Is there a reason why serial numbers are marked out in pics?

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Leaky Waders

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Hi,

So...is there a real reason why serial numbers are marked out in some pictures?

Can someone use your serial number against you or something?

I read some gun reviews of classic firearms and the serial numbers aren't hidden at all.

I've never posted any pics of firearms but was just wondering why? So, if in the future I publish some I can hide/not hide serial numbers and know why I'm doing it/not worried about it.
 
I don't really worry about it, but on the flip side I can see why someone would want to "hide" it......just a personal security concern I guess (and I can't blame em)
 
I suppose it's a "world wide web" thing.Never thought / worried about it either ,at least untill a year ago, when I joined the internet..Still not convinced it's any top secret thing,but erring on the caution side is probably best.
 
I block mine out because some a-hole could get mad at me for something and report it stolen.
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A lot of people cite this as a reason, but it doesn't seem that many people think it through. Let's say you get mad at me and report a gun with my serial number as stolen. The police will take all your information, ask you when it was stolen, maybe even ask for your proof of purchase. If they decide to follow up on it, the police contact me and I show them proof of purchase, refer them to the FFL I bought it from, or otherwise show proof that I've owned the gun long long since before you claimed it was stolen. They then come after you for filing a false police report. Does that sound like something someone is going to risk just because they are unhappy with something you posted?

I'm all for obscuring it, but it seems like the risk of a false police report is much greater for the person making it than the person it is against.
 
yeah, but what's to stop someone from filing an online police report in a remote city website using false ID from a library/coffee shop?

i just looked at a sample or two from the google results and i can't see how anything you submit would offer non-repudiation for the submitter.

i'd never heard about 'swatting' until last week either.
 
but what's to stop someone from filing an online police report in a remote city website using false ID from a library/coffee shop?
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Are there a lot of police departments that take action on police reports filed online without contacting the complainant? One would think that with the case load that most department seem to have, they would at least contact the person filing the complaint to get more information, particularly in the event of something as vague as "Some guy on the internet posted a picture of a gun he stole from me. Go get him."

I suppose anything is possible and we can brainstorm all night to come up with situations that could happen, but I think we can all agree the likelihood of such things is too low to be seriously concerned about. I mean, if someone wanted to perpetrate such thing against you, why would they need your serial number? Any reference to owning a gun could result in the same visit. They could just as easily fabricate a serial number along with many much more interesting reasons to visit you than a simple stolen firearm.

That said, it takes about 10 seconds to block it out, so if it makes you feel better, by all means, go for it.
 
The reason I do it is so people can get upset and call me paranoid.

Better safe than sorry that's what I always say.

It certainly cant hurt and it doesn't take much energy to do it. Just make sure it's really gone and not just covered up with a layer that can be removed or un-blurred.
 
I don't care if the serial numbers show in my pics. I used to have my doubts about whether it was a good idea or not but then I came to the realization that Jorg pointed out above. If someone wants to dispute that I'm the actual owner of the gun then I would like to see them try, crash and burn doing so. I keep all the original receipts for every gun I own.
 
Are there a lot of police departments that take action on police reports filed online without contacting the complainant? One would think that with the case load that most department seem to have, they would at least contact the person filing the complaint to get more information, particularly in the event of something as vague as "Some guy on the internet posted a picture of a gun he stole from me. Go get him."
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I'm not really worried about someone going to the cops and saying "Some guy on the internet posted a picture of a gun he stole from me. Go get him." What I'm worried about is someone going to the cops and saying that a gun was stolen from them and then telling them it was the same make and model as mine with the same serial number. Then your gun will be in the NCIC database, and if the cops ever decide to run the number for whatever reason, you're going to be in a heap of trouble, at least until things get sorted out.

In any case, as has been previously noted on this thread, it only takes a few seconds and it cant hurt. Thus, I do it.
 
I think its just the keeping things private deal is all. Anyone that is stupid enought to see a SN on a pic and report that as a stolen gun deserves the jail time they will get. Though the idea that Travis pointed out is a valid idea too as I dont think in that case they would do much to send that one up the river half the time.
 
