Posting s/n

[cobb]

What problems does anyone foreseen with posting a picture of a firearm and the serial number legible for all to see? I have heard a few that seem kinda tin foil hat, but is there really a legitimate reason not to do so? Let's hear them.

[Stradawhovious]

What problems does anyone foreseen with posting a picture of a firearm and the serial number legible for all to see? I have heard a few that seem kinda tin foil hat, but is there really a legitimate reason not to do so? Let's hear them.

Some asshat on the intrawebz could see it, then report the gun stolen (from them) at a later date making a heap of irritation for all. May not be the most lucrative way to commit fraud, but it's been done. (allegedly.)

That would be the only reason I could think of. And even that is pretty far fetched.

[GeekyGunman]

May not be the most lucrative way to commit fraud, but it's been done. (allegedly.)

You're very close to being dead on but, I highly doubt it's ever succeeded that way, or even intended to succeed in this way. As soon as some kind of proof of purchase is requested the argument falls apart.

In fact, you could have stopped when you first hit the nail on the head:

then report the gun stolen (from them) at a later date making a heap of irritation for all.

It's the intrawebz. There is a fairly high volume of people out there that would do this purely because it would be a pain for someone else and because they CAN.

That said... how often have the police checked all the serial numbers on your guns?
Unless they also have the personal information on the buyer, it's a heck of a long shot that it could ever even be an annoyance.

[cobb]

So this weekend I have a table at a gun show to promote my training courses and have some things also on the table for sale which include a used handgun or rifle. What should I do, tape over the s/n so that some low life doesn't write it down and then report it stolen? What would be the different if s person got a s/n off a for sale thread or a for sale table?

Someone had better warn the people that sell on Auction Arms, Gun Broker and Guns America.

[FJ540]

Seems like a pretty bad scheme for illegally acquiring guns.

When you made the (false) police report, you'd have to explain how the real owner had the gun prior to you noticing it was missing. That the SN is listed online (and that file date is time stamped) would be one hell of a defense, since it proves a time of prior possession assuming you have the original image elsewhere (like on a camera's memory).

[Stradawhovious]

Seems like a pretty bad scheme for illegally acquiring guns.

Not sure this would be the end goal.....

If I were to do this, (and I wouldn't.....) it would be to cause a headache for a gun nut, not to try to claim ownership. If you're in the habit of committing fraud to begin with, falsifying a police reord would probably be old hat.

Again, I'm not saying this is a widespread practice, just a theory. The OP wanted reasons, this is the reason I see most on the intrawebz forums where the issue has been brough up. Personally I wouldn't be concerned about it, but to each their own.

[MNBlackjack]

So this weekend I have a table at a gun show to promote my training courses and have some things also on the table for sale which include a used handgun or rifle. What should I do, tape over the s/n so that some low life doesn't write it down and then report it stolen? What would be the different if s person got a s/n off a for sale thread or a for sale table?

Someone had better warn the people that sell on Auction Arms, Gun Broker and Guns America.

I always use MS Paint or some other photo editing tool to cover up the serial number in my GunBroker.com pictures.

[FJ540]

Right, but when falsifying said record, you'd have to show some prior point when you possessed the gun (which could be faked). Then you have to come up with how it went missing, and then how it ended up in the poster's possession would be questioned - at which point they can probably come up with some form of paper trail (unless they're also a tinfoil hat wearer) that makes it obvious the fake story is fake.

I can see where it would be disruptive, but I can't see where it wouldn't put unwanted attention on the person who was doing the meddling.

[cobb]

So this weekend I have a table at a gun show to promote my training courses and have some things also on the table for sale which include a used handgun or rifle. What should I do, tape over the s/n so that some low life doesn't write it down and then report it stolen? What would be the different if s person got a s/n off a for sale thread or a for sale table?

Someone had better warn the people that sell on Auction Arms, Gun Broker and Guns America.

I always use MS Paint or some other photo editing tool to cover up the serial number in my GunBroker.com pictures.

Probably not a bad general practice to do so. But just do a search on these auction sites or check out some of the pictures and/or listings, there are all sorts of serial numbers listed or visible.

So again I am curious as to what harm it can truly cause. I mean you can put on a bigger tin foil hat and try to explain why the sky will fall, but I am more interested in factual reasoning.

[onebohemian]

I think it's silly to cover them up, especially when anyone can get serial numbers at any sporting goods store that sells guns, any gun shop, any gun show, and via pics of other guns all over the net. Even more odd, though, is the folks that cover up the license plates on the cars they are trying to sell online. You drive the car every day and thousands of people see the plate, yet when you post a pic of it, you're concerned someone might see the license plate number. WTF?

[cobb]

You drive the car every day and thousands of people see the plate, yet when you post a pic of it, you're concerned someone might see the license plate number.

And driving that said car with a "For Sale" sign in the window with your home telephone number on it.

[xd ED]

I think it's silly to cover them up, especially when anyone can get serial numbers at any sporting goods store that sells guns, any gun shop, any gun show, and via pics of other guns all over the net. Even more odd, though, is the folks that cover up the license plates on the cars they are trying to sell online. You drive the car every day and thousands of people see the plate, yet when you post a pic of it, you're concerned someone might see the license plate number. WTF?

I suspect the license plate issue is more related to one's ID and thus location. How comfortable would you be posting your real name on craig's list... or even here?

[Scratch]

I solve this problem by taking a die grinder and completely removing any, and all trace of all serial numbers to all of my firearms.











This is a joke BTW...

[Snowgun]

I usually just take the picture so you can't see the S/N very clearly.

But that was before I lost all my guns in a unfortunate boating accident.

[yuppiejr]

I usually just take the picture so you can't see the S/N very clearly.

But that was before I lost all my guns in a unfortunate boating accident.

With all these boating accidents littering the local lakes with firearms someone is going to end up with a 12 gauge crammed up their (o) while waterskiing and make all sorts of complaints about it in the STrib.

Sounds like those SCUBA classes at Foss could really pay off... unless someone wildly drunk on PBR and Paddy's Irish Whiskey manages to drop a gun safe off the side of their boat and on top of my treasure hunting self.