Storage Facility Question (law)

[free]

Wasn't really sure where to put this question.

I was recently at my parents' house, and they were watching something called "Storage Wars". That show is not really the subject of my question - but it was the genesis.

The scenario:

1. Suppose you went to a storage auction and you won the auction, fair and square, according to whatever rules there may have been.
2. You now own whatever is in the locker
3. Now suppose that when cleaning out the storage locker you won, you found some guns. For the sake of this question, suppose they include rifles and pistols (no NFA items)
4. Suppose for the sake of this question (although I don't know why it would matter), the original rental contract did NOT have a "no guns" policy
5. Suppose for the sake of this question, the scenario occurs in a "ALL transfers must go through an FFL" state
6. Assume that no guns are reported lost, stolen, or otherwise have any kind of illegal status in and of themselves

Questions:

• What is the legal status of the guns?
• Do you in fact, own them without having to do anything else?
• Do you need to have them transferred to you via an FFL?
• Does the storage facility or auctioneer have any role in what happens next?
• What if you are not a resident of the state where the auction occurs?
• Does it matter of the storage locker renter is or is not still alive and generally contactable?
• Anything else of interest to know?

[Krichardson]

Why no NFA items?

[Emptymag]

This has come up before, but it's been a good while.
I recall people taking legal ownership of guns found this way, but I can't recall the details that would answer your questions.

[Statkowski]

According to the Hollywood movies, the Good Guy's got a storage unit filled with all sorts of automatic weapons, anti-tank weapons, assorted explosives (including Claymores) and more small arms than many gun shops.

How'd you like to have the winning bid for one of those storage units?

[Krichardson]

According to the Hollywood movies, the Good Guy's got a storage unit filled with all sorts of automatic weapons, anti-tank weapons, assorted explosives (including Claymores) and more small arms than many gun shops.

How'd you like to have the winning bid for one of those storage units?

It would be bittersweet unless you kept quiet about it...otherwise someone would be coming to confiscate it all.

[God's Country]

Don't know for sure. It probably varies from state to state. I'm willing to bet there is some type of disclaimer before any auction stating that any firearms that fall under the definition of a firearm need to be handled accordingly. In Pa I'm guessing all would need to be transferred to the new owner, as with any auction or raffle, etc, and if any come up stolen tough titty for you.

[JDA58]

Anything else of interest to know?

Yeah.... Rats can't vomit.

[father-of-five]

In my New Jersey travels, i have heard more than one New Jersey resident say they have firearms in a storage area in Pennsylvania.
And Governor Murphy think the firearms are all coming into his state. ;-)

[free]

Yeah.... Rats can't vomit.

Sure they can - if you punch them in the gut hard enough.

[mbinpa]

IANAL, nor even an expert in such things. But seeing as you asked, this is what I would do.

Take anything with a serial number to my favorite FFL and get them transferred to me. It has been discussed several times here that even in the case where no FFL transfer is required (inheritance, gift from immediate relative, etc.) it is possible to create a sale database entry so that the firearm has a linage back to me. Once the firearms have been transferred to you there can be no real question of ownership. I would also keep all auction papers, including an inventory of the unit if one was made, just in case any of the firearm serial numbers pop up with issues.