Back almost 25 years ago while we were still newlyweds, my wife gave me a Mossberg 12 guage special edition with gold filigree and scrollwork. A beautiful gun that we could not afford at the time. She was so proud of that gun.
I am a professional sailor and gone 9 months out of the year. Back then she would stay with my Mom and Dad a few miles down the road while I was gone so they could help her with our infant daughter.
My first trip after getting the Mossberg she came to pick me up from the airport. When we got home the front door was swinging open (we lived out in the country so no neighbors to mind the place). We went inside and the place was ransacked. I asked her when the last time she was there and she said about 6 weeks ago when she dropped me off at the airport to fly to the ship. TV, stereo and anything else that might be worth anything was gone. Including my new Mossberg.
She still had the paperwork from the purchase so we had the serial number. I called the Sheriff and reported the break in and gave them the make, model and serial of the Mossberg and that was the end of that.
More than 3 years later I get a call from Walker County Sheriffs Office inquiring about me reporting a stolen firearm.
"Um, no I haven't reported any firearms stolen."
"You didn't report a Mossberg model blah with serial blah?"
"Oh yeah. I had forgot about that."
"Did you alter the gun in any way?"
"No. It was brand new. I put 1 box of shells through it before it got stolen."
"You didn't cut the barrel down?"
"No I did not."
"Okay thank you."
"Wait a minute, what is this about?"
"We recovered your shotgun from an individual in a stolen vehicle. The barrel has been cut down."
"OK cool. When can I get my shotgun back?"
"I'm sorry sir but the gun has been illegally altered and will be destroyed."
"I see. The barrel was cut too short. I can get a replacement barrel and bring it down there. I will change out the barrel right there in front of you and you can keep the illegal barrel."
"I'm sorry sir, it doesn't work that way. The gun has been illegally altered and we have to destroy the entire gun."
"Why did you call me? I had forgot that this ever happened until you called my to tell me you found my gun and I can't have it back."
I own several shotguns now but no Mossberg. I don't want to think I am trying to replace the one my wife was so proud of buying for my birthday way back when.
I am a professional sailor and gone 9 months out of the year. Back then she would stay with my Mom and Dad a few miles down the road while I was gone so they could help her with our infant daughter.
My first trip after getting the Mossberg she came to pick me up from the airport. When we got home the front door was swinging open (we lived out in the country so no neighbors to mind the place). We went inside and the place was ransacked. I asked her when the last time she was there and she said about 6 weeks ago when she dropped me off at the airport to fly to the ship. TV, stereo and anything else that might be worth anything was gone. Including my new Mossberg.
She still had the paperwork from the purchase so we had the serial number. I called the Sheriff and reported the break in and gave them the make, model and serial of the Mossberg and that was the end of that.
More than 3 years later I get a call from Walker County Sheriffs Office inquiring about me reporting a stolen firearm.
"Um, no I haven't reported any firearms stolen."
"You didn't report a Mossberg model blah with serial blah?"
"Oh yeah. I had forgot about that."
"Did you alter the gun in any way?"
"No. It was brand new. I put 1 box of shells through it before it got stolen."
"You didn't cut the barrel down?"
"No I did not."
"Okay thank you."
"Wait a minute, what is this about?"
"We recovered your shotgun from an individual in a stolen vehicle. The barrel has been cut down."
"OK cool. When can I get my shotgun back?"
"I'm sorry sir but the gun has been illegally altered and will be destroyed."
"I see. The barrel was cut too short. I can get a replacement barrel and bring it down there. I will change out the barrel right there in front of you and you can keep the illegal barrel."
"I'm sorry sir, it doesn't work that way. The gun has been illegally altered and we have to destroy the entire gun."
"Why did you call me? I had forgot that this ever happened until you called my to tell me you found my gun and I can't have it back."
I own several shotguns now but no Mossberg. I don't want to think I am trying to replace the one my wife was so proud of buying for my birthday way back when.