A friend who recently lost his father inlaw found 2 revolvers and a sawed off shotgun in the basement. The father inlaw never had a FPID, so who knows where they came from. Is there any way to make these guns "legal"? Also, is there anyway to check to see if they are stolen or were used in a crime?

If the guns weren't willed to anyone than they would go to his next of kin. How sawed off is the shotgun? If the barrel is less than 18.5 inches long than it is illegal in the state of New Jersey, and I'm not sure what to do at that point. I'm sure someone else can chime in.

Whoever inherited the estate owns the guns, legally. It's entirely possible that someone who was elderly at death obtained the handguns prior to permit requirements.(depends on the age of the guns).

 

If the sawed off shotgun has a barrel less than 18 inches, I would take the barrel off and destroy it.

 

 

Edit to add: The FIL could also have inherited the guns himself, no permits required.

Edited January 20, 201214 yr by Malsua

Recomendation.....

 

Why? There is no GUN REGISTRATION in NJ except for NEW GUNS. Those guns belong to the next of kin fair and square without any caveats and the new owners do NOT need to tell anyone. In regards to the SxS, measure the barrels from breach to muzzle. If they exceed 18 inches then the new owners are good to go. If not... well they can call a local attorney or local PD... or not.

 

Is there a reason to believe that the FIL might haven stolen the firearms? If not then why bother... there is no law stating the new owners must announce or register those guns.

 

My bad.. PK set me straight. 18"

SHOTGUNS:

18" minimum barrel length

26" minimum overall length

 

RIFLES:

16" minimum barrel length

26" minimum overall length

google the serial #s to the pistols if nothing shows up then if you have any friends that are cops have them run the #s for you..

Why would you assume they were used in a crime or stolen?? WTF is wrong with us that we assume someone was a criminal just because they didn't have an FPID? As stated, there are many legal ways to acquire firearms without an FPID or P2P. He may have inherited the guns himself from someone, he may have purchased them prior to the creation of FPIDs, he may have bought them when he lived in another less-gestapo state.

 

Only issue is making sure the shotgun meets the legal size requirements. If it doesn't you can easily remove the barrel and destroy it and replace it with a new barrel. The same for the stock if needed to make the overall length.

google the serial #s to the pistols if nothing shows up then if you have any friends that are cops have them run the #s for you..

 

Having a friend run a serial number for you is illegal and a good way for that officer to lose his job. Just FYI, NJSP does track who runs what through NCIC.

Running someone or something ou don't have in front of you is a major no-no. If you get caught its considered official misconduct.

I have not personally seen the guns. However I was interested in purchasing them for a really good price. I passed on the info and told them if they confirmed they were ok, I would be interested. Other than that, I'm walking away from it.

Running someone or something ou don't have in front of you is a major no-no. If you get caught its considered official misconduct.

 

Official misconduct is mandatory jailtime iirc, right?

How come everyone always thinks "found" guns were used in crimes, or ever possessed by criminals? Criminals either get caught with the firearms they use, or ditch them into rivers/ocean, etc. Not in the basement of your FIL.

 

I'd buy 'em off him for a good price if I were you, but that's just me.

Official misconduct is mandatory jailtime iirc, right?

 

Not necessarily,.. Misconduct per se, there is a specific 2C charge for NLETS security violations, although the only time i've ever heard of anyone actually being charged for it, it was because they were funneling that information to criminals. That said, NJSP constantly Audits EVERYONE who has access to NLETS, and NCIC/SCIC, and they have zero problems crawling up the a$$ of anyone who screws up...they can and WILL Cut off departments for too many violations. Depending on what you do, and under what circumstances, it's usually handled administratively and runs (Again depending on WHAT violation fromca Verbal Reprimand, through Suspensions, and almost certain termination if you screw up badly enough. I;ve had a couple of dispatchers get called onto the carpet for not having a case # for a Criminal history lookup, to one guy getting a 3-day suspension for looking up his neighbor's Plate as a favor to the neighbor.

