Charges for possession of stolen property require knowledge of the likelihood that the property is stolen. There may be exceptions, but I do not know of them.
When guns are checked at these event, well less than 1% turn out to be stolen. If you find out that you have inadvertently purchased a stolen firearm, the only likely action is that you will be required to return it to the owner it was stolen from.
“If you find out that you have inadvertently purchased a stolen firearm, the only likely action is that you will be required to return it to the owner it was stolen from.”
Good luck. I hope your District Attorney’s name isn’t Nifong. Let’s hope you’re not the one the powers that be decide to make an example of for why people shouldn’t buy guns at the “buy back” programs.
Alamaba Criminal Code for receiving stolen property:
(a) A person commits the crime of receiving stolen property if he intentionally receives, retains or disposes of stolen property knowing that it has been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe it has been stolen, unless the property is received, retained or disposed of with intent to restore it to the owner.
The “or reasonable grounds” leaves a pretty good bit of leeway for an over zealous prosecutor.