Doing the right thing: (Good deed rewarded)

[winplumber]

George
What about the guy who sold it to you was he the one that stole it ? If so why wasnt he charged with anything ? Sounds like hes free to do it again !

[Steve Hodges]

Originally Posted by Steve Huffman

George
What about the guy who sold it to you was he the one that stole it ? If so why wasnt he charged with anything ? Sounds like hes free to do it again !

You don't have to prove he stole it, the charge would be " in possession of a stolen firearm". It is unfortunate that you did not contact the authorities and have them present when he showed up to sell you the gun. You were playing with fire in the time period when you purchased the item from him and finally had it released to you. In that time you were in possession of a stolen firearm, and could have been charged with such. I assume your friend who has access to NCIC was either a law enforcement officer or a police dispatcher of some sorts. Did those folks try an initiate a case on this, and find the person who you purchased this from? Glad in this case it turned out well, but it could have ended up to be your worst nightmare. But when you are dealing with a stolen firearm it is not your right or duty to take possession of it and try and find the rightful owner. Quite the contrary, you are now breaking the law yourself. Your duty is to alert the correct authorities and help them find the original seller so that person can be prosecuted and to let them take care of finding the rightful owner. Plus there is a federal NCIC offense if your person did not open a case # on the "hit" on the guns serial number. NCIC Terminals face yearly in house audits by the FBI, and if that hit is queried by the auditor they will want to see the case file generated by the hit. Sorry, JMHO.

I just read your original posting on this stolen gun. I now wish you had been caught and prosecuted.

[C.O.B.]

I have the exact opposite side of the story. I bought a S&W M57 41 magnum from an older gentleman in Idaho. No problem got the gun it was as described. I paid a fair price for it. Michigan is one of only a few states that requires registration of a hand gun and as I have a concealed carry license I did the right thing and registered the gun. About a month goes by and the Sherriff's detective calls me asking questions about the transaction. Turns out this was stolen in 1986 from Tacoma Washington. The gun was sent back to Tacoma and I will not get it back or will I recoup any of the money paid. I did the right thing by registering the gun but was turned into a victim.

[Mills]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I have the exact opposite side of the story. I bought a S&W M57 41 magnum from an older gentleman in Idaho. No problem got the gun it was as described. I paid a fair price for it. Michigan is one of only a few states that requires registration of a hand gun and as I have a concealed carry license I did the right thing and registered the gun. About a month goes by and the Sherriff's detective calls me asking questions about the transaction. Turns out this was stolen in 1986 from Tacoma Washington. The gun was sent back to Tacoma and I will not get it back or will I recoup any of the money paid. I did the right thing by registering the gun but was turned into a victim.

No good deed goes unpunished. Coming back from Africa, there was a hit on one of my rifles, but it turns out it was a hit on a lever action with the same serial number.