Anyway of checking a serial number to see if a gun is stolen?

[victory19]

Hello,

I may just be paranoid, but I've never purchased a firearm from an individual. It's always been from a dealer.

Anyway... I found a rifle that I like. I want to have the seller meet me at a FFL and do the transfer there. Unfortunately, he's a 2 1/2 hour drive away. I'd hate to get a babysitter lined up, drive out there, then find out that the rifle doesn't belong to him. I have the serial numbers from photos that he sent.

Is there a way of verifying that he owns the rifle before driving up there?

Thanks!

[PositiveInfluence]

If the seller is from Calguns and has a seller rating, I would go by that. But i doubt that a gun shop will run the serial before doing the deal right? And if it IS stolen, the seller has balls doing at a legal place.

[victory19]

Not from Calguns. The only thing I found was that he sold 1 gun on gunsamerica and has a +1 rating there, but he hasn't been on there for a few months though.

I know he wouldn't want to go in to the FFL if he knew it wasn't his, I'm worried that he'll try to talk me into doing the deal without the FFL once I'm up there. I'll walk away, but that's 5 hours round trip for me. I'm probably just paranoid, but I'd like to be safe than sorry.

[SoCalDep]

With the exception of "assault weapons", rifles aren't registered in CA. You can call your local LE station and ask them to run the number, but the only thing they'll be able to tell you is if it's stolen. Of course, someone isn't going to sell a stolen gun at an FFL where all their information is recorded, so I would bet you're safe.

[Shady]

you are being paranoid



noone is dumb enough to try to transfer a stolen gun

[victory19]

Thanks for all of the info!

It is an assault type rifle. It's an off list HK911, with the thumbhole stock. Only a 5 round mag and a bullet button.

I've emailed him twice stating that if it's registered with the DOJ (had to do it way back when), then he'd have to voluntarily un-register it. I actually told him that twice and he responded to other questions, but didn't respond to my statement.

[Will Goes Boing]

The guy is not going to do a transfer at a dealer if the gun was stolen, I believe the gun's serial number traces to the registered owner's name/address etc. So if he's willing to do a legal transfer at a dealer, you don't have to worry that it's stolen.

What you might have to worry about is whether the gun is legal to own in california, and the gunshop should be able to tell you that.

[tenpercentfirearms]

If you drive up there and do the PPT, your rifle will not be rejected for serial number issues and you will end up taking it home as long as you pass the background check. The only time it will come up as stolen is if you get stopped (and give consent or there is PC for running the numbers) and the officer runs it through the database and it comes up stolen.

Unfortunately, I am not sure if there is a legal way to run serial numbers. I am pretty sure most people try and find a cop buddy to check, but I believe that if a LEO gets caught running random serial numbers through a system, there can be consequences.

[anthonyca]

If you drive up there and do the PPT, your rifle will not be rejected for serial number issues and you will end up taking it home as long as you pass the background check. The only time it will come up as stolen is if you get stopped (and give consent or there is PC for running the numbers) and the officer runs it through the database and it comes up stolen.

Unfortunately, I am not sure if there is a legal way to run serial numbers. I am pretty sure most people try and find a cop buddy to check, but I believe that if a LEO gets caught running random serial numbers through a system, there can be consequences.

Are you saying that a stolen rifle could make it through DROS and be transferred to a legal buyer?

[tenpercentfirearms]

Are you saying that a stolen rifle could make it through DROS and be transferred to a legal buyer?

Yes. Long gun serial numbers are not transmitted during DROS. The state has no idea what you are buying.

Only a handgun is going to pop up as stolen, it if it is indeed stolen.

[Ron-Solo]

I I believe that if a LEO gets caught running random serial numbers through a system, there can be consequences.

This is correct. AFS inquiries are for official use only.

[Endless]

With the exception of "assault weapons", rifles aren't registered in CA. You can call your local LE station and ask them to run the number, but the only thing they'll be able to tell you is if it's stolen. Of course, someone isn't going to sell a stolen gun at an FFL where all their information is recorded, so I would bet you're safe.

True.

Here in Oregon and Washington they do an FBI check in Washington and State Police check in Oregon to buy firearms. When I traded a couple Colt LE6920s in they ran the serial number to see if it was clear and they were fine. I asked what kind of program they use and they said it was to check to see if the gun was used in any of the 50 states in a crime or if it had been reported stolen at any point.

[Claymar]

This is correct. AFS inquiries are for official use only.

Not really, CORI information is privalaged under the Brown Act but dont beleive property and AFS is unless by jurisdictional policy. Ive routinly taken calls where I've checked on weapons especially if the status is suspect in some way.