stolen gun check

[lodicollector]

I have, on numerous occasions, recomended asking law enforcement to check if a gun is listed as stolen, particularly if the circumstances are incomplete or sketchy. I was told that LE will not run a serial number to check if something is stolen....true?

[L-2]

LE or an LEO would generally want to have the gun in-hand to enable readily seizing if it's lost/stolen or in the hands of a prohibited person. I don't know, but don't think running the serial number without the firearm present is specifically a violation of CJIC. This is all from my recollection since I've retired from LE.

[lodicollector]

The usual scenario, is I am offered a gun from an estate or C&R out of state. I usually don't have physical possession, and am not interested in anything stolen or otherwise illegal

[bigger hammer]

My old LEA would not run such a check unless we had the gun in hand.

You might want to consider checking with an FFL holder.

[The Gleam]

For the past 25 years, ever since the internet came along, I've said there should be a national website where someone that has had their gun stolen (and can prove it was there's if discovered) can enter its serial number in a master data-base that anyone can match a gun against. It would be simple to create and archive, for all time. LEO could make great use of such a site.

It doesn't need to be much more than a spreadsheet of data, and can include photos if available. Owner/finder information can be kept on record, confidential no different than something like Craigslist.

With a positive hit, the finder can reach out to the owner through its discreet contact relay system to see about methods of getting that gun back to the owner, or getting authorities involved, or merely just the benefit of knowing the gun you are thinking of buying - or bought - is/was stolen.

Considering how much data Gunbroker can hold and archive, this would be a simple thing to do.

It doesn't need to act as registration - just a list of guns reported stolen. For a gun to be listed, it must also have had an official police report filed of it being stolen. Police could be a big help in supporting this archive - a simple step and tool in their investigations. Requiring a police report would prevent people, and Leftists, from malisciously entering random serial numbers of guns they see online, such as for sale on Gunbroker or in photos.

It seems to me this would be a great way to mimimize gun theft and likely crimes committed with guns, as gun theft and crimes usung a gun that was stolen go hand-in-hand.

If they can do CarFax or NICS, this could easily be done. But do they care? NICS is about tracking gun owners and people - clearly their intent. If they really cared about crime prevention they would have created a useable data archive tool to report and track known stolen guns, for both LEO, dealers, and the public to access.

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[sigstroker]

Unfortunately in kali, police don't don't want to help gun owners.