Someone committed suicide with a gun under my name - how do I get it back?

[anti]

I know it's confusing, but I'm being honest, and I know for a fact I didn't have any paperwork on it aside from the said bill of sale. I would have any other paperwork pertaining to the shotgun in the gun records folder along with the bill of sale, if it existed. I honestly don't know how they tracked it to me but they did.

[RandyD]

The moment you sold the firearm, all of your property interests in it terminated. Being a former owner does not entitle you to any superior claims to repurchase the firearm, if it were to be placed for sale. If you want the firearm, my first suggestion is to contact the detectives.

[Dragunov]

My question is if it ISN'T actually in his name, Why was he even informed that the shotgun was used in a suicide? To provide guilt for owning the "killer gun?"

Not the OP's problem. He had a bill of sale to prove he didn't own it.

Personally, I'd want it back too, if my name were still attached to it.

This is why the paperwork, be it registration, 4473, or anything else is a BAD idea.

[jeffrice6]

Nope, nada. I keep all gun records and the only thing I have pertaining to the shotgun is the bill of sale from the FFL.

Tinfoil hat on ~ makes you wonder what secret file they have on all of us???

[anti]

Seriously... the only way I can see them connecting the gun to me is by finding out who I sold it to, but I had to tell them which FFL to go to so they could question them. Is there some poorly detailed database that doesn't always list names of dealers and only the owners?

[prod39]

Not only is it in your name BUT, now it's got street Cred !!

[echoThreeOneSix]

Not only is it in your name BUT, now it's got street Cred !!

lmao... almost spit out my coke.

[Best sale]

Okay, thanks for clearing it up. Looks like I won't be getting it back... and that's probably a good thing, I suppose...

edit - but wait.. I myself did not buy it.. I inherited it from my grandfather who passed... there was NO papers on the gun under my name until I sold it to the FFL, AFAIK.

Glad you have decided not to get the gun. Getting that gun back whichever way will be equal to STEALING, and to make it worse ,STEALING FROM A DEAD person.... that is morally wrong IMHO.

[RP1911]

Is the dealer still around? If not, it could be the bound books show an acquisition but not a disposition and that's how they traced it to you.

[toby]

Walk away! seriously walk away!

[Steve_In_29]

First off, you have no claim on the weapon nor standing to file a LEGR to get it back.

The questions weren't to establish ownership per-se but were aimed at rattling you in the hopes that you had done something wrong or were possibly connected to the suicide. You are lucky you did the sale legally as absent that bill of sale you would have been subject to some much more pointed questioning.

As to tracing it to you, do you perhaps have the same name as your grandfather? Live at the same address? How did you acquire the weapon after grandfather's death (don't answer that in here)? Most likely the executor of the will put in an inter-familial transfer.

On edit: Someone can correct me if I am wrong but with a death involved I don't think the weapon will be released to anyone anyways.

[anti]

The dealer is still around.. live and well.

Steve - I used to live with my grandfather back in the '90s... grew up there in LA with him and the rest of my immediate family. The will didn't state specifics, but the shotgun was kept in a garage and on his will it said everything in the garage is to go to me. The guns were not named in his will or anything else I know of.

[NapalmCheese]

They get the serial number.
They find out what FFL originally sold it and to whom.
They find out it's your grandpa.
They interview your grandpa or, find out your grandpa is deceased.
They ask your dad if he has it, he says nope, grandpa gave it to you.
They ask you why you don't have it anymore.
You tell them you sold it.
They go to that FFL and ask more questions.

[Wicked Pete]

I wouldn't want it: Bad Mojo.

[anti]

They get the serial number.
They find out what FFL originally sold it and to whom.
They find out it's your grandpa.
They interview your grandpa or, find out your grandpa is deceased.
They ask your dad if he has it, he says nope, grandpa gave it to you.
They ask you why you don't have it anymore.
You tell them you sold it.
They go to that FFL and ask more questions.

That has to be it... I cannot think of any other way. IIRC it was originally purchased by my mother, she left it in his possession at his house, and I inherited from him after he died. Here's the thing, though, they didn't contact my mother. Nobody else in my family was approached by the cops before me.