Good lesson for those that purchase used at pawn shops

[goon]

And how is that? Please share where the Constitution says transfers by dealers aren't allowed.

Please show me in the US Constitution where you are granted the right to breathe or to drink water.
Bet you can't find it.
But wait... if it's not in the Constitution, does that mean you don't have those rights?
Of course not.

You're looking at the Constitution the wrong way - it's not about the rights that are granted to you, it's about the specific powers that the Federal and state governments are granted. Nowhere in the Constitution is my state granted the power to require me to conduct the transfer of a handgun through a dealer, and it's certainly not granted the power to keep an illegal registry of handguns (but PA still does).

If you get a chance, you should look up the Federalist letters and check out the original Ratification debate surrounding the Constitution. Back in the day, the Federalists supported ratification. The Anti-Federalists felt the centralized government proposed by the Constitution (not yet ratified by the states) was too powerful and opposed ratification. The idea of a Bill of Rights was introduced to guarantee certain rights of the people against government interference (eventually the promise of a Bill of Rights was enough to sway those leery of a powerful centralized government into supporting ratification).
The only problem... what rights do you include? And what if you forget something? To the Founders, this was understandably serious business! In Federalist Letter No. 84, Hamilton outlines the argument against a Bill of Rights - because eventually it could become misunderstood that the people only had the rights which were enumerated, when in fact, the people enjoyed all rights and liberties which were not specifically delegated to state or Federal governments.

http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa84.htm

But that's another discussion. Feel free PM me if you want to discuss it further - I don't want to derail this thread.

 

[oneounceload]

Sorry goon, it is about Federal restrictions, not state ones - but I agree with not hijacking the thread any further

 

[beatcop]

The serial number was an alpha numeric serial number, like "ST4112A5". The cop called in 41125. There were seven stolen guns with the serial number 41125.

nlets may give you a hit on a partial s/n, but the type will have more detail regarding caliber, manufacturer, semi bolt pump, etc. If you're going to arrest someone, you double check the whole thing.

 

[goon]

Sorry goon, it is about Federal restrictions, not state ones - but I agree with not hijacking the thread any further

I fail to see how there is a distinction. The states weren't specifically granted the powers I mention either - hence they do not have them under the Constitution. But I see that you haven't taken me up on my invitation to discuss this further. Still, please at least read Federalist 84 - because the idea that you only have those rights which are enumerated by the Bill of Rights is just as wrong as it is widespread. In fact, the chance that this mentality could evolve was one reason why Hamilton opposed a Bill of Rights in the first place:

"Here, in strictness, the people surrender nothing; and as they retain every thing they have no need of particular reservations. "WE, THE PEOPLE of the United States, to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Here is a better recognition of popular rights, than volumes of those aphorisms which make the principal figure in several of our State bills of rights, and which would sound much better in a treatise of ethics than in a constitution of government." Federalist No. 84, Paragraph 8


"I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and, on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why, for instance, should it be said that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretense for claiming that power." - Federalist No. 84, Paragraph 10

At most, it's only going to take you 20 minutes to read the letter. Isn't it worth 20 minutes of your life to be better educated and to better understand the Founders' intentions by reading some of their own words?

My apologies to TDooley57 for the getting us sidetracked.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

FWIW, back in the day, I was in charge of the Crimes Against Property section of the Ft. Lewis CID. It was more-or-less routine for pawn shops to transpose or incorrectly record serial numbers to protect their "sources." How could you prove that they didn't misread 5 for 6? I would always be very suspicious of any used firearm in a pawn shop's inventory.

Fort Lewis must be a very dishonest place. My pop was part of the pawn shop detail for Dallas PD back in the day (1960s) and we went on to open 4 pawn shops in the DFW area. We often traded inventory with other stores, including firearms, which went through the same paperwork process. You know, we never had a problem with any of the guns from any of the other pawn shops.

However, I am sure that you did the right thing upon discovery of such errors and double checked against the gun and gun book and then duly reported repeated discrepancies to the ATF so that they could take appropriate action, right?

 

[MyGreenGuns]

Im not gonna comment on the constitution.

Im gonna google the local sheriffs office and keep the number in my phone. The next time I'm considering a used firearm, I'LL call and have them check the S/N. That way if it comes up stolen, its on the shop, not me.