I've got $5 that says the "sawed off" is full length barrel with a pistol grip.

Pics?

 

I'll make an offer to buy.

Not necessarily,.. Misconduct per se, there is a specific 2C charge for NLETS security violations, although the only time i've ever heard of anyone actually being charged for it, it was because they were funneling that information to criminals. That said, NJSP constantly Audits EVERYONE who has access to NLETS, and NCIC/SCIC, and they have zero problems crawling up the a$$ of anyone who screws up...they can and WILL Cut off departments for too many violations. Depending on what you do, and under what circumstances, it's usually handled administratively and runs (Again depending on WHAT violation fromca Verbal Reprimand, through Suspensions, and almost certain termination if you screw up badly enough. I;ve had a couple of dispatchers get called onto the carpet for not having a case # for a Criminal history lookup, to one guy getting a 3-day suspension for looking up his neighbor's Plate as a favor to the neighbor.

 

Wow, I'm surprised the penalties are so weak, especially for CCH violations. The powers that be around here speak of such transgressions as resulting in jailtime.

I have a similar situation. We bought a house in Hamilton (mercer county)about three years ago.While cleaning the basement workshop area out about 1 yr after purchase, I discovered what turned out to be a very nice Marlin .22 rifle literally in the corner along w/ tools, pipes, and other debris. At first I thought it was a pellet rifle and simply stuck it out of the way in a cubby hole and forgot about it. About 6 months later we were having the basement finished and I came upon it again That's when I took a closer look and realized it was a gun. I have no way of contacting the prior home owner. Can I register it under my name? Also, my brother in law inherited a very nice Ruger Single Six made in 1966. He's not a shooter so he gave it to me. Same question: can I register it under my name? Thanks.

You are in illegal possession of his handgun. Go get a p2p and fill it out with him being the "seller" and you are good to go. Not sure I'd know what to do about the rifle. I'd probably just throw it in the safe. You need a COE from the original owner and an FID yourself but if you can't find them I don't know what to say. While the p2p essentially registers it in your name there is no need to "register" anything in NJ.

somebody please help these people out. THis is a silly thread, dude, read the laws, measure the barrel, and have fun with your family's new guns!

WTF is the problem? Everyone on here is all 'lawyered up'....

You are in illegal possession of his handgun. Go get a p2p and fill it out with him being the "seller" and you are good to go. Not sure I'd know what to do about the rifle. I'd probably just throw it in the safe. You need a COE from the original owner and an FID yourself but if you can't find them I don't know what to say. While the p2p essentially registers it in your name there is no need to "register" anything in NJ.

 

If the handgun was given to him back in 1966 prior to August (12 ?????), when the PPP system went into effect, he would have come into possession of the handgun legally, and is not required to do anything.

 

EDIT: I just noticed he said it was made in 1966, but you never know things could have transpired that quickly.

He said he was given it by his BIL. It may have been legally bought. And legally willed to hi BIL. But not legally given to him no matter how you look at it.

He said he was given it by his BIL. It may have been legally bought. And legally willed to hi BIL. But not legally given to him no matter how you look at it.

Before August (12 ????) of 1966 there was no requirement for PPP's to transfer handguns, they were bought, sold and traded like a knife would be today, no paperwork need. There is a slim chance his BIL inherited it and gave it to him before August of that year, if that were the case it would be 100% legal.

I guess. I just figured 8 months is a short time for a gun to be bought, willed and transferred

I found a revolver in the Master Bedroom of my home about a month after moving in while I was prepping the closet to be painted. Its an interesting scenario, because legally, I own everything left in the home. And, yet it wasn't registered to me. And, to top it off, the guy was suppose to leave a few items that we purchased in the home for us that we bought outright from him, including a desk. Well, when we moved in, it wasn't there. However, I contacted my uncle, who was friends with the guy and who brought his home that was on the market to my attention, and he came and got it and the guy went and picked it up from him on a subsequent return-trip from Florida. The guy didn't even have the whatever to call me and thank me for returning his property.