I don't bother. Never really saw the point, EXCEPT in guns I'm selling. In that case, it's for the buyer's comfort.
 
Making a false police report is a felony and the cops aren't stupid and won't simply confiscate a gun and give it to you because you know the serial number. They take a dim view of trying such things. I have a Colt 1911 serial 70G30498 and anyone who wants to claim it as stolen is welcome to do so. When you get out be sure to post an account of what it's like spending 6 months in jail.

I can understand privacy, but there really is very little (if anything) that can happen from posting a serial and many dealers and collectors do so on a regular basis without harm. But keep it to yourself if it makes you uncomfortable.
 
Travis- You can't make an anonymous police report. A gun would not be listed as stolen without the name of the reporting party attached to it and making a false police report is a felony and the cops aren't stupid and won't simply confiscate a gun and give it to you because you know the serial number. They take a dim view of trying such things. I have a Colt 1911 serial 70G30498 and anyone who wants to claim it as stolen is welcome to do so. When you get out be sure to post an account of what it's like spending 6 months in jail.

I can understand privacy, but there really is very little (if anything) that can happen from posting a serial and many dealers and collectors do so on a regular basis without harm. But keep it to yourself if it makes you uncomfortable.
 
Making a false police report is a felony
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I believe making a false police report may be a misdemeanor in this state, although I could be wrong.

In any case, there are many people in this world who aren't stopped from doing things just because they're illegal.

You can't make an anonymous police report.
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No, but you can give a fake name. Last I heard, the police didn't require any ID to file a report of stolen property.
 
I do it, simply because I think it's prudent to not give that out publicly for various reasons.

I'm not sure how much trouble someone could cause me by falsely reporting my gun stolen, but why give them the option since it takes seconds to remove it with Photoshop?

I don't know of it ever happening to anyone, but why leave it up to the wills of someone that might do it?

Nobody has ever tried to kill me in my own home, but I own a gun anyway, protecting my personal information isn't any more/less important.
 
What, a phone call to the cops to report stolen property? With no follow-up report?

What state do you live in? That would never happen anywhere I have lived. I have made stolen property reports and believe me, the cops show up and want to see some ID.
 
What state do you live in?
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Arizona.

That would never happen anywhere I have lived. I have made stolen property reports and believe me, the cops show up and want to see some ID.
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I've reported stolen property before and don't recall ever being asked for any ID.
 
It's never a good idea, particularly in states with handgun registration and particularly strict laws. A criminal could alter their serial number to yours and it would then be traced back to you. You'd probably get it cleared up, but you could still wind up in major legal trouble.
 
Jorg said:
A lot of people cite this as a reason, but it doesn't seem that many people think it through. Let's say you get mad at me and report a gun with my serial number as stolen. The police will take all your information, ask you when it was stolen, maybe even ask for your proof of purchase. If they decide to follow up on it, the police contact me and I show them proof of purchase, refer them to the FFL I bought it from, or otherwise show proof that I've owned the gun long long since before you claimed it was stolen. They then come after you for filing a false police report. Does that sound like something someone is going to risk just because they are unhappy with something you posted?

I'm all for obscuring it, but it seems like the risk of a false police report is much greater for the person making it than the person it is against.
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Your explanation is one reason I spend 30 seconds blotting out the serial number. I don't have to deal with any strange scenarios, probable or not. I spend 30 seconds to retain peace of mind. It has taken me longer to write this post than to blot out a serial number.
 
Reasons have been given. Bottom line is it's people's properties. They do whatever they want with them. I'm one of those who blot out the serial #. None of anyone's business.
 
Here's a far out reason: Blot out serial numbers to retain anonymity among your real life friends.

For example, you may let a friend borrow one of your guns. That same friend my happen to spot your gun on one of these forums. If the serial numbers match, your online identity is revealed to your friend. From then on, you could no longer be a jackass on the forum...lol.

I personally wouldn't care to much. However, my preference is to have my identity to be anonymous to everybody, just to keep things simple.
 
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