Posted on 08/09/2008 6:19:32 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon
I am looking for a freeper in the LA area who would be willing help me out.
I received a latter in the mail from the LA Police Department. They have recovered a firearm that was stolen from me over a decade ago. They would like to return it to me however there is a catch.
I, or my "agent," has to pick up the firearm at a LA police station. They will dispose of the firearm at the end of October if I do not pick it up before then. My problem is that I live is San Jose and never have occasion to be in LA
I am looking for a LA freeper who would be willing to act as my agent, pick up the firearm and UPS it up to me. I would be willing to pay you for your trouble.
If you think you might be able to do this for me, please send me a freepmail.
Any alternative suggestions or advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
It’s a trick. Get an ax.
That is because you sent it to the factory for repair. In California, at least, it is illegal to ship a post 1898 manufactured handgun EXCEPT for repairs (to a shop with an FFL) or to an FFL dealer. I'd hire a lawyer, or go get it yourself.
I think you should drive to L.A. and pick it up in person.
Even if L.A.P.D. would release it to somebody else, it would be illegal for that person to ship it to you. You might get away with it, by not declaring it as a firearm, but if you get caught, you’d both be in trouble.
The owner of a firearm can ship it to an FFL holder, and the licensee can repair it and ship it back to the owner’s address. But non-licensees can’t ship firearms to each other. The serial numbered portion is considered the “firearm”, so even if it was disassembled, it would be illegal to ship the stripped frame.
Some guys will tell you they have shipped disassembled firearms. What they really should say is that they just haven’t been caught.
But you're going to let a stanger go and pick it up for you? Something is whacked here. Why don't you jump in the car and take care of this valuable firearm yourself?
Just figured that Jeff Gordon’s “handlers” would have all the protection he needed...
Has your insurance company paid you for the weapon? If they have, it belongs to them. Perhaps you can hire a local bail bondsman to walk across the street and pick it up for you.
Try calling the number from the phone book rather than the letter. Perhaps that is too paranoid but consider all those official looking emails that you get from banks where you don’t even have an account. Remember, the record of the crime is public knowledge.
The simple solution is for the LAPD to ship it to San Jose PD, then you go over and pick it up. Perfectly legal and the most logical way to do it. Albuquerque picked up a gun of mine that was stolen in Kansas years ago and they shipped it to the local gestapo and I went over and picked it up.
Contact them and see if they will do that.
What condition is the gun in? It could be totally rusted and worthless. How much is it worth? If under $250, I would tell them to keep it. If over $400, I would go get it. Between 250 and 400, I would have to think about it longer.
a drive by?
Buddy, if I lived in LA, I’d help you out no-charge. But, I’m on the other side of the country.
“Since you lived without it for a decade, why the insistence that you must pick it up now? Let them destroy it. That would be the least complicated option to take. Why make it hard on yourself?”
Gee... This is what police are supposed to exist for. Anyone remember “To Protect and Serve”? We pay them big money to solve crimes and to recover stolen property. Then when they do it, we are not to have our property returned to us because the police make it hard to do.
I guess we are living in a police state. I think this is the type of situation where we should make a big stink if the police make it difficult.
If it's not worth more than a half-hour consultation with your lawyer, plus a day off work to drive or fly down and pick it up in person, then I suggest you let them dispose of it.
-ccm
Before my dad became a citizen, he once forgot to take his British passport with him to Mexico, and couldn't return. The Arizona DPS did a relay run from Prescott to Nogales and had his passport to him in six hours.
However, his brother-in-law was a highway patrolman. I don't know if they would have done it for just anyone.
-ccm
Sweet. Never seen a 419 using firearms.
I say let the LAPD destroy it.
Just my 2c worth.
The calculated cost of gas to make the round trip in $140. And then there is the time and other expenses. I was hoping to get the job for something less than that.
Excellent idea.
The point I was trying to make is that the guy, instead of getting into his car, driving to L.A., and picking up his own friggin' weapon, was trying to get someone else to do it for him. In fact, a complete stranger. He doesn't even know what condition the weapon is in now. If it was your firearm, wouldn't you want to be the one to pick it up instead of sending some stranger?
What's difficult about the police requiring the owner to come pick it up? It's obviously standard procedure. You sound like the cops should offer some delivery service for returning stolen articles. If that's the case, then that's all they'd be doing instead of protecting the public.
Maybe the guy never reported it stolen in the first place. He never mentioned the circumstances relating to its theft. Did he have it insured and did he receive payment for its loss? He claimed it was worth money, but when asked this question, he didn't bother to respond. And although he claims the gun is valuable, he's whining about having to spend $140 for gas and his loss of time. Yet he claims he's retired. Huh? Maybe you think the cops are there to "wait-on and serve" the public in stead of protecting us. If the guy's lax security practices led to the weapon being stolen in the first place, then he should just get his a$$ to L.A. and pick up his damn friggin' gun himself instead of trying to push his responsibility off on somebody else, even a complete stranger.
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