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The answer to this is, MAYBE
Back to 2003, we were doing a gun show up at Expo in PDX
The show was nothing out of the ordinary and the crowds were good.
The first day of the three day event saw a fellow looking at several small semi autos and finally deciding to purchase a little AMT Backup we had on the table.
He asked if we would hold it until the next day (Sat) and he would be back with the $$$
I told him we would put it away for him and it would be here.
The next day, we arrive and it was obvious that our area had been rifled through.
Cover sheets were messed up and our packing crates under the tables had been gone through, and THE AMT WAS GONE
Several other vendors had also been ripped off as well.
We notified the cops, filed the paperwork with ATF and that was it.
Considering the situation, I should have known that this was a set up.
The Expo allows non certified workers in the area to clean up and such after the show each night, and the security people can't be everywhere in that vast hall.
I considered the loss a permanent one, and wrote it off.
WE logged it off the bound book as stolen, done deal.
About 3 years ago or so there was an ATF field agent in the shop doing an audit, and commented that her paperwork showed that the little AMT had been recovered by PPD
Ahhhhh, I remarked, "then we wil get it back" ?????
The agent replied. "no, it will be either destroyed or sold"
Wait a minute, that's my property, it must be returned after any case has been completed.
The conversation trailed off, likely on purpose by the agent.
This past fall (Sept 13) I got a call from PPD, and the officer identified herself and asked for me personally.
After she asked some questions to identify who she was speaking to, she informed me that they had a handgun that belonged to me, and wanted to return it.
WHOA, such a deal.
Seems that Skamania Co SO had seized it during a search warrant over in one of the little bergs up the Col river east of Vancouver.
The gun showed up on the hot sheet so they kept it and through channels it made it's way back to PPD as it was originally stolen there.
OK
It took about three weeks after the initial contact for the little critter to return (The PPD paid the fedex overnight too) but it is now back.
The original magazine was missing, but that was easily replaced.
There are so many stories of stolen guns that don't end happily, but they stand a better chance if you keep good accurate records of your guns.
Interestingly, the ATF provides, free of charge, a nice little record pamphlet that you can keep in a safe place (not with your guns) to record make, mod and ser##
WE keep these on the counter for customers to take.
If you report stolen guns immediately, and with complete info, the chances of them returning are far greater.
It took 10 years for our little AMT to surface, but it did.
Sadly, with the high degree of lateral movement of small guns in the street scene, unless they are recovered at a crime scene, or during an arrest or search warrant, recovery is tough.
A word to the wise.
Any time you might buy a used gun in a face to face sale, it's a good idea to call the Oregon State Police Gun Check line and do a "hot sheet"
We do any and all used guns before we purchase them.
WE have had transfers come in from out of state that turned up HOT
This tends to make the customer very unhappy.
We had one very spendy shotgun leave here in a patrol car.
The buyer had purchased it from a Pawn shop on a trip back east.
The Pawn folks had not checked it out. ooooops
I spoke with them and reamed them, which likely did little good.
Never heard any more.
Guns can come home, but it can take long time.
We have 4 long guns out there that belonged to my father in law
These have been out over 40 years and no hits.
If guns get turned in on a buy back, all bets are off, they will likely go the breakers (melted)
Keep good records, it can help.
Snowy
Back to 2003, we were doing a gun show up at Expo in PDX
The show was nothing out of the ordinary and the crowds were good.
The first day of the three day event saw a fellow looking at several small semi autos and finally deciding to purchase a little AMT Backup we had on the table.
He asked if we would hold it until the next day (Sat) and he would be back with the $$$
I told him we would put it away for him and it would be here.
The next day, we arrive and it was obvious that our area had been rifled through.
Cover sheets were messed up and our packing crates under the tables had been gone through, and THE AMT WAS GONE
Several other vendors had also been ripped off as well.
We notified the cops, filed the paperwork with ATF and that was it.
Considering the situation, I should have known that this was a set up.
The Expo allows non certified workers in the area to clean up and such after the show each night, and the security people can't be everywhere in that vast hall.
I considered the loss a permanent one, and wrote it off.
WE logged it off the bound book as stolen, done deal.
About 3 years ago or so there was an ATF field agent in the shop doing an audit, and commented that her paperwork showed that the little AMT had been recovered by PPD
Ahhhhh, I remarked, "then we wil get it back" ?????
The agent replied. "no, it will be either destroyed or sold"
Wait a minute, that's my property, it must be returned after any case has been completed.
The conversation trailed off, likely on purpose by the agent.
This past fall (Sept 13) I got a call from PPD, and the officer identified herself and asked for me personally.
After she asked some questions to identify who she was speaking to, she informed me that they had a handgun that belonged to me, and wanted to return it.
WHOA, such a deal.
Seems that Skamania Co SO had seized it during a search warrant over in one of the little bergs up the Col river east of Vancouver.
The gun showed up on the hot sheet so they kept it and through channels it made it's way back to PPD as it was originally stolen there.
OK
It took about three weeks after the initial contact for the little critter to return (The PPD paid the fedex overnight too) but it is now back.
The original magazine was missing, but that was easily replaced.
There are so many stories of stolen guns that don't end happily, but they stand a better chance if you keep good accurate records of your guns.
Interestingly, the ATF provides, free of charge, a nice little record pamphlet that you can keep in a safe place (not with your guns) to record make, mod and ser##
WE keep these on the counter for customers to take.
If you report stolen guns immediately, and with complete info, the chances of them returning are far greater.
It took 10 years for our little AMT to surface, but it did.
Sadly, with the high degree of lateral movement of small guns in the street scene, unless they are recovered at a crime scene, or during an arrest or search warrant, recovery is tough.
A word to the wise.
Any time you might buy a used gun in a face to face sale, it's a good idea to call the Oregon State Police Gun Check line and do a "hot sheet"
We do any and all used guns before we purchase them.
WE have had transfers come in from out of state that turned up HOT
This tends to make the customer very unhappy.
We had one very spendy shotgun leave here in a patrol car.
The buyer had purchased it from a Pawn shop on a trip back east.
The Pawn folks had not checked it out. ooooops
I spoke with them and reamed them, which likely did little good.
Never heard any more.
Guns can come home, but it can take long time.
We have 4 long guns out there that belonged to my father in law
These have been out over 40 years and no hits.
If guns get turned in on a buy back, all bets are off, they will likely go the breakers (melted)
Keep good records, it can help.
Snowy