What happens if someone tries to transfer a stolen gun?

[markshere2]

If the gun doesn't come up stolen during the nics/pics its good to go.

Incorrect. Nics pics checks the buyer, not the gun.

[bogey1]

Incorrect. Nics pics checks the buyer, not the gun.

I thought they ran the serial # just for that very reason? Hmmm.

[Emptymag]

This.

Happened to me.

Dirtbag thief is still making 3 and 6 dollar payments to me via the court system.

Call JG Wentworth and get your entire settlement!

LOL

[jthrelf]

Call JG Wentworth and get your entire settlement!

LOL

877-CASH NOW! Haha.

[mattre]

1. The dealer doesn't check any databases to see if a gun is stolen. He doesn't have access to NCIC or whatever it is that stolen goods are listed for the police to check.
2. The background check doesn't check to see if the gun is stolen. Background checks only check the criminal/mental health background of the BUYER. Nothing about the gun is made known to NICS or PICS.
3. Rifles/shotguns aren't checked post-transfer.
4. The State Police may notice that a stolen "firearm"(handgun, SBS, SBR) was transferred when they put the Record of Sale into the database.


Until the whereabouts of a stolen gun is known, or is suspected to be, by other investigative measures - a stolen gun looks just the same as any other gun to all parties.

I guess my assumption that the serial number was checked at transfer was wrong! I wonder how often the State Police would catch stolen firearms when adding to the database...it seems like it should be trivial to do it automatically.

I'm imagining now buying a gun in a private sale and doing the transfer, and then getting a visit from the police before I even get a chance to shoot it. That would be infuriating!

[Gunsnwater]

I guess my assumption that the serial number was checked at transfer was wrong! I wonder how often the State Police would catch stolen firearms when adding to the database...it seems like it should be trivial to do it automatically.

I'm imagining now buying a gun in a private sale and doing the transfer, and then getting a visit from the police before I even get a chance to shoot it. That would be infuriating!

Not a lot of people legally transfer stolen firearms. It happens. I wouldn't worry about it. People get struck by lightning too.

[USMC3531]

I guess my assumption that the serial number was checked at transfer was wrong! I wonder how often the State Police would catch stolen firearms when adding to the database...it seems like it should be trivial to do it automatically.

I'm imagining now buying a gun in a private sale and doing the transfer, and then getting a visit from the police before I even get a chance to shoot it. That would be infuriating!

Considering they are between 6-36months behind on entering guns into their database it may be awhile before you hear if a gun is stolen and that's IF they check it when entering it.

[Gun]

I would assume that part of the transfer involves checking the serial number against whatever database the police use, but so many gun laws are poorly thought it I wouldn't be completely shocked if it's not.

I'm guessing it would be flagged, and then the FFL probably has some responsibility to notify police etc. and the person who tried to sell it would probably face criminal charges. Is there any risk to the buyer? I.e. If I tried to buy a handgun from someone on Armslist that turned out to be stolen, is there any risk that I could get in trouble? (assuming I didn't know it was stolen, of course)

Are you asking for a friend?

[Noah_Zark]

I've purchased two firearms from FFLs over the years and had them call me within two weeks to return the guns as they had just been informed by investigating police agencies / ATFE (I don't know specifics) that they were stolen.

The first was 20-25 yrs ago when I bought an older used S&W revolver from Mahoning Valley Milling in Punxsutawney. Bought it on a Friday, was called the next Wednesday and I took it back the the next day for a full refund.

The second was in 2019, a used rifle I bought from Logan's Gun Gallery in North Washington, PA. They called about two weeks after I purchased it, and I returned it that following Saturday for a full refund.

Neither time was there any contact made directly to me by the investigators.

Noah