Need some imput on a serious issue please

[CaptKen]

Ok here it goes my neice in law has this husband who is a """ hole and he claims to be bi polar and get disability for it. While at Thangsgiving which I was not present (on my ship) my wife was telling me how he was bragging about getting a hand gun and one for his wife and how they all went to the range with their son 16 who is not cool. So think my wife ask her niece how was your husband able to get a fire arm if he is been diagnosed with bi polar disorder and I am not sure but will confirm this. she said I bought it for him. That's illegal from what I read. Example the douchbag who shot at the fireman and his girlfriend bought the fire arms for him. But even if that part was not true and her husband bought the hand gun him self then he lied about not having a mental problem. I don't know what I should do I will ask her about it when I get home and tell her the law. I am concerned that something bad might happen at their home and would be upset at myself for not doing something. Or should I just bury my head in the sand. I like to think I am a very safe and responsable firearm owner hell I drive a 650 million dollar ship that make 2.2 million dollars a day of oil and gas as well being responsable for the crews safety. So iam always thinking what if. So what would you guys do I will respect all opinions. I am on my ship now and was going to have my wife confront her neice about this ASAP and when I get home
Thanks
Ken

[Subotai]

I would just mention that they have to transfer it legally or technically they can both get into trouble. And then maybe talk to her about his bipolar and see how extensive it is, etc. Just cause someone is bipolar, doesn't make them a killer.

[dieselpower]

Sounds like you can do 1 of two things,

keep all this to yourself and wait until he freaks out, murders his family, then you can tell everyone this story.

Call the local PD and drop it in their laps.

[G-Man WC]

First, I would not have put this information in the ether.
On a public GB we seem to have our share of lurkers and trolls
looking for said information.
Ken, I would have a serious talk with neice in law about the law
and the possiable implications of her actions.
Your on the right track in wanting to give her information and options.
-g

[comblock]

Call the local PD and drop it in their laps.

^this. we dont need another crazy person with a gun.

[warbird]

It is insane that those who get federal or state disability for drug use, alcohol abuse, and mental issues are not cross referenced with the federal AFT data base. we have a very slip shod data base for checks and this is a prime example. I would agree that the niece has to be told the legal trouble she is most likely in. however if she tries to take the guns herself she might trigger a nasty reaction from her husband. She would be best advised to contact the cops, get immunity and assurances he does not find out how the cops found out and then let them take the guns hopefully by surprise. Then make sure his name is added to the list of restricted persons. as long as she lives with him she should not be allowed to obtain guns in the future. This is a system failure that cannot be straightened out by passing more restrictive gun laws.

[elsolo]

Simply being diagnosed with bi-polar isn't a disqualifier.

If he has ever been 5150'd or 5250'd, declared a danger to himself or others, or declared by a judge to be mentally incompetent, then no guns.

I didn't read where the OP knows this person to a prohibited person, just a guess because he is bi-polar.

If you think the guy is a whack job and a danger to his wife or others, he still is even without a gun.

[rideordie]

Ken, I would have a serious talk with neice in law about the law
and the possiable implications of her actions.
Your on the right track in wanting to give her information and options.
-g

I agree with this...

[stix213]

Simply being diagnosed with bi-polar isn't a disqualifier.

If he has ever been 5150'd or 5250'd, declared a danger to himself or others, or declared by a judge to be mentally incompetent, then no guns.

I didn't read where the OP knows this person to a prohibited person, just a guess because he is bi-polar.

If you think the guy is a whack job and a danger to his wife or others, he still is even without a gun.

This ^^^^^

But the neice buying the gun for him implies straw purchase to me, so likely prohibited person.

If that is the case, then the OP has a serious decision to make, because straw purchase is a serious crime to be reporting a relative for.... but IMO it is a serious crime for good reason. I'd definitely find out more info on this if there was an actual crime involved before deciding on what to do.

[elsolo]

It's not a straw purchase unless the guy is a prohibited person, and his wife knew that when she bought him the gun.

Since the guy is not prohibited, it's not a straw purchase.

[tcrpe]

It is insane that those who get federal or state disability for drug use, alcohol abuse, and mental issues are not cross referenced with the federal AFT data base.

Finally.

[warbird]

i may stand corrected since it seems obvious from the comments here we do not know all the facts in the case. However everyone seems to agree that whether she is technically correct or not further investigation might be warranted to see if this man is either indeed a prohibited party or should be based on his mental status condition. I am uncomfortable with the fact the wife bought the guns instead of him if that is in fact true.

[Manolito]

Captain my heart goes out to this story. If I read this right this resides on your wifes side of the family.(Niece inlaw) Remember you are the outsider in this thing. If the Nieces parents are alive I would dump this knowledge in their laps. It is their responsibility to deal with their daughter. If this blows up and you get the kid arrested you are the dirt bag.

Just my thoughts. If I am not of the blood I place the responsibility with the blood. My wifes family is very large and Mexican I am white and her family can say white and make it sound like the worst thing a drunk Sailor ever said.

Retired First Assistant Engineer.

[one*eyed*jack]

Good Luck

...she said I bought it for him. That's illegal from what I read. Example the douchbag who shot at the fireman and his girlfriend bought the fire arms for him....

This may or may not indicate a straw purchase. She can legally purchase the firearm and gift it to her husband. I don't recall the exact process, but if she purchased it and gifted it to him legally, its not a straw purchase. If she purchased it for him because he couldn't purchase it himself, it is a straw purchase.

...he was bragging about getting a hand gun and one for his wife...

This doesn't square with what she said though. I have never done it but if I'm not mistaken it would take around 60 days for one individual to purchase two handguns and DROS one as a gift to another person in California.

[DuknBucks]

It is insane that those who get federal or state disability for drug use, alcohol abuse, and mental issues are not cross referenced with the federal AFT data base. we have a very slip shod data base for checks and this is a prime example. I would agree that the niece has to be told the legal trouble she is most likely in. however if she tries to take the guns herself she might trigger a nasty reaction from her husband. She would be best advised to contact the cops, get immunity and assurances he does not find out how the cops found out and then let them take the guns hopefully by surprise. Then make sure his name is added to the list of restricted persons. as long as she lives with him she should not be allowed to obtain guns in the future. This is a system failure that cannot be straightened out by passing more restrictive gun laws.

great suggestion!