Thank you for that . . . it takes a big man to admit he made a mistake.
-
ODT Gun Show & Swap Meet - May 4, 2024! - Click here for info
Serial number field in postings / checking stolen firearm SN's
- Thread starter Deleted member 79987
- Start date
Thank you for that . . . it takes a big man to admit he made a mistake.
I don't know if it's that people are against it, or just more likely folks know how it's just not a likely option for determining if a weapon is stolen. Law enforcement isn't going to run a serial number on a gun you don't actually have in your immediate possession, so short of having the potential seller meet you and having a officer dispatched to your location to check the weapon it ain't happening.So, back to my original question... it sounds as if some people are against adding a SN to postings. Ahem...poopdaddy
So, back to my original question... it sounds as if some people are against adding a SN to postings. Ahem...
yea, not a huge fan.
Please note, that this post does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice should not be taken from posts on the internet. You should always consult with an attorney if you have doubts or questions. So, there are two code sections that are most relevant to the OP's original post:
O.C.G.A. § 16-8-7 - Theft by receiving stolen property. (a) A person commits the offense of theft by receiving stolen property when he receives, disposes of, or retains stolen property which he knows or should know was stolen unless the property is received, disposed of, or retained with intent to restore it to the owner.
O.C.G.A. § 16-9-70 Criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark
(a) A person commits the offense of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark when he or she buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or has in his or her possession a radio, piano, phonograph, sewing machine, washing machine, typewriter, adding machine, comptometer, bicycle, firearm, safe, vacuum cleaner, dictaphone, watch, watch movement, watch case, or any other mechanical or electrical device, appliance, contrivance, material, vessel as defined in Code Section 52-7-3, or other piece of apparatus or equipment, other than a motor vehicle as defined in Code Section 40-1-1, from which he or she knows the manufacturer's name plate, serial number, or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed for the purpose of concealing or destroying the identity of such article.
(b) A person convicted of the offense of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.
(c) This Code section does not apply to those cases or instances where any of the changes or alterations enumerated in subsection (a) of this Code section have been customarily made or done as an established practice in the ordinary and regular conduct of business by the original manufacturer or by his duly appointed direct representative or under specific authorization from the original manufacturer.
I for one do not want anyone to know the serial numbers on any of my firearms and would refuse to post them on any forum. Probably 99% of all transactions on ODT are legitimate and do not involve stolen firearms. Most of the people here value their gun rights and do not want to see firearms in the hands of criminals nor do they want to be involved in stolen firearms and because of that, the members here along with the feedback system, do a decent job of policing the transactions here.
A few tips for buying used firearms from other individuals:
Please do not bombard your local law enforcement agency requesting gun serial numbers be checked to see if they are stolen. Be safe and use common sense in your trading habits of firearms, don't overthink it. Follow Federal and State laws. Do not purchase or possess a firearm that has a serial number removed or altered in some way. If you think a firearm that is in your possession may be stolen then call your local law enforcement agency on a non-emergency number and explain why you think it could be stolen and request for an officer come out and check it. Don't go walking into the PD with it in your hands hoping they will check it for you. Very bad things will happen. Do not request law enforcement run checks on gun serial numbers that you are just thinking about buying. You need to have the gun in your possession and there needs to be some reason for the check. If you think it is stolen, then be prepared to turn it over to the officer if it is in fact stolen. You will likely never see it again.
A example reason to have a gun checked by law enforcement as possibly being stolen would be your shady brother in law who you suspect of having a meth problem, has no job, showed up to deer camp with a new to him mint condition $1200 rifle and you bought it from him for $400. Or you purchased a $500 glock off ODT from a new user with no feedback for $250 who arrived to the meeting sporting gang tattoos all over his neck and arms. Also, keep in mind that criminals who steal guns will try to keep them for themselves, or sell them to other criminals they know to commit other crimes, or trade them for drugs. Many stolen firearms end up on the black market and are sold on the street, not on public forums like this. They take a big chance of getting caught when selling outside their network of other criminals, but it does happen. There are more convicted felons here on ODT trying to purchase firearms than there are felons trying to sell firearms.
Try to trade with people who have carry permits that are willing to let you see the permit and take a look at their driver's license. Make sure the info matches between the two. A guy with a New York driver's license buying a handgun from you in Georgia is a red flag and also very illegal. A person selling you a firearm who has no drivers license to show you is a red flag. Honest people should not have a problem with you asking. Although, they might have a problem with you taking pictures of their ID or writing stuff down. Ask if they are willing to give you bill of sale, ask how and where they purchased the firearm. A bill of sale is not firearm registration, but it is evidence to help protect you if you unintentionally acquire a stolen firearm or law enforcement comes knocking looking for a firearm. It is also a usually an indicator of good intentions if the person is willing to make one out for you. But most importantly, if your gut feeling tells you the gun you are buying might be stolen . . then don't buy it. Just realize at some point you may unintentionally purchase a stolen firearm if you trade a lot. The person that sold it to you may have no idea that it was stolen since he bought it used himself. He may have even purchased it used from a gun store. Gun stores have been known to unknowingly sell stolen used firearms. It happens. In the eyes of the law, a gun is not stolen if it has never been reported stolen. It may be stolen, but if it has never been reported stolen how is anyone to know or prove it is stolen? If law enforcement contacts you and asks about a firearm you purchased from someone, be truthful and cooperative with the investigation. Give it to them if they request it. Do not obstruct the investigation in any way if you have nothing to hide. Remember, if you unknowingly purchased a stolen firearm that is confiscated and you are out the firearm and your money . . you are now a victim and should be asking to have your own police report done. Write down the serial numbers for firearms you purchase, take pictures of them, don't leave them in vehicles, and most importantly if you have firearm stolen, file a police report and provide the serial number, otherwise you have no hope of ever getting it back.
