Posted on 10/13/2022 11:36:35 AM PDT by aimhigh
A West Virginia federal judge has ruled unconstitutional the government law against possession of firearms with obliterated, altered, obscured or removed serial numbers. U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin's ruling, if it isn't overturned upon appeal, would strip away an important tool for law enforcement in investigating gun crimes.
(Excerpt) Read more at wvnews.com ...
Because it was an unlucky number?
“...Prior to that it wasn’t illegal at the federal level.”
You could actually buy weapons mail order, sometimes for fairly cheap prices, like $25 for a K98.
This is probably the result of losing your guns in salty water. Happens all the time.
this would also be HUGH is upheld on the fed level. As it would kill the fiasco known as “micro stamping”
Except when your firearm has been stolen and the police recover it and want to return it to the rightful owner.
I don’t know when it changed, but the feds aren’t supposed to keep records on gun purchases.
Maybe they want to fence stolen property.
Just like it is illegal to remove VIN’s or HIN’s from vehicles or boats.
Or remove serial numbers from most other items that have them.
If you ever been subject to burglary or theft of your things.
Serial numbers become important
I remember the guns before 1968. Some had numbers, some didn’t.
so somebody steals a gun, bltz the number so the owner cannot prove it belongs to him...
There are chemicals that if you put it on a ground off serial number will make it come out very clear.
But then, if you have ever worked in a steel shop, as I have, you will realize there are other ways to obliterate a serial number permanently.
How often do criminals commit a crime and let their gun at the scene of the crime, or toss it into a nearby dumpster or throw it in the first shallow creek they come to? On TV yeah, in real life not so much. Also consider the fact that if I bought a gun back in 1970 and later sell it to “some guy” legally at a flea market, a gun show, or anywhere, the trail ends at the original owner, me. The gun may have changed hands 10 times or more since then. Be on the lookout for “some guy”. Good luck finding him.
I understand-—but I feel something that is an actual right “shall not be infringed” shouldn’t require a S/N....If you want it optionally, then have at it. A boat, car, etc are items you leave out in the open. I guess if I didn’t have to lock my gun up and simply left it in my car in plain site then having a serial number would help?
if someone was to remove the tag from a mattress, is that breaking the law? asking for a friend.
The ruling seems to turn on two things:
1. Serial numbers didn’t exist in 1719 (typically)
2. She was in “mere possession” of the firearm and did not know who had removed the numbers. Removal might be a crime, but one would not have reason to know a serial number was removed.
Law enforcement has way too many tools to screw people over now. Asset forfiture being the most egregious example and “qualified immunity” being the second worst.
Manufacturer recall for defects or safety items?
Shouldn’t be mandatory but can be useful.
You could actually buy weapons mail order, sometimes for fairly cheap prices, like $25 for a K98.
Prior to 1964, I remember the trash cans full of old WW II military rifles for sale in the Five & Dime. They were $3, $5 or $7 based upon the condition. I had quite a few of them. 303 British, 7.62 Russian, 7 MM, ....
The were right inside the entry door, just standing in trash cans.
with today’s modern arms, why wouldn’t you just toss the barrel and install a new one?
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