You actually had to use your gun

[Tirod]

And the result was that it's considered a "good shoot."

Nonetheless, that firearm is evidence, and it's now in a bag or otherwise in police possession for the duration. How long? The subject having come up before, and attested to by LEO's around the net, it will be in an evidence locker for months. If a trial is scheduled for some reason, it could be a year, or longer.

You tactically won the battle, but strategically you are now down one gun.

If that firearms incident occurred in your home, and you live in a gun restrictive state ("behind enemy lines" is often said to characterize the climate,) then the police may well search your home completely on the legal construct that other guns may have been used. They will be taken, too, and until it's forensically proven they weren't used in the incident and it covered up, held as evidence. And as evidence, case numbers are often inscribed into the metal on the flat surfaces, along with other annotations. One pistol used in a famous shooting in the sixties was recently "liberated" and returned to next of kin if I have it correct, and there are literally dozens of notations scratched into the bluing. It's not looking real good.

Again, you won the battle, strategically you are now completely disarmed, and your collection being handled roughly at best. Given the number of family, friends, and gang members who might consider you getting away with incarcerating their significant other, or worse, killing them, it's not looking good.

We focus a lot on what gun, what ammo, some on what tactics, very little on preventing the incident with good awareness, almost none on actual Home Defense with a hardened exterior and perimeter security. After the shoot? It's given no thought at all.

It's not about whether your jurisdiction will or won't go to an extreme in seizing your firearms - they do for the gun involved, they do in total in some states. Do you want to win one gun battle just to see your firearms defense completely gutted?

It's the High Road, keep that in mind, what are you planning on doing to prevent it? In the aftermath of a shooting, you may not be able to just go out and buy another gun. And yet, you very well may have more need than ever.

If you really plan on discharging that firearm, then what thought have you given it?

 

[Elkins45]

I have a couple of spares buried in the yard.

 

[steveracer]

It took six months to get my gun back from the Washington police. They took my carry piece (used in the shoot) and a backup I kept in the truck, which was towed away from the scene (the truck had a bullet in it and was evidence).
I got my vehicle back in three days, and my insurance covered the damage. I got the backup gun with the truck in a little cardboard box that it was ziptied into with little labels on the gun and mag.
Six months went by, and the cops called and said "come get your stuff". I got my gun back. It never occured to me to try and buy a gun during the time from a dealer. I mostly buy face to face, and I don't think I made any purchases while I was waiting for me pistol.
I had several others at home.
Of note, I never did get the magazine that was in it, or any of the ammo that was in it.

 

[45_auto]

If it saved my life or someone's I cared about, I would consider the loss of the gun, car, boat, house, or whatever else was involved to be a small price to pay. Not even worth thinking about. Not the kind of things you want to be on your mind when it comes time to make a shoot/no shoot decision.

If the cops take all your guns after the shooting, you either need to dig a spare up out of the yard as Elkins45 said, or have some family or friends who care enough about you to loan you one. Again, not a subject worth worrying about.

 

[Cannibul]

What's the other option?

Let the bad guy shoot you?

 

[Warp]

I have a couple of spares buried in the yard.

Given the extreme portrait painted by the OP, this seems to be the only viable option. Maybe even buried on property you own separate from your residence in case they search the yard with metal detectors too.

Maybe plant some flowers or something at the same time, or tend a garden, so there is a reason for the freshly tilled soil after you bury them.

 

[Coyote3855]

It took almost a year for police to release to friend of mine his rifle that was stolen from his truck. No one was shot, the police caught the thief within days, but he was without his gun for a long time. I know that some instructors recommend several things: 1) don't carry anything you aren't willing to lose or to be damaged by authorities (by marking, incorrect storage etc.). Leave the $2500 custom 1911 with ivory grips at home and carry a Glock. 2) have a duplicate carry gun or a reasonable replacement.

I have no answer for the possibility that police might search my home after a shooting there or elsewhere. Seems unlikely in my state, but off site storage seems the only solution.

 

[RavenTai]

Mine was held for 9 months by the saint Petersburg, Florida police, it was returned to me with paint pen markings all over it, alcohol removed them. No real damage. It was a cheap Keltech in a cheap holster, I was happy to have it back, but had I lost it forever to a burocracy that would have been the least of my concerns, it had served it's purpose, me and mine were safe and that is what's important.

For a few days I was unarmed, it was stressful at the time, at that point I felt nervous about everyone when I was out and about, who is the next guy to pull a gun? Will my knife be enough? First oportunity I made my way to a gun store and got new concealed carry gun holster and ammo. And felt better, whole, prepared to be out in the world.


Defending yourfamily by shooting someone is very stressful, telling and re telling your side the story until the next morning compounds the stress, the loss of your gun will not be at the front of your mind.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Well, I think the jest of your OP is that prevention beats a cure. Taking steps to prevent the unlikely even of a shootout with a criminal is much better than the alternative.

