Legal question about Sat. Night Special

[CWhitt]

My roommate has a friend that has a Keltec P-32. The friend is moving back to his parents' house for a few months and can't take the gun with him. So he offered the Keltec (for free) to my roommate, because it has the serial number scratched off and he can't sell it legally, and he doesn't wanna throw it away.

My roommate is not really a shooter, but told me of the offer.

Question: What is the legal ramification of having a handgun in Florida with the serial number scratched off? I have a CCW, if it makes any difference. Is it illegal just to have it or possess it? Would it be safe for me to have just to take to the gun range and shoot paper targets with?

Obviously, the gun was probably stolen somewhere down the line....the guy that has it now said he obtained it with the number already scratched off, and that was almost 2 years ago....

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Get Rid Of The Weapon__turn It In To A Police Officer At Once.

It Is A Serious Federal Crime!!!!

Make It Go Away.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Need no LE contact? Call a local minister, rabbi, iman, priest, etc. and ask if they'll take it for you.

 

[Guntalk]

Don't touch that firearm. Let the current owner figure it out.

A bridge and an open car window come to mind.

 

[Weimadog]

Whoever possesses that gun could get in big trouble!

Ask a lawyer.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

Don't touch that firearm. Let the current owner figure it out.

+1

Getting caught with that firearm WILL lose you your permit in addition to probable jail time as it's a federal matter in addition to the state matter.

 

[tmajors]

Like everyone else said. Either tell the current owner to deal with it or get rid of it. I'd buy an off books gun no problems (private purchase), but I would never touch one missing a serial. First time you get caught with a non-serialized gun you'll wish you never even laid eyes on it.

And I take offense at a Keltec P-32 being called a Sat. Night Special.

 

[Sunray]

Your roomie should re-think his friendship with the plug. He's a criminal.

 

[Biker]

Ain't sayin' a damn word.

Biker

 

[XavierBreath]

Sec. 5861. Prohibited Acts

It shall be unlawful for any person:

(a) to engage in business as a manufacturer or importer of, or dealer in, firearms without having paid the special (occupational) tax required by section 5801 for his business or having registered as required by section 5802;or

(b) to receive or possess a firearm transferred to him in violation of the provisions of this chapter;or

(c) to receive or possess a firearm made in violation of the provisions of this chapter;or

(d) to receive or possess a firearm which is not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record;or

(e) to transfer a firearm in violation of the provisions of this chapter;or

(f) to make a firearm in violation of the provisions of this chapter;or

(g) to obliterate, remove, change, or alter the serial number or other identification of a firearm required by this chapter;or

(h) to receive or possess a firearm having the serial number or other identification required by this chapter obliterated, removed, changed, or altered;or

(i) to receive or possess a firearm which is not identified by a serial number as required by this chapter;or

(j) to transport, deliver, or receive any firearm in interstate commerce which has not been registered as required by this chapter;or

(k) to receive or possess a firearm which has been imported or brought into the United States in violation of section 5844;or

(l) to make, or cause the making of, a false entry on any application, return, or record required by this chapter, knowing such entry to be false.

Federal Firearm Laws
Gun Control Act of 1968

 

[akodo]

It shall be unlawful for any person:

(d) to receive or possess a firearm which is not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record

????

doesn't that mean no face to face private sales?

 

[Soybomb]

Tell your roommate to quit hanging out with thieves.

 

[vis-à-vis]

Call the cops. Remove yourself of all liability. People in here seem to be advocating destruction of evidence.

 

[DDrake]

DO NOT THROW IT AWAY


Last thing you need is someone finding the firearm, like a kid. Properly dispose of the firearm .... all police stations will take it (and ammo) and destroy it. Also, there are lots of other groups (like churchs) who will also dispose of it for you.

 

[Onmilo]

Choose your roommates with a bit more care,,,,,,

 

[BBQJOE]

Run Forest! Run!!!!

 

[El Tejon]

1. Contact an attorney at once, advise of your problem, have him turn it in to your local LE at once.

2. The use of the term "Saturday Night Special" is a racist term which many find offensive, FYI.

 

[bogie]

1) The phrase "saturday night special" is racist. Let's not use it.

2) If someone takes it down to the police, there's a good chance that even if they mean well, they could go to jail.

3) My advice, assuming that neither you nor your dumbbleep roomie (he really needs to find better friends) have commited any crimes other than possession of the piece of steel, is to advise the lowlife in possesion of the thing to strip it down to component parts, and toss the frame in the nearest large body of saltwater.

 

[Prince Yamato]

If I found a gun that had the serial number scratched off of it, I would:

Go to a police station and tell them, "I found this firearm, I presume it is lost, I'm giving it to you to find the owner."

Tada.

 

[El Tejon]

Problem with that is, Prince, that sometimes they prosecute the finder. Have had it happen twice.

He needs a cut out. Call an attorney Monday morning.

 

[Onmilo]

If you ar legally allowed to possess firearms and voluntarily turn an illegal firearm not of your possession over to law enforcement and you are prosecuted for doing so,,,,,sue the lawyer that represented you.

 

[El Tejon]

Onmi, no, these guys just skipped in to the police and "tadaed". They didn't call an attorney first.

 

[rocinante]

What is racist about saturday night special? I am 48 and as far as I know the term goes back long before me and just meant a small cheap gun. Lynnrd Skynnnrd had the song sat night special and if anything its target were dumb rednecks like me. Did I miss something? When did saturday night special get tagged on any particular racial group? If anything it is class not raise.

 

[Lew]

How is the term racist??