How to check if a firearm is stolen while avoiding arrest.

[rob.rey]

Here's the situation guys, I have a friend who was given a Mossberg 500 a couple years back. He was in the military, and was naive about CA gun laws. He was given the shotgun by a fellow servicemember who was going back home to a different state. That servicemember claimed to have received the weapon in a similar fashion from another servicemember. The thing is, he no longer wants to own the firearm if it is stolen. He is willing to return the weapon if it is stolen, no questions asked. However, he would like to avoid any arrest by going to the local PD or Sheriff's station and found in possession of a stolen firearm. Any tips?

[Sashaalexander]

Just keep it. Why you decided it might be stolen? Any info? Or dump it in to a river....
Or if he has too much time on his hands he can tell the truth unless he stole it himself...
People are inventing not existent hurdles and than proudly jump over them...
KISS

[rob.rey]

Just keep it. Why you decided it might be stolen? Any info? Or dump it in to a river....
Or if he has too much time on his hands he can tell the truth unless he stole it himself...
People are inventing not existent hurdles and than proudly jump over them...
KISS

There is no evidence that the weapon was stolen, other than it felt too good to be true to just be given the firearm add a gift out of nowhere. Dumping it in a river sounds like a great idea personally lol

[M1NM]

Got a Colt 45 Gold Cup in the 80s for $50 from a friend of my B-I-L. Always figured it was hot.

[bluesmoke9]

There is no evidence that the weapon was stolen, other than it felt too good to be true to just be given the firearm add a gift out of nowhere. Dumping it in a river sounds like a great idea personally lol

I'd cut it up and put it in a metal recycling bin before I'd dump it in a river. That or wait until where ever he lives does a anonymous gun buy-back event. Go get a $100 gift card for it.

[jayhuh]

I'd cut it up and put it in a metal recycling bin before I'd dump it in a river. That or wait until where ever he lives does a anonymous gun buy-back event. Go get a $100 gift card for it.

^^^^
This! If he's in the LA area, it will probably be a Ralph's card. Get some steaks or a rib roast, the trimmings, some wine or some good beer and have a great meal.

[SVT-40]

Tell "your friend" to call his local PD and ask for the watch commander... have him tell the WC his story, and arrange for your friend to bring the shotgun into the station... I'm sure they will run the SN for him. If it's stolen they will seize it... If not he can do as he pleases...

[003]

Tell "your friend" to call his local PD and ask for the watch commander... have him tell the WC his story, and arrange for your friend to bring the shotgun into the station... I'm sure they will run the SN for him. If it's stolen they will seize it... If not he can do as he pleases...

Agree completely - - This is the best way to handle this.

[ElvenSoul]

Just go down to police station and say you found it.

[003]

Just go down to police station and say you found it.

I do not agree with this. If he tells them he "found" it, it will be seized for sure and he may never get it back.

Why lie?

[Spec]

Not too uncommon to give away a cheap gun when moving and in the military. My buddy did it twice. Both with off the shelf mossys

[geedavell]

Tell "your friend" to call his local PD and ask for the watch commander... have him tell the WC his story, and arrange for your friend to bring the shotgun into the station... I'm sure they will run the SN for him. If it's stolen they will seize it... If not he can do as he pleases...

^^^^

Going through a divorce years ago, I sold a rifle to a "good friend".Cash and Carry. We parted ways on not so friendly terms. I always worried about that rifle.

One night at a "Bike Night" they had LASD there keeping things under control.
I struck up a conversation with one of the cops. Told him my story. I gave him my name and he ran the guns registered in my name. Apparently he got it registered in his name.

[55chevypost]

Not a big deal, happens all the time. Go to locale PD and they will run serial number. Don't lie.

[G-forceJunkie]

Agree completely - - This is the best way to handle this.

I don't see how admitting you did an illegal gun transfer is a "good way to handle this." You can't just give guns to your buds in California.

[RickD427]

I'm not a police officer, but if its stolen and its changing hands, isn't "receiving stolen property" against the law? I think that's the point, is, if you are not sure whether or not you're legal, what's the best way to become legal, hopefully without getting in trouble?

It's probably hard to say what will happen to you if you take it to a station, as the officers probably have some latitude to decide what they want to do. Also, it seems likely if its stolen, they could ask you who your friend is, then ask him who gave it to him, etc... and it might not be just you in trouble.

Sir,

SVT-40 really has given the best advise so far in this thread.

There is a crime of "Receiving Stolen Property" in California, but that crime has a required element that the violator have knowledge of the property being stolen. That element is pretty much negated where the possessor is requesting to check it for a stolen report, and understands that he/she will loose possession of it if stolen.