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Gun serial number search

nyctreeman
Is there any nationwide database sites that I can check a handgun serial number to see if it is stolen before I sell it?
(Preferably free search)

Thanks much
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • dcs shooters
    If you are in law enforcement, you can use ATF and NCIC.
    The public has a hard time finding out about stolen firearms.
    There are other posts on the subject if you put it in the search function.
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  • Txs
    There's really no reason your local LE agency wouldn't run a serial for you - but there's a catch. They'll need to have the gun in front of them and if it turns out to be reported stolen they'll seize it on the spot. Any money you might have in it will be gone.

    If this happens I wouldn't worry about being blamed for the theft as long as you're willing to give an affidavit stating how it came into your possession.

    As long as you didn't engage in some sort of clearly questionable deal or pay a ridiculously low price there's no danger of being nailed for receiving stolen property.
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  • nyctreeman
    Well that figures fellas....and I kind of suspected that too.

    I have many friends in LE, but I didn't want to burden them with a request that may put them in jeapordy career wise.

    The gun in question is no big deal, a Nort American Arms .22 Magnum derringer....I just have a bad feeling about the kid that wants me to sell it for him. Since it is a no money item, I will probably send him packing (pun intended) haha :)

    One thing I have to say is this...it sucks that the LE agencies both Federal and State do not offer such free services (except Florida) for the people who pay their damn salaries!

    Anyway, the deal smelled sour to me, so I'm not buying or selling the gun .... Case Closed.

    Thanks again to all the experts on GB....always a success!
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  • partisan
    There is no state more gun friendly than Florida. Since this gun is of limited value you may want LE to run it, and if they take it it's no big deal.
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  • He Dog
    quote:One thing I have to say is this...it sucks that the LE agencies both Federal and State do not offer such free services (except Florida) for the people who pay their damn salaries!

    1. As stated above they will run it for you for free.

    2. If is is stolen, do you expect the police to say, "Oh well, you are such a fine upstanding tax payer, we will just let you keep it."?

    3. Don't forget cops also pay taxes. Doing so does not mean everyone who works for the government should be your slave.

    Rant Off.
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  • nyctreeman
    Who said anything about slaves?

    The database of stolen guns is paid for with taxpayers dollars, and should be free for anyone to access.

    I see no downside to this since criminals don't care if their guns are stolen, and free access would protect honest people like myself from being caught up in a stolen gun fiasco.

    There is of course the possibility that I would not want to reveal the source of a stolen gun, it is possible that the person who has it is also an innocent victim, and I would not consider it my place to put him in that position. I suppose that I could just say to the person that if this gun is stolen, you lose it.

    My bottom line is that the government should not be able to retrict access to public information compiled at the expense of public dollars unless it would adversely affect national security.
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  • Txs
    quote:Originally posted by nyctreeman
    My bottom line is that the government should not be able to retrict access to public information compiled at the expense of public dollars unless it would adversely affect national security.
    You're failing to consider that the owner of that stolen gun pays to support a program designed to not only help recover property, but also to identify and punish those who would steal from him.

    You also haven't thought through the fact that there are several ways where open access to stolen item serial number databases could be used to thieve's and fence's benefit. Detailing such schemes on an open forum wouldn't be wise, but they're possible.

    Viewing such information as 'public information' simply because it was gathered using tax dollars is incorrect. If a stolen item hasn't been recovered the case remains open and information relating to any ongoing criminal investigations is restricted - logically so.
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  • jodynbob
    I would ask the person who is requesting you to sell it for him to accompany you to the closest PD to have an officer run the pistol for stolen. If he refuses, you'll have a good idea if it's hot or not. If he complies, and it shows to be stolen then you don't have to worry about anything and he can write them a quick statement.

    As a LEO, I can tell you that a majority of people who report stolen firearms don't even have the serial number saved anywhere. I would say only 1 out of every 10 or so have the SN. The rest do good to tell you the brand and model. Most can only tell you the color, brand, and caliber.

    Any time I buy a gun from an individual (seeming upstanding or not) I always ask them if they're willing to let an officer run the gun.
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  • nyctreeman
    Well this all sounds like good advice, perhaps I am being a little naive about criminals using that database to their own benefit...although I can't imagine how that would work, I am sure there are many scams I have never thought of :P

    Yes indeed, if a person is unwilling to let the PD run the number, that would be a strong indicator for me as well.

    My policy hence forth will be to insist upon that before I sell any guns for people.
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