Federal stolen gun database accessable by the public

[Ron]

There have been a couple real deals I've passed on because I wasn't 100% confident I was getting a clean gun. More just a hinky feeling than anything else.

It would have been nice to be able to go online and check a database just to be sure.

Thoughts? 

[dogmush]

Again, Eh. one more database fed.gov can pay to upkeep, and misson creep later.

If I want the gun, I buy it.  If, down the road, I find credible evidence that it was stolen prior to my ownership the owner can contact me and we'll work something out.

[AZRedhawk44]

No.


There's not a federal stolen car database.  Or a federal stolen computer database.  Or a federal stolen cell phone database.

[Fitz]

Nope. Sick of government databases.

If a gun is stolen, better that it goes to me instead of a criminal.

[Nick1911]

Question:  Lets say I buy a gun/stereo/iPad/whatever off Joe Public.  I pay my money, get the product and a receipt that has the general binding elements of a contract written on it.  If it turns out later that the item was reported stolen, am I liable for criminal charges?

Second question:  If Joe Public agrees to sell me a gun for a great price, can I have it transferred for a nominal fee at the local gunshop on a 4473 if I wish?  Will the shop in question check the guns SN in that case?

[Tallpine]

Question:  Lets say I buy a gun/stereo/iPad/whatever off Joe Public.  I pay my money, get the product and a receipt that has the general binding elements of a contract written on it.  If it turns out later that the item was reported stolen, am I liable for criminal charges?

Second question:  If Joe Public agrees to sell me a gun for a great price, can I have it transferred for a nominal fee at the local gunshop on a 4473 if I wish?  Will the shop in question check the guns SN in that case?

When I worked at the gun counter, the SN of the gun did not go to NICS, only long gun or handgun.

That store only sold new guns.

[Regolith]

Question:  Lets say I buy a gun/stereo/iPad/whatever off Joe Public.  I pay my money, get the product and a receipt that has the general binding elements of a contract written on it.  If it turns out later that the item was reported stolen, am I liable for criminal charges?

IANAL, but I believe you can only be charged with receiving stolen property if you knew it was stolen. They would still take the gun back, though.

[MechAg94]

IANAL, but I believe you can only be charged with receiving stolen property if you knew it was stolen. They would still take the gun back, though.

However, if you buy a glock 17 from a guy in an alley for $100, they may try to say you should have known.   

[Tallpine]

However, if you buy a glock 17 from a guy in an alley for $100, they may try to say you should have known.   

False alley-gations 

[roo_ster]

No more mother *expletive deleted*ing gov't databases.  I am OK if they *expletive deleted*it can the ones they already have.

[Ron]

I get the dislike for government databases.

Yet I don't get the resistance to collating the stolen gun information into a system that keeps us from inadvertently receiving stolen goods.

Not to mention, it just might facilitate gun owners getting their stolen guns back.

[zahc]

I think that people oppose the idea because they consciously or unconsciously understand that a stolen-gun database only makes sense when there is gun registration.

Otherwise, anyone can report any gun 'stolen'; the information will be worthless.

[SADShooter]

Information is power. Power, once created, will be exercised to gain more power. This is a human truth, so valid that the exceptions (Cincinnatus, Washington, et al.) stand out vividly. A faceless, amorphous bureaucracy will misuse information, no matter how beneficial or noble the original purpose.

[Ron]

I think that people oppose the idea because they consciously or unconsciously understand that a stolen-gun database only makes sense when there is gun registration.

Otherwise, anyone can report any gun 'stolen'; the information will be worthless.

That doesn't even make any sense.

There is no need for a full gun registry in order to have a single point of reference to check whether or not a gun is hot or not.

Chances are if any of us had a gun or guns stolen we would provide the cops with make/model/serial numbers in hopes of getting them back. A stolen gun registry is something the police should have already just to help track down the thieves who stole them!

Giving the public access to such a system keeps the honest honest and keeps the crooks from preying on the law abiding by selling them stolen goods.

[Brad Johnson]

A stolen gun registry is something the police should do have already just to help track down the thieves who stole them!

The Ay Tee Eff already keeps a record of all weapons reported to them as stolen.  Making that database publicly accessible should not be a problem.

Brad

[Scout26]

No.


There's not a federal stolen car database.  Or a federal stolen computer database.  Or a federal stolen cell phone database.

Ummmm, actually there already is .

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ncic

The NCIC database currently consists of 21 files. There are seven property files containing records of stolen articles, boats, guns, license plates, parts, securities, and vehicles. There are 14 persons files, including: Supervised Release; National Sex Offender Registry; Foreign Fugitive; Immigration Violator; Missing Person; Protection Order; Unidentified Person; U.S. Secret Service Protective; Gang; Known or Appropriately Suspected Terrorist; Wanted Person; Identity Theft; Violent Person; and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Denied Transaction.