We've got a new Congressman in Memphis and I was just thinking maybe I would send him an idea that, I think, needs to be implemented. Currently, if a person wants to purchase a gun from a private citizen, they can just make the transaction without trying to find out if the gun is stolen, or they can try to get the seller to go with them to find a cop. The cop can check the gun to see if it is stolen, because most won't check it unless they have the gun in their possession. I think the FBI could help recover thousands of stolen guns, and other items, if they would allow citizens to check serialized items against the NCIC stolen articles database.
I can't even remember how many times I've arrested someone carrying a pistol that was stolen, and they were not charged with Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property. The thought is that you can't prove they knew it was stolen. Well, I agree, if the item was stolen months ago, you can't get a conviction on that. So, why not open up the information to the public? If someone brings a gun or any other item to me and I run it and find out it is reported as stolen. I'm not giving it back. I'm calling the cops and turning it over. How many other people would do the same? If only a handful of people did that, there would be fewer stolen guns on the streets.
This access could also allow people to check other items, like vehicles, tractors, four wheelers, etc. to see if they are stolen. I think this is an idea whose time has come. Anyone else agree?
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6 comments:
I agree! The data in NCIC would be of much use to many, many professions as well as the avergae joe taxpayer who pays the bill for the system in the first place.
Especially lawyers wanting ammunition (no pun intended) for civil suits involving firearms.
I fail to see how this would facilitate lawyers doing anything. They can get this data right now through discovery anyway. You and I are the ones who are kept in the dark about the gun we MIGHT want to buy.
Good point, I guess it depends on how it's implemented.
If it would be a simple, searchable spreadsheet, no problem.
If I had to input personal information, I wouldn't use it.
My concept of how this would work is you could enter the make, model and serial number of a handgun/shotgun/whatever gun, or even other serialized items that are reported to NCIC and it would simply return all the matches of make, model, serial number, and maybe date stolen, reporting agency and contact information for that agency. Victim's data need not be displayed or known. The police department that is reporting the item as stolen would be alerted that someone had inquired on the item and your email address would be given to them. If you didn't want the police to have that, you just don't use the system.
I most likely would not use that system. It would build a huge list of "likely gun owners" that could be used against me in all sorts of ways.
If I could access that database without any of my information being provided, then I most likely would.
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