Well, "Gut Instinct" saved my butt!

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PCRCCW

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Well folks. I came very close to getting into what possibly could have been a WAY BAD situation today. I wont use names or jurisdictions because I feel I need to keep this at least partially underwraps.

I have a Gun for sale in the local paper starting yesterday. Ive done plenty of private party transactions locally. Enough to be aware of the right way and wrong way to do this. I also try to sell on only to CCW permit holders.

I get a call early yesterday morning from a gentleman...nice enough and was quite willing to buy my gun for a little less than I wanted for it. No!
I told him..Ive got others coming but if it doesnt sell for the higher amount..Ill call you. Fine. Two more calls from this guy throughout the day "still got it?"...yes, but......same thing.

Early call this morning..same thing..."still got it?"..Im thinking, I can sell it quick for a reasonable amount and be done with it.

BUT, I listen to my "gut instinct" often, sometimes many times a day. This situation or gentleman had my gut SCREAMING at me!:cuss:

One to always admit that my gut could be wrong. I thought Id give this guy the benefit of a doubt. I got his name and address and set a time at his place. Nicer neighborhood, alright. I dont sell guns at my house....at least in a public arena of some sort at minimum. You never know what can arise.

I got the gun boxed up and my gut started again. "OK GUT!" You win...I called my local LEA and asked the dispatcher if I can get a "yes or no" to this "address having any history"? This isnt against the law. Giving me the history if the house had one would have been...she referred me to another close agency.

The 2nd dispatcher I talked to at the other agency...said "Absolutely no way" about information of this sort...until I told her why I wanted it....then it was "Ill see if I can have someone call you back". Perfect.....

I put the gun in the truck and was on my way..when the cell rang.

"Sgt. soandso here, how can I help you?" I told her the situation. She got ALOT of info about me and then was very willing to help. After a minute of two of searching....She asked me if I was driving...YEP...she laughed and said...find a parking lot if you can!

She verified the info he had given me and says.....ok here goes.

This gentlemans record of violent crimes, drugs, burglary, robbery, gun possesion (as he's a felon 4 times over), assault started @ 18 and never stopped.....she pulls up his pic on the screen and says....hmmm" I know him".

She said, "You did good and tell that gut of yours to call me anytime we can help

If it wasnt a "setup" to get my gun for free and mess me up alittle. At the very least, I would have sold my gun to a very very bad guy. This is NOT WHERE I WANT my guns going......I have way to much respect for my guns than that! :evil:

SCORE! 1 for the good guys.......LOL :D

Needless to say....I didnt finish the trip. "The gun was found to be needing some work and was headed back to the factory" is the message I left.....
"Sorry I waisted your time"..........

Man oh man...........people if you have a gut like mine and you dont listen to it......yould better start.

I WILL NEVER QUESTION MINE AGAIN.............NEVER!

Thanks for your time and shoot well.
 
Interesting situation. I've heard of a few people now who will only do a private sale by way of having a local FFL run the NICS check first. Things like this are what they are worried about.
 
I had a similar thing happen to me. I had a revolver for sale in a local bulletin and a guy calls wanting the gun. I really didn't think anything about it, because I live in a very gun friendly area. But, I decide to call him back to confirm his address. A lady answered and when I asked for the guy, she wanted to know why I was calling. I told her and she said that he wasn't allowed to own guns because of a mental problem. She was his mother.

I am very glad that I made that call. I will never sell a gun to anyone that I don't personally know their background.
 
Just what is this LE agency planning on doing about the fact that this four-time felon is attempting to purchase a firearm? Nothing? What about the less fastidious seller?

If this had happened to me, I would have offered to help nail this guy. I'd continue with the sale, then let the cops jump out and arrest both of us. The cops can tell him I stole the gun myself so that he won't suspect me and come get me later, if possible. He goes to jail, I go home.
 
Dang PCRCCW - you certainly used the "force" on that one and kept yourself in the safe. :D

Part II: The cops should send someone else to do a "sting" buy and put this guy away. :D
 
PCRCCW,
Thanks for telling your story. If I ever decide to turn lose of any of my guns, I'll remember that story and only sell to a shop or to someone I know or whom I can get checked out.

I'm glad you took precautions.
 
So ....... intuition obviously AIN'T exclusive to the gals!! Good call indeed ... I think we all need to play safe if uneasy .. for any reason. In fact this strikes me as one of the biggest risks with a private sale.

I'd reckon to only feel at ease if a buyer was referred by a buddy and vouched for .... much beyond that ....... think I'd leave it.

I too rather hope the law ''stings'' this guy and gets him put away .. I have little doubt as to why he wants a piece!
 
Just what is this LE agency planning on doing about the fact that this four-time felon is attempting to purchase a firearm? Nothing?
Click to expand...

I wondered the same thing, and frankly, your plan of action makes perfect sense to me.

Years ago, when I worked for a short time as a prison guard, the training liutenant asked our class what to do if someone offered us a bribe. Every one of us said we'd refuse it. The liutenant shook his head and smirked, and explained that of course, we had to accept the bribe: without it, we'd have no evidence.
 
