Long gun in Evidence locker

[4x4smashup]

My 1942 Winchester 30-06 found its way into a police evidence locker. This rifle was passed down to me by grea, great uncle. The DAly City police department will not return my rifle without proof of purchase or voluntary registration.
The local gun shops told me I couldn't register my gun and that I should ask around on here what to do to get my rifle back home.
I already completed and got the LEGR form back authorizing the release.
PLease help!
Best

[yzErnie]

Voluntary registration is only $19. Appears to be your only option.

[45DAVID1]

If your gun was at sbpd I could have helped you out.

[ocspeedracer]

sounds like you need to lawyer up?

[yzErnie]

sounds like you need to lawyer up?

Why? All he has to do is pay the $19 for the voluntary registration and go get his gun. Why on earth would he need to spend thousands on a lawyer for when he can get his gun back for $19.44 and 3 minutes worth of paperwork?

[GP3]

Not everyone thinks registration is that simple. Some people wear tinfoil hats, and think registration is the first step to gun-grabbing.

[QQQ]

The local gun shops told me I couldn't register my gun and that I should ask around on here what to do to get my rifle back home.

Sounds like he tried.
Also, a lot of folks would agree that registration precedes confiscation- look at what happened to SKS's.

[45DAVID1]

My 1942 Winchester 30-06 found its way into a police evidence locker. This rifle was passed down to me by grea, great uncle. The DAly City police department will not return my rifle without proof of purchase or voluntary registration.
The local gun shops told me I couldn't register my gun and that I should ask around on here what to do to get my rifle back home.
I already completed and got the LEGR form back authorizing the release.
PLease help!
Best

It appears you might be out the money you spent on the LEGR. If your voluntary registration doesn't go through within 30 days of the date on the LEGR you will need to do the process again. Those LEGR letters are only good for 30 days.

A bit of advice:

Before you try and start the process on your own call the PD and ask what THEIR proceedures are. That will allow you to get your ducks in a row so you don't spend time and money that you won't get back.

Once you do get everything in order, a release signed by the person in charge of your case, and your valid letter in hand make your appointment. Don't try and just show up without calling and getting an appointment. Also, don't wait until the last week before the letter expires. I have heard every excuse in the book as to why people wait until the last day. You have 30 days. Make those 30 days worth it and get it done fast.

[SVT-40]

How did the rifle end up in their custody? If it was seized as evidence or taken for safe keeping a receipt would have been given when it was seized.....

Said receipt is your proof of ownership.


If the rifle was stolen from you then your police report would be your proof of ownership.

Maybe you should politely ask to speak to a supervisor about the incident.

[Ron-Solo]

How did the rifle end up in their custody? If it was seized as evidence or taken for safe keeping a receipt would have been given when it was seized.....

Said receipt is your proof of ownership.


If the rifle was stolen from you then your police report would be your proof of ownership.

Maybe you should politely ask to speak to a supervisor about the incident.

In addition to what SVT-40 said, send a registered letter to the property custodian informing them of your intent to recover the rifle and stating a claim of ownership. This way, they would be put on notice that they can't just have it destroyed.

Good luck

[Notorious]

Good luck... I had a gun stolen and when it was recovered, I was never contacted by the agency to tell me to come get it. They destroyed it.

[JeffM]

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

[Jonathan Doe]

If the gun is in the evidence storage, it will show up in AFS as an evidence. I don't think you can do a voluntary registration for a gun that is in evidence already.

[yzErnie]

Good luck... I had a gun stolen and when it was recovered, I was never contacted by the agency to tell me to come get it. They destroyed it.

I would be livid if that happened to me. I hope that doesn't happen when/if my W. German Sig P225 ever gets recovered.

[JeffM]

If the gun is in the evidence storage, it will show up in AFS as an evidence. I don't think you can do a voluntary registration for a gun that is in evidence already.

I know personally of it being done on at least two occasions. It helped both gun owners get their property back.