O.C.G.A. § 16-8-7 - Theft by receiving stolen property. (a) A person commits the offense of theft by receiving stolen property when he receives, disposes of, or retains stolen property which he knows or should know was stolen unless the property is received, disposed of, or retained with intent to restore it to the owner.
O.C.G.A. § 16-9-70 Criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark
(a) A person commits the offense of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark when he or she buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or has in his or her possession a radio, piano, phonograph, sewing machine, washing machine, typewriter, adding machine, comptometer, bicycle, firearm, safe, vacuum cleaner, dictaphone, watch, watch movement, watch case, or any other mechanical or electrical device, appliance, contrivance, material, vessel as defined in Code Section 52-7-3, or other piece of apparatus or equipment, other than a motor vehicle as defined in Code Section 40-1-1, from which he or she knows the manufacturer's name plate, serial number, or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed for the purpose of concealing or destroying the identity of such article.
(b) A person convicted of the offense of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.
(c) This Code section does not apply to those cases or instances where any of the changes or alterations enumerated in subsection (a) of this Code section have been customarily made or done as an established practice in the ordinary and regular conduct of business by the original manufacturer or by his duly appointed direct representative or under specific authorization from the original manufacturer.
I for one do not want anyone to know the serial numbers on any of my firearms and would refuse to post them on any forum. Probably 99% of all transactions on ODT are legitimate and do not involve stolen firearms. Most of the people here value their gun rights and do not want to see firearms in the hands of criminals nor do they want to be involved in stolen firearms and because of that, the members here along with the feedback system, do a decent job of policing the transactions here.
A few tips for buying used firearms from other individuals:
Please do not bombard your local law enforcement agency requesting gun serial numbers be checked to see if they are stolen. Be safe and use common sense in your trading habits of firearms, don't overthink it. Follow Federal and State laws. Do not purchase or possess a firearm that has a serial number removed or altered in some way. If you think a firearm that is in your possession may be stolen then call your local law enforcement agency on a non-emergency number and explain why you think it could be stolen and request for an officer come out and check it. Don't go walking into the PD with it in your hands hoping they will check it for you. Very bad things will happen. Do not request law enforcement run checks on gun serial numbers that you are just thinking about buying. You need to have the gun in your possession and there needs to be some reason for the check. If you think it is stolen, then be prepared to turn it over to the officer if it is in fact stolen. You will likely never see it again.
A example reason to have a gun checked by law enforcement as possibly being stolen would be your shady brother in law who you suspect of having a meth problem, has no job, showed up to deer camp with a new to him mint condition $1200 rifle and you bought it from him for $400. Or you purchased a $500 glock off ODT from a new user with no feedback for $250 who arrived to the meeting sporting gang tattoos all over his neck and arms. Also, keep in mind that criminals who steal guns will try to keep them for themselves, or sell them to other criminals they know to commit other crimes, or trade them for drugs. Many stolen firearms end up on the black market and are sold on the street, not on public forums like this. They take a big chance of getting caught when selling outside their network of other criminals, but it does happen. There are more convicted felons here on ODT trying to purchase firearms than there are felons trying to sell firearms.
Try to trade with people who have carry permits that are willing to let you see the permit and take a look at their driver's license. Make sure the info matches between the two. A guy with a New York driver's license buying a handgun from you in Georgia is a red flag and also very illegal. A person selling you a firearm who has no drivers license to show you is a red flag. Honest people should not have a problem with you asking. Although, they might have a problem with you taking pictures of their ID or writing stuff down. Ask if they are willing to give you bill of sale, ask how and where they purchased the firearm. A bill of sale is not firearm registration, but it is evidence to help protect you if you unintentionally acquire a stolen firearm or law enforcement comes knocking looking for a firearm. It is also a usually an indicator of good intentions if the person is willing to make one out for you. But most importantly, if your gut feeling tells you the gun you are buying might be stolen . . then don't buy it. Just realize at some point you may unintentionally purchase a stolen firearm if you trade a lot. The person that sold it to you may have no idea that it was stolen since he bought it used himself. He may have even purchased it used from a gun store. Gun stores have been known to unknowingly sell stolen used firearms. It happens. In the eyes of the law, a gun is not stolen if it has never been reported stolen. It may be stolen, but if it has never been reported stolen how is anyone to know or prove it is stolen? If law enforcement contacts you and asks about a firearm you purchased from someone, be truthful and cooperative with the investigation. Give it to them if they request it. Do not obstruct the investigation in any way if you have nothing to hide. Remember, if you unknowingly purchased a stolen firearm that is confiscated and you are out the firearm and your money . . you are now a victim and should be asking to have your own police report done. Write down the serial numbers for firearms you purchase, take pictures of them, don't leave them in vehicles, and most importantly if you have firearm stolen, file a police report and provide the serial number, otherwise you have no hope of ever getting it back.
Right on.
BOS will protect you. See captain Dave.
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2010
- Messages
- 4,387
- Reaction score
- 2,004
I've had several firearms stolen over the years (Burglaries). They/serial numbers were reported to the police, but only one actually got found decades later!
I would guess that stolen weapons "go where the money is" and that would likely be to prohibited states and low-life acquaintances.
I would guess that stolen weapons "go where the money is" and that would likely be to prohibited states and low-life acquaintances.
