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  • BBL

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    The distributor let them know which dealer it went to. The dealer gave them the info for the buyer (me). The dealer is required, by law, to give out the info for an investigation.
    I agree that the dealer is required to co-operate. But only if the gun was used in a crime and a warrant is presented.
    Voluntarily handing out customer information is a big no-no.
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    Geezer

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    I agree that the dealer is required to co-operate. But only if the gun was used in a crime and a warrant is presented.
    Voluntarily handing out customer information is a big no-no.
    In my case, the gun was recovered "from someone not allowed to have a gun". That in itself would be a crime. But, probably other crimes were being committed at the time.
     

    cycleguy2300

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    I agree that the dealer is required to co-operate. But only if the gun was used in a crime and a warrant is presented.
    Voluntarily handing out customer information is a big no-no.
    Letting cops see/have video or any other record is up to to the business's discretion in many cases but I think FFL's are compelled to allow their firearms records to be inspected at will by the ATF.

    Do I like it? No.

    Was it a secret? No.

    Does it change anything? No.

    While I understand the ire, is it worth getting worked up over something that won't be changed anytime soon? No.

    Should we "save up" our rage against even small infringements to use when it counts? Yes.

    I'd love to live in a country where FFL's didn't exist, much less have to keep or turn over records. Someday...

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    BBL

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    Letting cops see/have video or any other record is up to to the business's discretion in many cases but I think FFL's are compelled to allow their firearms records to be inspected at will by the ATF.

    Do I like it? No.

    Was it a secret? No.

    Does it change anything? No.

    While I understand the ire, is it worth getting worked up over something that won't be changed anytime soon? No.

    Should we "save up" our rage against even small infringements to use when it counts? Yes.

    I'd love to live in a country where FFL's didn't exist, much less have to keep or turn over records. Someday...

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    I don't disagree.
    But a few questions:
    1. If the gun (not the possessor) did not play part in a crime, would there be a warrant to identify its owner?
    2. Same as above except would the feds (ATF) be involved?
    3. If ATF is not involved and there is no warrant, isn't it against the law to disclose customer information which is protected until there's a warrant for it?
    4. Isn't this the same scenario as if someone found a stray gun somewhere and turned it in at the nearest precinct?

    I do understand that the police did a nice thing trying to return the firearm to its rightful owner but without a mandatory gun registry, that should not be possible.
    Don't get me wrong, I am happy that the OP was reunited with his fun li'l Ruger. (I love mine too)
     

    Grumps21

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    Odd, you have to show ID and prove you are legally able to buy a gun, but it’s too intrusive to require that of voting. Me thinks you can’t have it both ways

    *edit* Dems are pushing to ease voting requirements
     

    badger0239

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    Dec 3, 2022
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    So you are saying that the distributor violated customer's privacy and handed out contact information for an innocent law-abiding citizen? That does not please me at all.
    What's stopping the government from asking distributors to hand over ALL customer information with dates, models and serial #s?

    More than likely the law enforcement agency completed a request through the ATF to find the last known transaction through a FFL. That lists the person with their DL and typically a phone number


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    justmax

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    I have two stories regarding a "stolen" firearm, and / or BATFE records tracking. The first went like this...

    Back when I was a Manufacturer's Rep., one of the importers / Distributors brought in a quantity of P-1s (P-38s). I dutifully showed my demo unit around and wrote orders until supplies were exhausted. I would usually then sell my demo unit to one of my dealer customers.

    Although demo weapons were handled in several ways, usually I "purchased" the demos as an individual and 44'ed them through my FFL. The factory/importer would bill me, usually at 1/2 distributor cost. This way, the weapon was legally mine, and would be covered on my homeowners insurance as I traveled around.

    Fast forward over 10 years, one job change, retirement, and 3 physical moves across the country, I get a letter from the FBI office in Hawaii. It seemed that the pistol was recovered from someone not permitted to have it, and how I wanted to get it back. Seeing as how I sold it to a dealer, I was reluctant to claim it as mine. I informed them of what had transpired to the best of my recollection. Done deal, dead issue. Right?

    Fast forward another 3-4 years, and I get another letter from the same FBI office, same lady, same subject. DeJa vu all over again.

