How does a gun buy back handle stolen guns?

[Hondodawg]

So lets say I have a gun stolen. I report to the police. Several years later in some other location it shows up at a "gun confiscation buy back". Is it the responsibility of LE to return my gun back to me? Or does it go and get destroyed?

 

[Soapy5]

If you are lucky they might give you a commemorative railroad spike

 

[MErl]

probably up to the rules of each 'buyback' I wouldn't expect anything happening to them except destruction though.

 

[rcmodel]

Don't hold your breath.

It should be the governing body's responsibility to do a FICS (Firearms Instant Check System) to see if the gun is stolen.

However, the governing body's doing gun buy-backs are, IMO, very unlikely to give you back a gun recovered in a gun buy-back program.

Chances are 1000/1 it will be destroyed, or taken home by a high ranking government official to add to his collection.

rc

 

[maxyedor]

Most send them straight from the buyback to the recycling center, they don't get checked for anything but a clear chamber. However, I doubt many stolen guns actually get turned in, most are stolen to be used in crimes, and most criminals don't trust cops, so I doubt they'll risk it for a $200 gift certificate to a grocery store. I'd love to see some cold numbers about the guns that get turned in, but doubt I ever will.

 

[rcmodel]

so I doubt they'll risk it for a $200 gift certificate to a grocery store

They won't.

But grandma might to feed the baby mommas love childs!

rc

 

[USAF_Vet]

They handle stolen guns the way they do every other illegal gun that might get turned in. Toss them in the shredder and give the criminals amnesty.

Assuming a criminal would really trade a hot commodity on the streets for a $50 WalMart gift card, that is. Odds are, your stolen gun will never see a buy back. It might see an evidence locker when it gets recovered from a crime scene. You've got better odds having the gun returned to you in that case.

 

[BigBore44]

So technically if you were a criminal, you could use a gun to kill someone, then turn it into a buy back and never get charged with murder. And get paid. That's just awesome.:banghead:

Crime really does pay.....

 

[45_auto]

It should be the governing body's responsibility to do a FICS (Firearms Instant Check System) to see if the gun is stolen.

Never heard of a "FICS system" in the 7 years I was in law enforcement. No such thing at a national level, maybe some local database where you are? Or are you proposing a new government database? That should be cheap.

Stolen property (including guns) is currently part of the NCIC database. Any law enforcement agency can use it. If a law enforcement agency is doing the buy-back it would be easy for them to do the checks. Whether they do or not would be up to the agency.

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/is/ncic.htm

NCIC is a computerized index of criminal justice information (i.e.- criminal record history information, fugitives, stolen properties, missing persons). It is available to Federal, state, and local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies and is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

PURPOSE: The purpose for maintaining the NCIC system is to provide a computerized database for ready access by a criminal justice agency making an inquiry and for prompt disclosure of information in the system from other criminal justice agencies about crimes and criminals. This information assists authorized agencies in criminal justice and related law enforcement objectives, such as apprehending fugitives, locating missing persons, locating and returning stolen property, as well as in the protection of the law enforcement officers encountering the individuals described in the system.

 

[Hondodawg]

So sounds like a big "IF" they run the serial number before scraping them.

 

[Blackstone]

You've got better odds having the gun returned to you in that case.

Not that the odds are good anyway

 

[Bubbles]

Never heard of a "FICS system" in the 7 years I was in law enforcement.

You need to recalibrate your sarcasm meter.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

So technically if you were a criminal, you could use a gun to kill someone, then turn it into a buy back and never get charged with murder. And get paid. That's just awesome.

Pretty much. Its less of a "buyback" than "paid destruction of evidence".

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

It probably varies with each jurisdiction. In Ohio, most departments would LOVE to close a crime, return property, or investigate in a new direction. The guy turning in the gun may be free of charges, but fingerprints on the INSIDE of, say, a murder weapon, or other evidence on the gun might lead them to someone who WASN'T promised anything. If your insurance paid out on a stolen gun, it may become the property of the insurance company, or they may get to dictate disposition.

 

[Shadow 7D]

SDM, maybe but too many seem to be : straight into the masher, no SN check, a straight up get out of jail free card. What would be nice is for a criminal to admit he sold the gun to the PD... but the likely hood of that fact getting out....

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Here in Ohio, we like to THINK our cops are professional, but every now and then you get a stinker like that guy in Canton abusing a CHL holder. Respecting property that has been stolen from others, and due process, is part of that professionalism goal.