Flutterby™! : Is This Gun Stolen? 2006-08-01 23:58:09.033062+00

Is This Gun Stolen?

2006-08-01 23:58:09.033062+00 by ziffle 6 comments

I have a rental property - apparently not in the best part of town although the tenants are nice...

Today I walked around the building in the grass - I looked down and saw a Ruger P85 MKII sitting there. Not loaded - no magazine. (9 millimeter semi automatic. Made around 1992)

Now, I picked it up not wanting to let it rust, or even have some kid in the area pick it up - and I was so proud I found such a nice gun..

Except I later realized: 1) Was it stolen? 2) Was it used in a crime?

So then I realized my fingerprints were all over it. My friend wanted to buy it from me to resell into the ghetto.

I kept it. I called the police station: How can I find out if this is stolen without you guys keeping it? The lady sent me to the 'property' department. They take this stuff a little less seriously than I do in Mayberry I guess. He said I should bring it to him. I think he wanted it. He really had no answer.

I am wondering what to do. Take it to them for checking? I can not find a method to verify if its stolen. What if I keep it and later they findout I kept a stolen pistola! What if it was used in a crime?

Only my vanity and joy at my good fortune keeps me from just turning it in.

Ziffle, perplexed, in Mayberry.

#Comment Re: made: 2006-08-02 01:11:42.775831+00 by: meuon [edit history]

Ziffle the pacifist with a gun? Used, it's a $250 piece on a good day, a little more if it's stainless steel. My point is, not worth a lot when it's an unknown (safe?) and missing pieces (clip).

As a socially responsible citizen of Mayberry you really should hand it over to the police, let them run the #'s and a ballistics match. I'll wager it's been both stolen AND used for something that they are looking for it for. If not, it's junk if it's been used and abused and will make a nice manhole cover.

And cutting a very LONG story short: My S&W 5906 was used for what it should be used for (self defense), and after they ran the #'s, did ballistics on it.. finger/hand-printed me.. I got it back (months later). My point is, if you really want it back, they'll possibly give it back to you...

If you are just dying to have a gun: do it right. Buy a known quality gun, take the 'Concealed Carry' class even if you don't intend to carry. It's an education in the law(s) and how to deal with the law, I think should be required for anyone owning a gun of any type, or thinking about it.

For the record: I believe in gun control: use both hands. I have no problem being a registered gun owner, having registered guns (and some not registered, yet still legal), and carrying a permit. I also often carry an H&K Tactical .45 (right below the .45 Ruger similar to your found 9mm)...

Officer K. to Mike (2001): "Mike, you need a bigger F..ing gun", I stopped depending on 9mm's.

Ziffle, what Meuon said. You really don't want the hassle of dealing with Mayberry's criminal justice system.

#Comment Re: made: 2006-08-02 13:39:43.462268+00 by: meuon [edit history]

#Comment Re: made: 2006-08-02 14:33:02.523061+00 by: ziffle [edit history]

Well lets see: meuon: I would not say I was a pacifist - let nuke Islam for example. Further I have a carry permit already. Further, more, I have a very nice model 1911 and so forth. Please keep your registered guns separate from unregistered so when they (gummint) come to get them you can save some of them.

Now, last night after I posted to flutterby, I got nervous. I drove to the police station - it was about 8:30 PM. (Amnicola highway) Of course this IS MAYBERRY - so you guessed it - the police station was CLOSED. Locked up tight! No one there! I kid you not. I called them on the cell phone and said I was sitting out front with a gun to turn in and they were closed. The dispatcher laughed - he had the zone officer come by after about half an hour.

He ran the gun through the crime computer - it is not reported stolen! He suggested I clean it up - 'nice gun' and that was that. He said if he took it I would have to wait 90 days etc. and to just keep it and he let me go. Mayberry can be -- nice.

think should be required for anyone owning a gun of any type, or thinking about it.

I absolutely, whole-heartedly agree. I got a concealed permit many, many years ago, then took a class several years later. Personally, I'm of the opinion that the class should be a requirement for obtaining the permit.

Given it's (total lack of) provenance, I would test-fire it from a rest first -- that is: clamp it into a rest, and pull the trigger remotely. You don't want it blowing up in your hand.

Pro	Con:
You get to keep a shiny object.	Ziffle gets caught by Sheriff Andy of Mayberry: Pistol gets checked. Pistol #'s reported stolen Pistol was used in fatal crime (Ballistics Match) Ziffle becomes "cute new thing" in Cellblock B.