• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Gun Serial numbers.

Grizz272

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
86
Location
Frozen Tundra, , USA
Can a Leo run your guns serial number just because you are carrying a gun? If so, would this not be a defacto gun registration if the Police dept. kept a record of what names went with what serial number.
 

protias

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
7,308
Location
SE, WI
Can a Leo run your guns serial number just because you are carrying a gun? If so, would this not be a defacto gun registration if the Police dept. kept a record of what names went with what serial number.

No, they cannot.
Some see running the numbers as a registration scheme, some have said police departments don't have the ability to keep records.
 

1245A Defender

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
4,365
Location
north mason county, Washington, USA
Well,,,

No, they cannot.
Some see running the numbers as a registration scheme, some have said police departments don't have the ability to keep records.

They can NOT make a data base,,, It is the law!!

BUT,,,, If a cop calls in your name, and number,,, IT WILL,,, go on a list, in a computer!!!

It will be in a system, linked to other systems, linking to all the other systems,
all knowing that a guy (you) have a gun (number),,,,

WhATS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THAT?
 

XD40sc

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Messages
402
Location
NC
Seems it would be a clear violation of our 4A rights.
 

JustaShooter

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2013
Messages
728
Location
NE Ohio
Keep in mind that in some states a LEO can disarm you for "officer safety". Once that is done, the serial number of the firearm is "in plain view" and there is nothing to stop them from running the serial number.
 

protias

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
7,308
Location
SE, WI
Keep in mind that in some states a LEO can disarm you for "officer safety". Once that is done, the serial number of the firearm is "in plain view" and there is nothing to stop them from running the serial number.

Legally they cannot in WI.
 

davidmcbeth

Banned
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
16,167
Location
earth's crust
Want to see info that they have? A FOIA request for all records held by a local PD for records that contain gun serial numbers. Find out first...then you have ammo to argue with.
 

pkbites

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
773
Location
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ,
They can NOT make a data base,,, It is the law!!

BUT,,,, If a cop calls in your name, and number,,, IT WILL,,, go on a list, in a computer!!!

This is half true. The stop information will be put in the dispatch log as the officer calls it in. But it isn't a "list" per se.


It will be in a system, linked to other systems, linking to all the other systems,
all knowing that a guy (you) have a gun (number),,,,

This is not true.
Logged activity on an agencies system stays within that system. The only way information gets shared is if it is released in a BOLO alert via NCIC. Piddly things like F.I. stops are not entered into it.

This is also why if I pull you over and give you a verbal/written warning another officer on my department will know about it if he pulls you over later, but an officer with a different agency will not.
 

OC for ME

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
12,452
Location
White Oak Plantation
<snip>
This is not true.
Logged activity on an agencies system stays within that system. The only way information gets shared is if it is released in a BOLO alert via NCIC. Piddly things like F.I. stops are not entered into it.

This is also why if I pull you over and give you a verbal/written warning another officer on my department will know about it if he pulls you over later, but an officer with a different agency will not.
NSA popped into my head after I read the above.
 

JustaShooter

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2013
Messages
728
Location
NE Ohio
Perhaps that is why the question was posted in the Wisconsin sub-forum.

Which of course is why I prefaced my statement as I did. My post was intended to be sure they were aware that simply crossing into another state could change the situation.
 

MKEgal

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
4,383
Location
in front of my computer, WI
Nutczak said:
I believe that a member of LE unholstering a citizens firearm for the purpose of running serial numbers is a violation of our 4th amendment.
Unless they have RAS that it's stolen.

And once the serial numbers are run, doesn't that go on a list of being a "Crime Gun"?
Yep. I own 3 "crime guns".
A worthless, corrupted term, just like "high-capacity magazine" (when referring to normal-capacity ones which are sold with the pistol by the manufacturer) and "assault weapon" (when referring to anything which is not a military-grade select-fire rifle).
 

NoTolerance

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
292
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Legally they cannot in WI.

Yet they still do it. Even our DoJ FAQ makes it clear that LEOs will regularly violate your 4th Amendment rights:

Page 27 of the DoJ FAQ said:
In certain circumstances, a law enforcement officer may ask to take temporary possession of the weapon or may seize the weapon during interaction with the individual to ensure the safety of the officer and others or to secure the weapon as evidence. The officer will return the weapon at the end of the stop unless the individual is placed under arrest for a violation of the law that allows the weapon to be seized.

Source
 

Mike

Site Co-Founder
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
8,706
Location
Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
Keep in mind that in some states a LEO can disarm you for "officer safety". Once that is done, the serial number of the firearm is "in plain view" and there is nothing to stop them from running the serial number.

No state can empower the police to do what the Fourth Amendment forbids, i.e., detaining you absent reasonable suspicion of crime, or patting you down to look for - or to seize weapons - absent a reasonable belief that you are both armed and presently dangerous. Terry v. Ohio.

Seizing a firearm to look at serial numbers also violated the Fourth Amendment. Arizona v. Hicks.
 

F350

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
941
Location
The High Plains of Wyoming
You forgot a major point.....

No state can empower the police to do what the Fourth Amendment forbids and the US Supreme Court as set president against in multiple decisions, i.e., detaining you absent reasonable suspicion of crime, or patting you down to look for - or to seize weapons - absent a reasonable belief that you are both armed and presently dangerous. Terry v. Ohio.

Seizing a firearm to look at serial numbers also violated the Fourth Amendment. Arizona v. Hicks.
 
Last edited:
Top