOT own one and file registration paperwork with the state and then hide the gun.

Proving a negative is quite difficult.

[toby]

I say it's all hype and just roll with it.

[fiddletown]

And can anyone give out some stats on how often this has happened...If ever? ...

So what? No one's stopping you from publishing the serial numbers of your guns. And probably most of us who choose not to need no reason other than "it's none of your business."

Personally, I have no need to justify my choice to not share private information with a bunch of strangers in cyberspace.

[Rogerbutthead]

I have heard several stories about after how someone posted pics of their German WWII rifle and how another party claimed that it was a rifle stolen from them - in the past.

The problem with at least German WWII rifles - is if they only have a serial number -the Germans reused serial numbers each year and at each manufacturer. Thus since there were multiple manufacturers and numerous years of production, dozens of rifles could have the same serial number - especially if alpha codes were not considered.

Since it takes time and effort to convince a judge/the authorities that your rifle is not the rifle that was stolen, it is simply not worth the trouble to post pics of your complete serial number on the web.

[locosway]

Just like people who blur the license plates on their cars... As if someone across the world on the internetz is going to hack into the DMV and look them up...

[robcoe]

I do it simply because it's better to be paranoid than not. You want the S/N buy the gun.

[Baconator]

shhhh