PD’s will ruin/keep your expensive CCW?

[Mr. Blue]

All too often I have heard the argument of never using an expensive gun as a CCW. The thinking is that if and when it gets entered into evidence, it will get banged up and kept too long or forever. I’m sure that each situation warrants different circumstances. Each department must have different procedures and each particular case is probably handled in a unique way. With that, anything can happen.

However, what has happened in the past when it comes to civilian CCW guns? Are they cared for at all? Do they all get returned? Do you have any anecdotes that would lend credence?

EDIT: I’m of the opinion that it really doesn’t matter what happens to the gun, as you are now in a position to care since you are still alive. The best tool for the job. If one shoots best with an M&P, use that. If another person is most proficient with a Nighthawk, go with that. Also, I don’t think departments regularly cause damage to evidence. That wouldn’t make sense.

Lastly, I want to thank each and every Law Enforcement officer here. It cannot be easy dealing with the public, risking your life, and many other things. Thank you for the hard work you do each and every day.

[chsk9]

You might want to consider that the cost of that firearm will be negligible compared to your legal fees in the almost certain civil action(s) to be taken against you...

[hermosabeach]

Not an LEO

A clean CCW shooting will cost you at least $50,000 in California if you are not in a rural area.

Expect to be sued by all their family while the DA is reviewing the event.


Carry what you want to carry that's allowed by the IA.

If the $50,000-$100,000 defense tag is survived not too worried about if the gun costed $500-$2500

[superhondaz50]

Only carry something you are ok with never getting back. Carry an expensive gun, sure why not. Carry a family heirloom, prob not a good idea. Also, get CCW insurance!

[Sentenza]

I may have paid a lot for it, but the gun is on my carry list because I shoot it well and it works every time. I can always get it refinished.

So agencies are not liable for damage to investigative evidence returned to owners? Is there a limit to how long they can hold on to the evidence?

[L-2]

Nowadays, stored firearms aren't "banged up", but are stored or taken into evidence as any other property might be.

Firearms/handguns are unloaded and zip-tied into fairly thick cardboard boxes, which are specifically designed to store firearms. There are holes in the boxes to route the zip-ties through the box and then the firearm.

There is no on-going maintenance to a firearm whether it's there a day or for years. Nobody is going to periodically open the box and clean a stored firearm.

If any testing is to be done with or to the firearm, the firearm is taken, with the box, and the testing is performed, then the firearm is returned in the box for further storage.

Otherwise, the other advice and suggestions, prior to my comments, are also good & sound.

The only way I could possibly see a firearm getting "banged up" is, before the LEO gets back to the office, the firearm might be put into the trunk of a patrol car, but not yet in the cardboard firearm box, then the car somehow gets into an accident and the firearm gets damaged while in that car.

Another way could be if a person is holding a firearm when the LEO arrives, then given an order/direction to drop the firearm, and the person actually drops the firearm onto the ground, probably dinging-up that firearm.

[Mr. Blue]

To clarify, I am of the opinion that you should carry whatever you shoot best with and is the best tool for the job. Losing a gun is nothing compared to losing ones life. That said, I was keeping my personal opinion out of this and wanted to hear some facts. As mentioned previously, I have heard the same arguments but haven’t actually heard of what happens. Have you?

[Mr. Blue]

Nowadays, stored firearms aren't "banged up", but are stored or taken into evidence as any other property might be.

Firearms/handguns are unloaded and zip-tied into fairly thick cardboard boxes, which are specifically designed to store firearms. There are holes in the boxes to route the zip-ties through the box and then the firearm.

There is no on-going maintenance to a firearm whether it's there a day or for years. Nobody is going to periodically open the box and clean a stored firearm.

If any testing is to be done with or to the firearm, the firearm is taken, with the box, and the testing is performed, then the firearm is returned in the box for further storage.

Otherwise, the other advice and suggestions, prior to my comments, are also good & sound.

The only way I could possibly see a firearm getting "banged up" is, before the LEO gets back to the office, the firearm might be put into the trunk of a patrol car, but not yet in the cardboard firearm box, then the car somehow gets into an accident and the firearm gets damaged while in that car.

Another way could be if a person is holding a firearm when the LEO arrives, then given an order/direction to drop the firearm, and the person actually drops the firearm onto the ground, probably dinging-up that firearm.

Thank you! This makes much more sense than those saying they would never carry an expensive 1911 because of the dreaded evidence locker. I think people should carry whatever is going to give them the best chance to stay alive. That said, I imagine agencies handle firearms like any other piece of evidence. It would be counterproductive to damage evidence.

[micro911]

I don't know about other agencies, but I know for sure LASD will not abuse your firearm. I know for the fact that if it was a good shooting, the detectives will do their best to return the gun back to you as soon s they can.

[superhondaz50]

When I was in college working at a gun store, we had PD evidence guns come through the shop (stolen, crime, defense etc) for various reasons. They came in a cardboard box and usually had handling scratches and surface rust. They're obviously not cleaned or lubricated before being put away for years. If blood is on the firearm, it will still be there if you get it back and it will be corroded. We had about 20 guns returned to us after being stolen. They came back piled in a xerox box, dusty, rusty and scratched to heck. We sold them at like 30 percent under cost.

[Mr. Blue]

When I was in college working at a gun store, we had PD evidence guns come through the shop (stolen, crime, defense etc) for various reasons. They came in a cardboard box and usually had handling scratches and surface rust. They're obviously not cleaned or lubricated before being put away for years. If blood is on the firearm, it will still be there if you get it back and it will be corroded. We had about 20 guns returned to us after being stolen. They came back piled in a xerox box, dusty, rusty and scratched to heck. We sold them at like 30 percent under cost.

I imagine those stolen firearms were entered into evidence in poor condition.

[71MUSTY]

Only carry something you are ok with never getting back. Carry an expensive gun, sure why not. Carry a family heirloom, prob not a good idea. Also, get CCW insurance!

^^^^^This

[Fizz]

If your CCW piece is taken by police after a shoot, you'll probably not even miss it or care.

My EMP is my most expensive carry piece. I won't miss it in a good shoot.

[1911su16b870]

Two fights-first for your life, second for your livelihood.

Buy two CCW guns, expensive or otherwise: buy two stock guns. Make sure you have supplemental insurance (USCCA, LawShield, CCWSafe, PORAC LDF, Personal Liability Umbrella etc.)

Have an attorney now. Call them, speak with them about the subject and listen. Law suits will be filed on everyone involved no matter how involved in the incident.

Be prepared for both fights.

[ptmn]

My agency handles evidence firearms the same as L-2's agency. Nobody is going to purposely rough handle a firearm collected as evidence, since it is zip tied inside a firearms specific cardboard box and secured in evidence.

One caveat to that is evidence rooms are not always climate controlled with dehumidifiers. If there are fingerprints or blood on the weapon, they may be processed for evidentiary value, but nobody is going to wipe the firearm down with oil or scrub the bore before submitting it back into evidence, so that could very well cause rust if the firearm sits for a long period of time.

Good shoot or not, it may be a long time before the firearm is returned. This is not because we don't want to release it. In fact, the opposite is in effect, we are not in the business of firearms storage, so we would like to get it back to the rightful law abiding owner as soon as possible to clear out evidence storage, but we have to work within the parameters of the court and DA's office, which can extend the time.

As far as having legal counsel and/or insurance, that is very sound advice in this day and age.