A SN Tracking Question

DWalt · #1 09-14-2016, 04:11 PM

I have often wondered that when a gun is sent back to the factory for service (could be to any major gun manufacturer) is its SN checked against the national NCIC list of stolen guns either directly or indirectly?

kthom · #2 09-14-2016, 05:29 PM

DWalt,

I don't know the answer to that question, but I can see how it could happen, especially if the manufacturer doesn't have a registered warranty on file for the gun in your name. I can say that if I had any suspicion at all that one of my guns might be listed (it could happen!), I would probably not elect to send the gun in to the factory or maybe anywhere else. I'd find a gunsmith that I knew and who knows me and hand carry it to him for any work that needed doing. These days, there are far many more things on file about us all that we do not think anyone else knows! Nothing much is secret any more. I'm sure you know that. But if you manage to find out the answer to your question, I'd be tickled to know it! I think it's a valid question for us these days.

Absalom · #3 09-14-2016, 05:33 PM

Interesting question. On the one hand the intuitive response might be that of course they do, because they don't want the liability of working on an illegal/stolen gun.

But then you think about the legal basis. Unless they have you sign a consent of some sort (is there maybe something in the fine print of their terms of business that you agree to if you send a gun to them?), what legal basis would a private business have for what amounts to a "search" in legal terms? Especially if there is no reason for suspicion? If there is (like evidence of a tampered serial), there would be probable cause for the respective law enforcement agency to run it, but that's not the issue here.

Any lawyers here who can comment?

Fishinfool · #4 09-14-2016, 06:08 PM

I cant say for sure, but I know a guy who bought a Remington model 700 at a yard sale a few years ago. It had quite a bit of damage to the bolt face from I assume leaky primers. He sent it back to Remington for a new bolt to be fitted, and maybe a replacement trigger, I don't remember.

Anyway, he got it back fixed, no issues. A year or two later, he was checked by a game warden in CT. The warden ran the guns numbers, and it was reported as stolen. Long story short, he bought it from a guy, who bought it from a co-worker, who bought it from some guy at the VFW....and so it goes. The gun was confiscated, but no other action was taken against him. I don't believe he ever got it back.

I doubt they check, as each state has a stolen data base, in addition to the NCIC federal data base, and I don't know the manufacturers have easy access to that.

Larry

Inusuit · #5 09-14-2016, 08:04 PM

Interesting story about the Remington. I've never had a Wyoming or Colorado game warden want to look at my rifles, let alone run the serial numbers. I suppose Connecticut is a whole different world.

Muss Muggins · #6 09-14-2016, 08:11 PM

My guess is probably not . . .

model70hunter · #7 09-15-2016, 12:01 AM

I know a LGS owner who calls a deputy and asks him to run the numbers before he takes it in trade. Actually make that 2 LGS' who do this.

They do not want the hassle if it is a stolen gun but I think they really do not want to lose the money if it is confiscated from their store.

I have heard that when one is caught or a stolen gun shows up at a shop it is taken by LE. I don't think I've ever heard of a prosecution unless it was the thief. There was a thread on this in the past one might search for it.

I have accidentally owned several guns from individuals and I too have wondered about factory repair. Never used it but just wondered.

2152hq · #8 09-15-2016, 12:46 AM

Having worked in the repair dept at a gun co (Marlin) and though it was a long time ago (early 70s), I can tell you that they'd have to have an open line with some PD to make use of their NCIC GINQ link to run all the guns that come in for repair and warranty every day.

NCIC is a L/E only access,,no gun company is going to be given access to it even on a narrow basis of the Gun File only.(My opinion of course)
To do so would open all sorts of conflicts with existing L/E protocol and demands that the gun co personel that actually have access to the link and info be NCIC certified. The latter would necessitate classroom and on the job training, certifications and annual updates.

I can see the situation arising where a gun that arrives raises some suspisions or clearly violates some laws in transit,configuration, ect. Then the local or State L/E is simply called to investigate. We had that happen a number of times that I recall.
A firearm sent in for 'repair' that was loaded was the most common. One memorable one was a .444 that was loaded in the chamber with the hammer cocked.

A local G/Shop with a friendly relationship w/a PD that'd run ser#s for them,,sure no problem. It's not time consuming to run a # anyway,,you just have to be able to interpret the results as 'hits' can result even though it's not the same firearm you entered.
The system searches the ser# only,,the rest of the info is for comparison. If you don't know what you're looking at, you can cause a great amt of confusion very quickly.
There are time limits for return responses to input agencys that are NCIC demanded when a Hit is flagged. There's a lot to it,,more than just punching in a number.