Another Reality Show

[lizziedog1]

Yesterday I watched Storage Wars for the first time. I only caught a couple of episodes. In one, the buyer of a storage unit found some ammo, he was hoping to find guns too, but didn't.

Here are some questions. Lets say someone does buy a storage unit and discovers guns in them. Technically they own them, but no type of transfer was done. In some states this might not be a problem, but what about in California. You just bought a gun without going through their process. Has that person committed a crime? What if the buyer is a person not legally entitled to buy guns, did he committ a crime? What if there was a gun that had some sort of modification like too short a barrel, is the buyer in hot water with the Feds?

One more thing. If any of you watched more then a few episodes of this show, has anyone found guns?

 

[Hardtarget]

I haven't seen this show yet. You have brought up some points that will turn out to be real problems down the road. You know one of your questions will hit(maybe has already) to drag some unsuspecting person into court.

If you thought of it, maybe some legal mind has too. There may already be remedy plans in place...surely they know the possibility is there.

Mark

 

[Shadow 7D]

I'm sure that is covered somewhere in Cali DOJ (they have a website)
I'd say more, but it would be sarcastic...
there are many reasons I left.

 

[lizziedog1]

Lets say there is a full automatic in the locker someone just purchased. All I know is ATF isn't known for their sense of humor.

 

[longhair75]

One more thing. If any of you watched more then a few episodes of this show, has anyone found guns?

The older guy (Barry?) bought a locker that had a box with eight or nine flare guns. A couple of them were pretty rare and he sold them for a really nice profit.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I watched an episode the other night where one of the guys found magazines and ammo, but no guns. The buyer was actively searching the shed hoping to find firearms. he also found prescription, meds and other odd stuff. There were AR mags, obviosly 30 rounders. No idea what the legality is on such a 'found' object in California.

I suspect if you 'buy' guns in such an auction it's on YOU to make sure you follow legal protocols.

 

[ahpd1992]

On that same episode with the flare guns, Barry did say that if he found guns he would have to surrender them to the ATF and he was glad the flare guns werent real guns as he would've lost any profit from buying the locker

 

[nalioth]

"Reality shows" aren't.

They all have directors and content consultants.

All you have to do is watch Sons of Guns and see this for yourself.

 

[danprkr]

You gotta figure this has come up before the show started filming. They've been selling abandoned storage unit contents for a LONG time. So I'd say it's not some legal frontier, but I'd also say you'd better know the score before you bid, and consult an attorney before hand. After all you're buying a pig in a poke, and to hold you responsible for the contents of the poke wouldn't be very justified. Not saying it wouldn't happen of course, but it's since there was no intent it shouldn't be a crime.

Now if you find something illegal (illegal guns, counterfeit money, drugs, stolen cars whatever) and intentionally tried to put it back on the street that shows intent, but to find that and call the appropriate authorities shows the proper intent and SHOULD be enough to get you legal.

 

[goste]

In one of the first episodes I saw, the big guy, don't remember his name, bought a unit that had a safe. He took it somewhere and cut the door off, and found a HK sqeeze cock 9mm (pm7 ?)

He took it to a shop that test fired it, and bought it for what I thought was a pretty low price, I think around 350...

 

[gathert]

But it was pretty beat up finish wise and the ones in perfect condition went for around $700. Dont know why I remember that but I was flipping through channels and saw that part.

 

[jbkebert]

This show kinda makes me laugh. I have a contract to do maintenance work for 5 storage unit facilities. I have literally been inside a few hundred lockers. Either replacing door springs, checking supposed leaks, ect. I am also the guy tha gets called to cut the locks, take pictures, and secure the unit for auction.

There are precious few units with anything of value. Perhaps I am not a goru of fine antiques. Mostly what I see is bags of clothes, misc car parts, grandpa's old tools, in general junk. Only one locker comes to mind as being a true find. It wa not up for auction but the renter if I remember correctly had a broken door spring on the roll up door. The front of the unit was boxes of crap. I had to move several items to get enough room to work. Behind those boxes hidden from immediate view was a cherry 1965 chevy pick up truck and a massive snap on tool box filled with snap on tools. I was not snooping the renter was present and opened the unit for me to do the work.

I have seen a couple old side by side shot guns and some nice tools but they are few and far between. Like most reality shows these are staged. However for the good of the owners of the rental facilities. This show has generated alot of interest in locker auctions. Its funny to watch a crowd just in awe when the lock is cut and the unit is opened. Then the awe turns into what the heck is this. According to the tv this should be filled with solid gold bars and original copies of the mona lisa. Just goes to prove once again there is no reality in tv.

 

[jbkebert]

I should clarify a couple things.

If a unit is held for auction. At least two people are present when the renters lock is cut.

We are not allowed to enter the unit once it is held for auction.

All pictures are taken from outside looking into the unit. So items outside of plain view are not photographed or seen.

No inventory is taken at any time.

No employee is allowed to bid on a unit at auction.

So I have or no one but the original owner has any idea what the locker may contain.

Once photo's are taken the unit is secured, locked, and a tamper evient seal is placed on the door.

The seal is broken in plain view of all potential buyers.

Once the auction is complete the buyer has 48 hours to either rent the unit or clean it out.

Once the new owner takes possesion of the contents of the unit. It is up to them to go through and inventory the contents. No employee is allowed to help or enter the unit purchased.

So trying to probe the guys running a storage unit facility really provides no help in the auction process. The potential buyers are able to see anything that we were able to see. Potential buyers are not allowed to enter the locker until the bidding is done and the check is written.