concealed weapons insurance

Yous are looking for only the right firearm for your everyday carry, or perhaps y'all're looking for a nice used gun to add to your collection. You also want to find a really good deal. A individual sale might be the way to go.

Federal police does not prohibit individual sales betwixt individuals who reside in the aforementioned state, and the vast majority of states do non require that a individual sale be facilitated past a federally licensed gun dealer ("FFL"). However, the more than you think about it, what would happen to you if you bought a gun that turned out to exist lost or stolen? Even worse, what would happen if you purchased a firearm that had been used in a law-breaking?

Unfortunately, these things can happen. Further, there is no practical manner for you to ensure a gun you lot purchase from a stranger is non lost or stolen.

How Can You find Out if a Gun is Stolen?

Search the FBI Lost and Stolen Gun Serial Number Database

When a firearm is lost or stolen, the owner should immediately report it to the police. In fact, if a gun is lost or stolen from an FFL, the law requires the FFL to report the missing firearm to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives ("ATF"). These reported firearms are entered into a gun database maintained by the FBI'south National Criminal offence Information Center ("NCIC").

Unfortunately for purchasers in private sales, only law enforcement agencies are allowed to request a gun serial number check or search of the lost and stolen gun database.

Guns Serial Number Check

While in that location have been attempts at creating private searchable internet databases where individuals self-report their lost or stolen guns, these usually contain only a fraction of the number of actual stolen guns, and the information is not verifiable.

Some states are exploring or attempting to build a state database of lost or stolen firearms that is searchable by the public, online. For example, the Florida Criminal offense Information Heart maintains a website where an private can search by serial number for many stolen or lost items, including cars, boats, personal property, and of class, firearms.

Nonetheless, even this website warns:

"FDLE cannot stand for that this data is current, active, or consummate. You should verify that a stolen property report is active with your local law enforcement agency or with the reporting agency."

Police force Checks of Firearms (Stolen Gun Database)

Having the local police bank check the federal database continues to be the most accurate way to await upward gun history past serial number to ascertain whether or not a used firearm is lost or stolen. However, many police departments practice not offer this service. And be forewarned: if the gun does come back as lost or stolen, the person who brought it to the police volition not be getting it back. The truthful owner e'er has the correct to have his or her stolen gun returned.

If you cull to purchase a firearm in a individual sale, y'all should protect yourself. A bill of auction is the best fashion to accomplish this. If it turns out the firearm was stolen or previously used in a criminal offense, you volition need to demonstrate to the police when you came into possession of the firearm, and from whom you fabricated the buy. You exercise not want to be answering uncomfortable police questions without the documentation to back yous upward.

On the flip side, if yous are the one who happens to exist the victim of gun theft, be sure to study information technology later speaking with an chaser. Considering while information technology may take several years, yous never know when a police department may be calling you to return your gun.


The information provided in this publication is intended to provide full general data to individuals and is not legal advice. The data included in this publication may non be quoted or referred to in any other publication without the prior written consent of U.Due south. LawShield, to exist given or withheld at our discretion. The data is not a substitute for, and does non supersede the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. We strive to ensure the information included in this publication is authentic and current, however, no claim is fabricated to the accuracy of the information and we are not responsible for whatsoever consequences that may result from the use of information in this publication. The use of this publication does not create an chaser-client relationship between U.Due south. LawShield, any independent program chaser, and any individual.