Will the police run a serial number for you?

[strat81]

I don't know if this varies by department, but, if I call my local police department (or even state police or sheriff) and give them the make, model, caliber, and serial number of a weapon, could they tell me if the weapon was reported stolen, used in a crime, etc etc?

 

[Alphazulu6]

Absolutely they will. In fact it is common practice that every time a pawn shop is in the process of purchasing a firearm from ANYONE they run the serial number with their local sheriff/LEO office.

 

[Kevin108]

I've wondered about this myself. There's a number of people that have told me they've willed me their guns and I would want to know if everything was in the clear.

But what if it's not? Are you then in possession of stolen property and all the punishment that goes along with it?

 

[igpoobah]

I have a cop buddy, he runs my numbers for me whenever I buy used. His only request is that if I wind up with a stolen one that I hand it over. I try to get the numbers run B4 I hand over the cash...

 

[Mantua]

I had two different police stations run serials for me, one in Cocoa Beach and one in Orlando. They were more than happy to do it for me.

 

[Regolith]

But what if it's not? Are you then in possession of stolen property and all the punishment that goes along with it?

No, not if you turn it over to them when they request it. The fact that you were asking them to run the serials in the first place shows that you were trying to follow the law and be responsible. The only way I can see you actually being charged with something is if the DA has a bug up his ass, but I don't think they could make any charges stick.

 

[tmajors]

I *think* there was a link for the ATF's serial number check website or something like that. Can't remember if it was for gun serial numbers or to check FFL numbers. Might do some checking there.

 

[Pilgrim]

The department I worked for required that the deputy have the firearm in his hands before he would run the check.

Pilgrim

 

[Logan5]

Maybe. You'd need to run them by three or four different databases. AFAIK, it's the inspectors in your State's Attorney's office that would have all of those, and typically they won't do it for no reason... The stats on SN's run through the system are typically output to the press as stolen weapons run through the database even if you're running State Police firearm SN's to train the new highschool intern. It ends up producing a Brady Campaign stolen firearms bulletin that is obviously and irrevocably flawed.

 

[RubenZ]

You know. I've thought about doing this .


I have maybe 5 guns that were just give to me by my dad, that his dad gave him etc. I'd like to know the history of them just for giggles.

 

[230RN]

Stop me if I'm wrong, but won't they give you a good grilling about where you got the gun or who was attempting to transfer it to you?

Implications for friends, relatives?

 

[Guitargod1985]

I got pulled over for speeding last month and informed the highway patrol officer that I was carrying and gave him my DL and CWL. He asked my to slowly draw it out of my waistband, remove mag, and rack the slide and hand it to him. I complied and he proceeded to run the serial no. in his computer. I am not sure exactly which database(s) he used, but it seemed like it only took five seconds or so. It came up clean and he let me go with a warning and started talking about how I could keep the hammer a little bit cleaner.