Was this gun stolen?

[chhodge69]

Hypothetically speaking, of course, if a friend of mine had a pistol that he purchased long ago with no paperwork how could that friend now make sure the pistol was not stolen property? He has no reason to suspect that it is, btw.

Along the same lines, if my friend wanted to buy a long gun in a FTF transaction how could he check to be sure he's not buying stolen property?

Sorry if this has been covered - I did try searching and came up dry.

 

[Mike1234567]

I don't know how to check if a prospective purchase is stolen (maybe local Sheriff) but a written receipt with the serial number recorded and both the buyer and seller signatures and notation that driver's licenses were exchanged for visual ID will keep the buyer out of trouble... that won't keep a stolen gun from being confiscated though.

 

[mgkdrgn]

how could he check to be sure he's not buying stolen property?

He can't.

I'm an FFL, and -I- have no way to check if a gun is stolen.

 

[Art Eatman]

A PD or SO can run the serial number to see if a gun has been reported as stolen. If stolen, the gun must be turned in for return to the rightful owner--who then must return any insurance money to his insuror.

 

[tyeo098]

What state are you in?

 

[burrhead]

Been buying and selling and trading guns for nearly forty years. I’ve only bought two new guns in my life and everything else has been private sales, ie, no paperwork. I just don’t worry about the provenance of guns. If you buy a used car from an individual do you check if it was used in an armed robbery? Ever bought an antique and researched if it’s on a hot sheet? How about power tools? A TV at a garage sale? The whole stolen gun concern is really much ado about not much.

 

[chhodge69]

Thanks for the responses - I'm in NC btw

Yes I recognize it's nit-picky to worry about it but I am used to asking dumb questions as part of due-diligence. I guess I've been polluted by cop drama TV because in my head it's a bigger deal when it's a firearm than if it's a pocket watch.

But I can see how this would bog down the system if everyone checked every time a transaction took place... probably best to write up a bill of sale and move ahead.