Wow...great replies. I thought about the sting thing" :rolleyes: after I made the call about it being broken...wouldnt make sense at that point.
Oh well....timing is ..er...or isnt everything :D

My gut or "force" did scream at me, however I suspect most people would have noticed this guy was giving off signals in his voice and in his comments. Pretty bizzare and pretty scary!

Ive known people who have been in worse situatons...a cop who sold a gun and was killed during the transaction a while back. Pretty scary!
That was in a small town in the 70's........

Anyway, I sold it tonight to a pretty nice guy. We traded CCW permit #'s and we were both happy when we left.

As far as the LE getting involved with this further...would they contact me to get a "this is the way it happened?"...I dont have a clue.
Ill call them back tomorrow and see if they sent someone over to have a chat with him.

Thanks for the kind words and if I do this again, I will be much more cautious from now on. Lets just say...I learned a lesson in a good way instead of learning in a very bad way. I hope the same happens to all of you.....be safe...

PS...I had my STI and PCR with me while talking to the Sgt. about the guy...
Both in a belly band with sweats on...worked pretty good for a short trip.

Shoot well.....
 
Personally i require a person to show me their CHP with a matching photo ID before ill make a private sale. In WA a CHP is pretty much just a matter of paperwork and it proves that they at least passed a background check. Im not sure what i would do in a state with restrictive permit laws or with "vermont style" carry.
 
What?

No one yelling about how you interfered with this guys' right to defend himself, and that if he's out of prison, he's paid his debt to society so should have his Second Amendment rights restored?


"Ill call them back tomorrow and see if they sent someone over to have a chat with him."

Does this guy have any way of tracing the phone number back to you? If he does, I'm not sure I'd want the police going to chat with him...

As for trusting your gut, always do.

Had I not trusted my gut yesterday, I would have driven my car over top of a pre-teen girl who dashed across the street right in front of me.

She was standing by a car with her parents and never even looked before she dashed.

My gut was screaming at me so I was already off the gas and had my foot on the brake. Even so I stood my Outback on its nose.
 
Hey guys....I completely agree. In my next ad it will state "CCW permit" required. You CANNOT be too careful. Im sure some IDIOT will call screaming at me because he wants my gun and isnt permitted...boo waa!

Im not worried about being traced..my cell # is the one I use for everything. The paper and ad have my middle name listed as the contact person also....did this years ago and it just stuck.

Mike,
You know...Im surprised too. But give it sometime...if my luck is good...Im done. If its not..the NAACP or somebody else will get ahold of me for being such an oppressive bastard! OOPS :what: :rolleyes:

Good call on the brakes yesterday (or day before) I dont know whether my gut is my little "angle" whispering in my ear or what...but Ill tell ya Im glad its there anyway.......

Just for S&G's....Im picturing your Outback on its nose and a Headline "Subaru defies Gravity"....glad you were listening as Im sure she it too.

Peace and Shoot well
 
I guess situations like this are why Maryland requires both the buyer and seller appear at the State Police for any private transfer of a handgun, AND a waiting period.

It kind of sucks, but it's pretty dang safe.
 
Actually , YES AND NO.....

YES, Its actually a deeper check to get your CCW permit than to buy a gun with a BCI check......so its worse than the Brady in that regard.....

And NO...cause if you have it, there is no wait or phone call.

ALL it took was ONE FELON to almost get my little butt in a BAD WAY from selling a gun without this criteria.
Ill deal with the hastle........and grin the whole time...cause Im still
here to be able to grin.

Shoot well
 
PCRCCW,

Thanks for sharing this with us. That's pretty scary. I'm glad you found out before you got there.

You make a good point -- trust your gut. It seems like I never do and afterwards always regret it. Of course I have never been in a serious situation like that, but regardless: wise words.

Originally posted by Mike Irwin:
What?

No one yelling about how you interfered with this guys' right to defend himself, and that if he's out of prison, he's paid his debt to society so should have his Second Amendment rights restored?
Click to expand...

Hang on there, buddy. This is completely different. How? This guy has been a felon 4 times, relating to violence and other crimes that should have had him visited by the angel of death already. Such a person has conclusively shown himself incapable of reform, remorse, or learning from his mistakes.

I haven't seen anyone who supports the reinstating of 2A rights to people who use animal violence without reason. As I said, such people should either be in prison, if they are "reparable," or dead. This is the way things were done for untold centuries, and it is how it should still be done. Our society, unfortunately, does not support this. It is quite an awkward stage, to say the least.

Wes
 
"Just what is this LE agency planning on doing about the fact that this four-time felon is attempting to purchase a firearm? Nothing?"

My most recent experiences indicate that the police do not operate in this manner. They form a web that the scofflaw stumbles into time and again until finally drained of resources thru bonds and fines or enough bad karma thru repeat offender laws that they are neutralized. Expecting a movie style "pro active" response - complete with you wearing a "wire" and such - will just get you very frustrated. The system works sorta but leaves a trail of victims along the way. You are responsible for your own defense and society depends on the system doing the rest.

In Kali all sales involve a NICS check and CHP is pretty much unavailable. In your area your sales policy should assure the weapon goes to someone responsible.
 
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