Reporting Lost/Stolen Weapons

[2nd 41]

Phila/Pa tried to pass a law requiring lost or stolen stuff be reported. One argument was that responsible people will report them and a law is not needed. I tend to agree with this. But just curious why a law like that would be rejected. Why would anyone be against this? Just curious. Thanks, Frank

 

[Fish828]

from personal experience, while living in philadelphia, my house was broken into and my remington 870 shotgun was stolen, among other things, while i wasn't home. i know i most definitely reported my gun as being stolen considering the neighborhood i'm in and i wanted to make sure beyond a sliver of doubt that if, or rather when, it is used for a crime, it is not tied to me whatsoever. i don't necessarily think the law is a bad idea, but like you said, i think that responsible people would report it more often than not. and if you're a criminal and you aren't supposed to have the gun in the first place, then it isn't registered to your name and there is no point in reporting it anyways.

 

[Steve in PA]

The idea behind the law was to stop the straw purchasers from using the excuse; "oh, that gun you (the police) recovered from a crime scene was mine, but it was lost/stolen last week/month/year.......but I didn't think it was important to report it".

In other words, the straw purchasers were using the "lost/stolen" excuse as an excuse to explain how they got rid (solid it illegally) of the gun.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

what happens if you loose a gun and report it as lost then find it? can you report it as found or is it permanently in the books as a lost gun that cannot be transferred?

 

[jrfoxx]

I think the biggst problem was that the law set a time limit on how lon you had to report it.What if it happened while I was gone for 2 weeks, a month, a year, etc.What if I have enough guns I just didnt notice 1 was missing for a couple weeks, a month, etc.

 

[Steve in PA]

There was no time limit. I have about 30 guns (rifles, shotguns and handguns). I do not touch, see or check on them daily. The idea was for the person to report it lost or stolen when he DISCOVERED it missing or lost.

Many people, especially the older folks have summer houses in Florida or other locations. I have a perfect example. A few years ago an older gent and his wife returned home after several weeks in Florida. When they got home the man discovered all his guns had been stolen. We suspected his druggie son who had broken into the house before. The man reported the guns stolen when he FOUND them missing. Didn't matter that they were stolen months before.

Of course there was no law requiring he do so, but he reported it. If the law had been passed in no way, shape or form would the man be "in trouble".

 

[Steve in PA]

If you find the handgun, call the police and its taken out of they system as being stolen. Same as recovering a stolen car.

 

[jrfoxx]

Steve in PA- I must have been thinking of a similar law proposed elsewhere then. I recall there being one from somewhere that said it had to be reported withing 24hrs of discovery, or it was a crime. Thought it was PA, but apparently not. That was my only beef with the proposal really. And even then, here's only 1 real reason I can think of where it would be an issue. That being, in the example you gave, lets say they guy wanted to, and reasonably believed he could, get the guns back quickly and safely from the druggie son without involving the cops and getting the son arrested.I personally feel he should have that right. I just don't like the govt FORCING someone to report a crime that only effect THEMSELVES if they choose not to for some REASONABLE (like my example above) reason.Otherwise, I don't think the law is a bad idea, as I'm willing to bet a lot of people making straw purchases and/or dealing guns illegally likely did/do use the "they were stolen" excuse to get away with it.Except in the example I gave, or those using the excuse to sell guns to criminals, I cant imgine it being an issue anyway, as anyone else would almost certainy report it on thier own to get thier guns back, an help keep them from being used in a crime.I sure know I'D report it ASAP, as i'd want my guns back, and the dirtaball that took them arrested.

 

[dvcrsn]

I know that here in Kali, when city councils/county supervisors etc are talking about reporting requirements for lost/stolen firearms--they put in unreasonable requirements in terms of timelines of when the report has to be made in terms of when the report has to be made. Prime example--law passed saying it has to be reported within 48 hours--and the owner is either out of time for a week or more and the breakin is early in the trip, in jurisdictions like Los Angeles, the owner will be charged.