01-25-2013, 04:16 PM
MS,
Most of us do not like to disclose [be secretive in your words] what we own because we remember world history. We remember that in almost every case where there has ben registration, confiscation and attempted extermination soon followed. Here in america we are no different than any other country, nomatter how much we want to believe we are. Some of us learned from the mistakes of others and take steps to try and prevent this, should the issue ever arise.
I dont feel that the owner of a firearm should be held responsible for what happens with that firearm if it has ben stolen. Why should someone be held responsible for another persons actions? If I steal your auto and run over a family and kill them, should you be held responsible for it?
Or if , lets say a elderly person buys a firearm and puts it in their nightstand for protection. There is a good chance they will not even check on it for weeks or months. Sometimes they even forget they own it. Then a grandson, nephew, neighbor etc sneaks in and steals it. Should that little old lady be held responsible if that gun is used in a crime?
Myself I do not agree with straw purchases. In fact if I recognise a attempted straw purchase at the shop I simply say no sale. Now are all gun dealers that way, probably not, but I wish they were.
When it comes to reporting firearms that are stolen, as a dealer I am required by federal law to report the theft within 48 hours. As a individual I would and have reported a stolen firearm within hours. Now if someone got into my gun room and snagged one or two of the smaller pocket pistols I own now I probably would not notice it for weeks, maybe even months, if ever. So in a case like that, the lack of reporting a missing firearm I can understand.
Most of us do not like to disclose [be secretive in your words] what we own because we remember world history. We remember that in almost every case where there has ben registration, confiscation and attempted extermination soon followed. Here in america we are no different than any other country, nomatter how much we want to believe we are. Some of us learned from the mistakes of others and take steps to try and prevent this, should the issue ever arise.
I dont feel that the owner of a firearm should be held responsible for what happens with that firearm if it has ben stolen. Why should someone be held responsible for another persons actions? If I steal your auto and run over a family and kill them, should you be held responsible for it?
Or if , lets say a elderly person buys a firearm and puts it in their nightstand for protection. There is a good chance they will not even check on it for weeks or months. Sometimes they even forget they own it. Then a grandson, nephew, neighbor etc sneaks in and steals it. Should that little old lady be held responsible if that gun is used in a crime?
Myself I do not agree with straw purchases. In fact if I recognise a attempted straw purchase at the shop I simply say no sale. Now are all gun dealers that way, probably not, but I wish they were.
When it comes to reporting firearms that are stolen, as a dealer I am required by federal law to report the theft within 48 hours. As a individual I would and have reported a stolen firearm within hours. Now if someone got into my gun room and snagged one or two of the smaller pocket pistols I own now I probably would not notice it for weeks, maybe even months, if ever. So in a case like that, the lack of reporting a missing firearm I can understand.