I've often wondered if it ever came to a true self defense shooting, I became the victor, and was carrying a gun that I didn't want the police to #@&% up, I would be very tempted to secure the weapon, and have my attorney present while I release it to the prosecutor, or court, or police supervisor (my last choice) when they draft an agreement for its proper return, unscathed, should I be found to have committed no crime during the defense of my life. Not the usual procedure, and the cop shop would be pissed as hell, but evidence is evidence, and as such is MINE until I release it to them. Any judge that would like to COMPEL me to hand it over could find me in contempt, but that is not a criminal charge, and if my attorney is worth ANYTHING, it would be a simple matter. People do not always come forward, people do not always give up evidence initially, and the police do not always get to have it their way. The police do not intimidate me (I worked as cop for 20 years), and I now have the time to make my point: my property will not be trashed for the sake of inconsiderate, reckless, or power abusive public officials. Your submission to the powers that be might be different than mine. The more people that stand up to abuses, the fewer we will have. I really don't mind getting arrested for this. Hell, they are going to "arrest" a citizen in this situation anyway; you may as well stand ground and go for the promise to treat your property with respect. I always had that in mind when I handled other peoples property, and it really isn't that hard, or too much to ask. I didn't tolerate other officers abusing property OR people, either.