You Report a Stolen Car; Why Not Report a Stolen Firearm?
Topics
- Why not report a lost or stolen firearm?
- People formally report the transfer of vehicles and land; why not guns?
On January 16, 2013, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle introduced an ordinance that would require gun owners to report the loss, theft, destruction or transfer of firearms within 48 hours. Individuals who fail to comply will be subject to a $1,000 fine for the first violation. Owners will be required to report the make, model and serial number of the firearm, along with the date and location of purchase.
What are your thoughts? Is this a good idea? Why or why not? What are your ideas to address the problem? If you think it's too late to do something, how do you think should Cook County residents should proceed going forward?
Why not report a lost or stolen firearm?
2 answers (hide replies)
Sebastian James
(edit answer)
Here's a good idea from a guy in the "Allow Citizens to Defend Themselves" Idea section:
"...Instead of worrying about private sales and levying a toothless $1,000 fine that no one will pay, anyway, I think you need to be realistic and propose that everybody who wants to legally own a handgun or shotgun be allowed to if they bring it in to a police station for registration, a test firing that would give each weapon a 'fingerprint' and, additionally, have to pay for a license that would include lessons in usage, storage and safety. If the county or city charged for this service, it would not be unreasonableto add a service tax to a license fee and education costs. It's also a good way to utilize psychological testing for self-defense wannabes, too! "
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Joel
(edit answer)
There are a couple of issues with this ordinance that stand out, with all due respect, as being really poorly written. Cook County laws don't apply to residents when in another county. If I'm phesant hunting in another county and trade my shotgun for a good bird dog I would need to follow the laws of the county that the transfer takes place in not those of my residence.
Also, I keep my firearms in a safe at home and sometimes a month or two goes by that don't even open the safe. Sometimes I keep a firearm in a gun locker at the range. The state would need to be very clear on the language of "know or should have known" about a stolen or transfered firearm.
There are already laws in place requireing residents to keep the record of a firearm transfer. If the county suspects a firearm is transfered improperly all you need to do is ask whoever possesses the firearm to supply the paperwork.
What this ordinance really seems to be is a back door attempt at manditory registration. Canada found out that this affair quickly became a very expensive and nonproductive adventure that didn't produce the results they were expecting.
Instead modify this ordinance to attach a $1,000 fine to the vehicle stickers of anyone who does not show documentation of the transfer when requested by law enforcement within the record keeping requirements of current law and a reasonable amount of time to produce the documentation. This way the ordinance doesn't harm citizens that possess legally owned firearms and goes after illegally owned firearms which are the real problem.
In other words if someone gets caught with a firearm that isn't legally owned they have to pay a thousand dollars to the county or they can't get vehicle stickers. the county could come up with an agreement with the local townships that provide stickers so that the fine is administrated correctly.
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