To that I agree 100%. There is definitely a lot that goes with shooting someone other than the act.

Do you want to win one gun battle just to see your firearms defense completely gutted?

Well, if the occasion does occur where it is necessary, that won't be part of the equation. I will only shoot a person to save my life or the life of someone I love. I am not looking to get involved in a shooting.

If my SD or HD firearm comes out, my or my loved ones life is in peril. And at that point, I'm not considering the aftermath.

Of note, I never did get the magazine that was in it, or any of the ammo that was in it.

Part of my job is drafting motions and pleadings for the prosecuting attorneys office in my county.
I have on many occasions drafted a motion and order releasing property after a court case. You should not have to do this if charges were never filed. If there were no charges filed, generally the police will do like did with Steve and just say, "Come get your gun." (At least that's how we do it in my jurisdiction. Yours may be different).
If someone is found not guilty (which I have seen as well) then we have to prepare the motion and order.

In either case, any ammunition you have with it will be lost.
It always says in the order, "Any ammunition is to be destroyed". I think it is silly, but we have to do it.

You should have gotten the magazine back though. I don't get that part.

 

[X-Rap]

For me I have enough other clones of EDC that I wouldn't miss it if it were stolen or confiscated.
I imagine there are situations in which all firearms present would be gathered up in the name of public safety but if those circumstances exist they should be addressed by gun and civil rights organizations within that state.
I know one guy who used is gun after being stabbed in his home. The SO took his gun as evidence and he told me Ruger personally contacted and then shipped a replacement FOC to a local FFL.
I didn't see this in person but I know the rest of his story is true.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[jmorris]

Only personally know of one incident, gun was gone for awhile. Returned in plastic bag, mag still loaded, less than a year and didn't touch any other firearm or ammunition in the house.

Actually much faster turn around than a friend who had a firearm stolen when he lived in MS they kept it until all the legal proceedings had been exhausted against the thief, IIRC around 4 years.

 

[Speedo66]

It's been my experience in NYC that the arresting officer scratches his initials into the gun so that there is a chain of evidence, i.e., to show it's the same gun he confiscated at the time of the alleged crime. It then goes to the property clerks office where is is shrink wrapped into an evidence bag. Any ammo is bagged separately.

If you have other guns they will all be confiscated. Arrest to trial can sometimes take several years. After the case or trial ends, assuming you are found not guilty, the local district attorney will resist giving your guns back. No legal reason, just because it's an anti culture. After spending a fortune for a good attorney, you will probably have to expend additional funds for your attorney to make a written motion to get your legal property back. It will not be a priority to the judge and your motion may be pending for quite a while. During such time the police may "accidentally" dispose of your gun(s). They used to dump them offshore, now I think they have a contract with a hanger manufacturer, so they may be smelted down into wire for hangers.

Not pretty, but that's the way it is. Needless to say, it will be difficult to get whatever type of handgun license you may have had renewed, be it carry, premises, target, or hunting.

 

[Warp]

It's been my experience in NYC that the arresting officer scratches his initials into the gun so that there is a chain of evidence, i.e., to show it's the same gun he confiscated at the time of the alleged crime. It then goes to the property clerks office where is is shrink wrapped into an evidence bag. Any ammo is bagged separately.

If you have other guns they will all be confiscated. Arrest to trial can sometimes take several years. After the case or trial ends, assuming you are found not guilty, the local district attorney will resist giving your guns back. No legal reason, just because it's an anti culture. After spending a fortune for a good attorney, you will probably have to expend additional funds for your attorney to make a written motion to get your legal property back. It will not be a priority to the judge and your motion may be pending for quite a while. During such time the police may "accidentally" dispose of your gun(s). They used to dump them offshore, now I think they have a contract with a hanger manufacturer, so they may be smelted down into wire for hangers.

Not pretty, but that's the way it is. Needless to say, it will be difficult to get whatever type of handgun license you may have had renewed, be it carry, premises, target, or hunting.

This post...one of the reasons I won't even visit NYC let alone live there

 

[taliv]

We don't discuss hardening houses that much not because it isn't important but because this is a rkba forum and construction work is slightly off topic. That said it does get some air time in S&T on occasion.

I don't have many firearms but I do have 4 copies of my carry gun. One is almost identical. One is a worn out version that I just use for parts now. And one only has iron sights for competitions that prohibit optics on pistols.

In the unlikely event local law enforcement took my guns, both the sheriff and DA would loan me one of theirs.

