Recording Serial Numbers at Wexford

[JavaProgrammer]

On Saturday, I was at the SGL in Wexford. While I was there, a group of about five people were fined for exceeding the three round limit. When this group was approached by the game commission officer, the officer identified himself, informed the group of their infraction, asked for their IDs, and asked for the serial numbers of their rifles. I was surprised by this. Do game commission officers have the authority to record a weapon's serial number?

Even though I think that the three round limit is a stupid rule, I still follow it. Loading a magazine to its capacity isn't worth the fine.

[cigarmanpa]

why would he be recording the serial numbers....since there is no 'registry' in pa there would be no reason to do this.

[JavaProgrammer]

Originally Posted by cigarmanpa

why would he be recording the serial numbers....since there is no 'registry' in pa there would be no reason to do this.

Maybe I'll ask him the next time I see him at the range. Since I follow the rules, it won't hurt to ask. I still have freedom of speech, at least for the time being.

[PAfarmboy]

He would be running the gun through NCIC to see if it was stolen. I would hope he would be checking to see if it is stolen. If you cant follow the very posted rules, you need to get cited.

[Yoder]

Originally Posted by PAfarmboy

He would be running the gun through NCIC to see if it was stolen. I would hope he would be checking to see if it is stolen. If you cant follow the very posted rules, you need to get cited.

This makes sense. Just because you put 4 rds in your gun the game warden has the right to violate your constitutional rights and do an illegal search on your firearm. Just because somebody doesn't obey the retarded 3rd rule doesn't mean they are a criminal.

[JavaProgrammer]

Checking to see if it is stolen makes sense, but is there anything preventing the game commission officer from entering the serial number into the database of sales?

Originally Posted by Yoder

Just because you put 4 rds in your gun the game warden has the right to violate your constitutional rights and do an illegal search on your firearm.

This can be taken to extremes. If he has the right to search a firearm, does he have the right to search other property? Can he search a vehicle that is parked in the SGL parking lot because the driver loaded four rounds?

[cigarmanpa]

I'm not seeing how loading too many roudns means the firearm is stollen.

[falcn]

Never having been to the SGL ranges yet, but having read their websites - is it a 3 rounds and you are done? or 3 rounds per loading of a magazine/clip?

6 rounds for the pistols....again is that 6 rounds and you are done or 6 rounds per mag?

I realize that it so that you don't keep shooting forever...but if you drop a mag out and slap another one with 6 in the pistol...I'm not seeing the difference.

[JavaProgrammer]

The limit is on how many rounds can be in the weapon at any given time. This just means that shooter spends more time reloading magazines. Having a limit of three rounds per range trip would be rather silly.

If the game commission wanted to prevent people from shooting all day long, they would post a time limit, not a round limit.

[Howard Bullock]

I hope someone has some inside information on why such a regulation exists at the range. The only thing I can think of is that when hunting these are the limits (Revolver: 6 shots; Rifle: 3 shots) so it was extended to the range which does not make sense either.

This is one regulation that certainly needs changed.