What do you do if someone leaves gun in your garage?

[bushmaster1313]

Hypothetical:

What do you do if you come back to your house after leaving the garage door open and in your garage you find:

1. A shotgun that you could legally own in your jurisdiction?

2. An NFA gun that you could not own in your jurisdiction?

Add to the hypothetical that you are sure it does not belong to one of your friends or family members and you live in a gun unfriendly state.

 

[mgkdrgn]

how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Some one has been trespassing on your property ... and left (some) of their gun(s) behind ... or they are behind the garage taking a wizz. That's what 911 is for.

 

[leadcounsel]

I saw this scene in Pulp Fiction - John Travolta left his Mac10 on the counter while he was taking a whiz... Bruce Willis walked in to get his watch and a poptart and saw the weapon. Picked it up and shot Travolta when he was exiting the latrine...

 

[bushmaster1313]

Last post is not what I had in mind.

The NFA has to go, but how?

The shotgun could stay, but what if it is stolen goods?

 

[Maelstrom]

The true answer is to do the right thing. Turn the firearm over to police so that the owner can be identified and/or the ballistics can be traced to determine any crimes it may have been used for.

Just like any other property, it belongs to someone and it's probable that person wants it back.

 

[leadcounsel]

If these items magically appeared in your house/garage, my best guess is you're being setup for a fall. Call your lawyer. Report them and turn them over to the cops immediately with a guarantee of full amnesty in exchange for your full cooperation in their investigation. However, check your house very carefully before authorizing a search.

 

[bushmaster1313]

This did not happen to me.

But wierd things do happen.

I would bet that many have sent a check in the mail with clear instructions that the item be shipped only to the identified licensed FFL in town, but instead, the shipper sends the item to the address on the check.

(Note, I could use a snowblower)

 

[kingpin008]

To be honest, I wonder why this is even a question.

Barring the odd bit of US currency found on the sidewalk, any item that I find that isn't mine, I make an effort to return it. I don't care what it is - shotguns, NFA guns, a cell phone, or a screwdriver. If it's not mine, I don't just take it.

Why would the otherwise legal shotgun suddenly be "yours", while the NFA gun isn't? If you're an honest person, BOTH items should be reported to the police in an attempt to find their rightful owner. If the NFA is legal, I'm sure the owner will want it back, and if it's not, the police would like to know about it. Either way, neither is yours to arbitrarily keep, IMHO.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I am not talking about trying to keep either.

The question is what to do.

The NFA is contraband.
The shotgun is not.

No problem calling the police and reporting the foundling shotgun.

What happens when you call the police and tell them you came home and found a machine gun in your garage?

 

[kingpin008]

The shotgun could stay, but what if it is stolen goods?

I must have misunderstood that statement then. It sure sounded like you'd be OK with keeping it, but worried what would happen if it turned out to be stolen.

In either case, what you do is call the police. Tell them what happened, and that you'd like them to come pick up the weapons. If you're really worried, call a lawyer before you do, and maybe arrange to have them turn the guns over. People need to get past this idea that if they call the cops for things like this, that they'll be arrested on the spot and thrown in the pokey. It just doesn't happen like that.

 

[degunner]

any concern about illegal posession of an NFA item?

 

[Colonel]

What happens when you call the police and tell them you came home and found a machine gun in your garage?

Not to worry. I'm sure that in most police jurisdictions, people finding MGs abandoned in their garages is a weekly if not daily occurrence.

Where's Paul Harvey when you need him?

I just KNEW this thread showed promise!

 

[BeerSleeper]

Don't touch the guns of unknown origin.

Assume hostiles present. Get out, grab gun (your gun, not the "surprise" gun) on the way, if possible. Call 911 from a safe location, report the guns of unknown origin, and the suspicion of unauthorized persons present in your house, based on the presence of the guns of unknown origin.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Let's see, what do you do if somebody leaves a couple of kilos of cocaine in your garage? What if someone leaves a dead body in your garage?

 

[wishin]

It would depend on whether I like my neighbor or not. If I do, I'd call the police immediately and not touch the weapons without gloves on.

 

[Art Eatman]

My view of common sense in such a situation calls for making a non-emergency phone call to the PD or SO and giving the pertinent info. Sure, the ensuing bureaucratic stuff is sort of a waste of time, but I'd not expect any hassle...