 

[Flechette]

It took six months to get my gun back from the Washington police. They took my carry piece (used in the shoot) and a backup I kept in the truck, which was towed away from the scene (the truck had a bullet in it and was evidence).
I got my vehicle back in three days, and my insurance covered the damage. I got the backup gun with the truck in a little cardboard box that it was ziptied into with little labels on the gun and mag.
Six months went by, and the cops called and said "come get your stuff". I got my gun back. It never occured to me to try and buy a gun during the time from a dealer. I mostly buy face to face, and I don't think I made any purchases while I was waiting for me pistol.
I had several others at home.
Of note, I never did get the magazine that was in it, or any of the ammo that was in it.

In one incident it took months to get my guns (plural) back.

In another the kept them and cut me a check.

Solution: Own more than one gun and keep them in different locations.

 

[Old Dog]

Good lord, is it already time for this quarterly thread again? And do people seriously worry about this stuff?

If I am involved in the (statistically very) unlikely event of having to use a firearm as a citizen to defend myself, a loved one or my home, I could care less what happens to the firearm I utilized -- I bought it for quite probably a just such a one-time use incident. Even if it were a beloved custom 1911 that I waited over a year for and spent more on than my truck is worth, it did its job.

Do you want to win one gun battle just to see your firearms defense completely gutted?

Even were that the case, if it [a gun] saved the life of my woman or my children, unless total civil unrest, anarchy or the zombie apocalypse sudden developed, I wouldn't lose sleep about losing a tool or some tools ... in the end, guns are just stuff. Which can be replaced. Life cannot.

 

[X-Rap]

We focus a lot on what gun, what ammo, some on what tactics, very little on preventing the incident with good awareness, almost none on actual Home Defense with a hardened exterior and perimeter security. After the shoot? It's given no thought at all.

The typical residential home has very little to offer in terms of hardening, the rental unit even less. We hear here how little it takes to breach an expensive safe (RSC) how much do we expect to harden windows and entry doors with windows and sidelights let alone 6' patio doors?

 

[WestKentucky]

sometimes cops don't even ask you to hand over your weapon for them to clear it... don't ask... I couldn't explain it anyway. Calendar is still rolling days off though.

 

[dwjwin50]

That's why I've got a $400 Kahr. Nothing special, but a fine firearm that's easily replaced.

 

[Rock185]

My personally owned firearm was impounded as evidence for about a year and a half after an on-duty lethal force incident. After completion of the investigation and adjudication of the case, my gun was returned to me without incident. IMHO, should a person become involved in a lethal force incident and survive, they will likely have more on their mind than than how well their gun is taken care of while held as evidence, what gun to immediately replace it with, etc. I really didn't care about that with mine, it was an easily replaced generic Glock.

FWIW, The two agencies I worked for quit engraving case numbers,etc. on firearms many years ago. At the big agency, and later at the small, conscientious efforts were always made to return firearms to the lawful owners. This, in spite of what many on the internet seem to believe. But, I live out West and can't speak for some jurisdictions where possession of firearms is discouraged for any but authorized Government employees...........

 

[Arizona_Mike]

It took my friend two years to get multiple guns back after being accused of brandishing (but never charged) in his own condo's gated lot in St. Louis in the 'early 90s. Gun was in hand pointed straight down---bathrobe did not have a pocket. Was the morning after a series of car robberies and he thought the person buzzing his unit frantically was a neighbor calling for help not the gate repairman. Repairman's boss who was not present called police claiming to have been the one present and threatened with the gun. Claimed he called my friend on the phone and was threatened (gave the police a wrong number). The words "crazy *ethnic identifier*" appear on the police report he obtained, as well as the claim that he was a "gun nut" and threatened his neighbors and that they were all afraid of him. In reality he was a mild mannered medical resident who went to the range a couple times a week.

There was a raid and they cleaned him out. Even took cases of ammo (some was mine).

 

[Old Dog]

More posts that don't even answer the OP's questions ...

 

[GRIZ22]

To avoid your other guns being seized after a shooting put away and carry a clean gun.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

More posts that don't even answer the OP's questions ...

Some where questioning the OP's premise about of the potential of loosing all of them. I was giving an example.

No idea what my friend does to prevent this except for having two homes in different states.

Mike

 

[MedWheeler]

The OP is discussing the possibility of all of one's guns being seized or otherwise made inaccessible, not just the one used in the (hypothetical) shooting.

With that in mind, such a scenario would be extremely unlikely in my area unless I was actually arrested and charged with a crime (I admit that the likelihood of this waxes and wanes as the political climate changes.) If I were charged with a crime serious enough to result in the seizure of all of my weapons, I'd be in no legal position to possess one anyway, either due to a court order or due to incarceration, so having a spare "hidden" somewhere would probably be moot.

However, in the even-less-likely case of losing all my firearms without such arrest or court order, I'd simply acquire another at the soonest opportunity.

For countless people throughout the US, especially with its various (and sometimes volatile) political climates, this is certainly serious thinking material.