What is the proper procedure if you lose a firearm?

[Moonpie]

Yesterday I recieved a panicked phone call from a co-worker.
He had gone to a out of town event. He took a small pocket handgun
He doesn’t have a LTC.
He and his family had gotten done at the motel and were packing up to leave when he couldn’t locate said handgun.
He swears it was in the room but now it could not be found.
He panicked and called me asking what to do.
After ripping on him for leaving an unsecured weapon about I told him to call the local police. He chose not to.
He returned home sweating about it when the weapon was located in some luggage.
No harm. No foul.

This made me want to ask the forum what IS the correct way to handle this situation?

 

[Wiliamr]

Buy a new one

 

[studenygreg]

Buy a new one

When I read the title ,this is what I thought.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[toddnjoyce]

To my knowledge, we still have zero mandatory requirements to report a lost firearm.

If he believes the firearm was stolen, he could report the theft of property; would most likely need make/model/caliber/serial number for report AT THE TIME HE NOTICED IT WAS STOLEN to the LE with jurisdiction to take the report.

 

[DyeF9]

To my knowledge, we still have zero mandatory requirements to report a lost firearm.

If he believes the firearm was stolen, he could report the theft of property; would most likely need make/model/caliber/serial number for report AT THE TIME HE NOTICED IT WAS STOLEN to the LE with jurisdiction to take the report.

This ^^

 

[robertc1024]

Cry?

 

[Army 1911]

In all the tragic boating accidents people on this board have had, no one's reported the missing weapons .

Let that be your guide.

 

[DyeF9]

In all the tragic boating accidents people on this board have had, no one's reported the missing weapons .

Let that be your guide.

That's because they're not missing, they're just at the bottom of a lake. If someone possibly stole it, I would report it.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I see no reason not to report a stolen firearm, unless you are a prohibited person or it was used in a murder, or you stole it.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Pay attention folks - they want to make it a law requiring you to report if one is lost/stolen.

 

[Fishkiller]

Depending where and when you purchased it. If it was a recent purchase and lost and then subsequently used in a crime that could be bad. Not sure how long records are kept, by law, here in Texas. When I was living in Commiefornia all firearm sales records were kept in perpetuity.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Depending where and when you purchased it. If it was a recent purchase and lost and then subsequently used in a crime that could be bad. Not sure how long records are kept, by law, here in Texas. When I was living in Commiefornia all firearm sales records were kept in perpetuity.

I've seen guns traced that were bought new 40+ years ago and sold via private sale multiple times in the ensuing years "backtracked" through to the last "legal" owner. They're pretty danged good at it.

 

[Chips n Salsa]

'The Truth About Guns' just posted an article on the topic-

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/the-real-purpose-of-lost-stolen-firearm-reporting-laws/

 

[Renegade]

Only FFLs and NFA owners are required to report lost/stolen firearms.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Only FFLs and NFA owners are required to report lost/stolen firearms.

THAT is something that's being slid into a LOT of proposed legislation all over the country - including Texas.

 

[Riksors]

If reported stolen (with a serial #), is there a chance the gun be returned to the owner in case it was found and handed to the LE/authorities?

 

[rotor]

If reported stolen (with a serial #), is there a chance the gun be returned to the owner in case it was found and handed to the LE/authorities?

I believe the answer is yes. Also, if said gun is insured I would imagine that the insurance company would not pay if there was no police report.

 

[Glenn B]

I believe the answer is yes. Also, if said gun is insured I would imagine that the insurance company would not pay if there was no police report.

I was going to be paid by my insurance company, they had already accepted and approved my claim, for a few pistols (among many other things of mine) that were lost in the ruins of the Custom House on 9/11. I filed an insurance claim but did not file a police report nor did my insurance company require one (and I did not bother to check if NY required one because they were not registered in NY) at the time but that was a pretty long time ago as gun laws go. Luckily for me, my pistols were recovered by someone who turned them over to a Customs Agent and not to the NYPD. Thus, I got them back very quickly after discovery; they were no worse for the calamity except they were covered with dust or ash. Things close to where they were stored were demolished - what a difference a few feet made. I imagine no police report was required because I worked at the Custom House, it was partially demolished by the attack when parts of Number 1 WTC fell on our building which was part of the WTC complex and insurance companies were quick to pay once the first company (a very small relatively unknown company paid off the first claims to be paid).

 

[JCC]

Interested to hear what is said about this.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Hoji]

Never leave a gun in a hotel room unless there is a safe in the room( even then it is dicey)

If you ignore the above, and can not find gun upon returning to your room, search luggage THOROUGHLY take everything out and check all pockets in bags.

If it is still not there and you know you left it in the room, call front desk, followed by police report.
No requirement on police report, but if insured or if you ever want that 1 in 1000 chance of getting it back.....