    The only way I can figure all this happened, is that the FFL I sold it to, did not log it in, kept it personally, then sold it personally. After an unknown number of transfers, it ended up in Hawaii.

    As the saying goes, "the third time's the charm". If it happens again, I'll take the gun as I should have the first time.

    The second story coming later. As a teaser, do you know how hard it is to file criminal charges against a dead person?

    EDIT FOR CLARIFICATION - Above paragraph 3, line 2, should have read "my local FFL", not "my FFL". I do not, nor have ever had, an FFL myself. My demo guns were shipped to a local FFL holder.
     
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    BBL

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    More than likely the law enforcement agency completed a request through the ATF to find the last known transaction through a FFL. That lists the person with their DL and typically a phone number


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    Last "KNOWN" transaction through a FFL? That does not seem possible. FFL transactions remain recorded with the FFL. Which was my point all along.
     

    justmax

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    Last "KNOWN" transaction through a FFL? That does not seem possible. FFL transactions remain recorded with the FFL. Which was my point all along.
    Last "known" (by me) was when gave it to an FFL dealer/customer.
    Last "documented" was when I 44'ed it as an individual.

    My curiosities were first of all, how did they find me after that long and 3 or 4 address changes? Secondly, how or why the repeat after a few more years?

    I wonder what that lady's desk looks like.
     

    Grumps21

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    At the second contact, I probably would have claimed it. Assuming it wasn’t stolen, everyone got paid when it exchanged hands.
     

    justmax

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    My second story needs a little background. The first weapons that I carried regularly were a S&W M-60 and a PPK. I carried both of these weapons interchangeably, and the other was usually in my briefcase, or at least in the car. Not that it could happen today, but then I just declared them to the guards at the gate of where I was going. Sometimes they waived me on in, sometimes they had me leave them at the guard shack. When the latter happened, I got a receipt, with s/n. This happened at places that I am sure I will be challenged on, but nonetheless in happened. Suffice it to say, both weapons were well documented to be mine. Fast forward, the M-60 got retired to be in a holster screwed to the underside of the coffee table where my late SO or I could get to it from our respective lounging spots.

    After 17 years my SO and I decided to split up. She moved to California where her estranged children were. I intended to swap out the 60 for something else, but I never did. She moved, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and died within 3 months.

    Her brother and I met out in Cali for the funeral. Our primary directives, other than the funeral, were to stop the other from bitch slapping those of the family and children that really deserved it. While there, I found evidence (rug, holster still on coffee table, and ammo) that the 60 went west. When asked, all 3 kids denied knowing anything about any pistol. Understand that 2 of the 3 kids were already on there way to being in the system.



    After the funeral business was handled, I retuned empty handed regarding the 60. Seeing as how that weapn was documented to be mine at multiple federal installations, I had a concern regarding my liability of that weapon ending up in Cali without the proper registration, let alone probably being in the hands of one on the boys that already have some issues.

    Upon my return to Houston, and under advice of counsel, I went to the Sheriff’s office to file a report of a stolen gun. I was surprised to find that no one wanted to take the report when I told them who “stole” it, and that they were dead. I had to go through 3 levels of supervision before the Lieutenant was told to take the report and enter it into the system.

    I check on it periodically, but after nearly 20 years, nothing has shown up. It is still listed as a stolen gun. I probably will never get the gun back, but I really don’t care about that. I just felt that I needed to protect myself for the day it shows up at a convenience store robbery.
     

    badger0239

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    Dec 3, 2022
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    Last "KNOWN" transaction through a FFL? That does not seem possible. FFL transactions remain recorded with the FFL. Which was my point all along.

    Every firearm transferred by the FFL is recorded and available upon demand from the ATF for bona fide purposes. Sorry for that confusion.


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    justmax

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    Every firearm transferred by the FFL is recorded and available upon demand from the ATF for bona fide purposes. Sorry for that confusion.


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    Every firearm transferred by the FFL is SUPPOSED TO BE recorded and available upon demand from the ATF for bona fide purposes. My point was that in my case, the evidence implies that the FFL never entered the gun into his system. Hence, I was the last person to have been documented to be associated with the weapon.
     
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