Not sure if you're aware, but I replaced the blown up M96, w/ a LH Savage 110 30-06, for my daughter. I purchased this about 1-2 weeks ago. In the mean time, I bought some ammo to sight it in, purchased some scope mounts, mounted a scope, and was planning on shooting it tomorrow, in preparation for a caribou hunt Labor Day weekend.

I get a call at work from the gun shop that I purchased it at, saying that they want it back, because the friggin' dirtbag that sold it to them, wasn't the "real" owner of it, and if the REAL owner doesn't get it then they're going to report it stolen!! I asked the guy if he was BSing me or something? Bottom line - nope - he was serious.

Across the street from work, the Anchorage SWAT boys are doing some training, so made a b-line over there, and started twisting some ears. I got an officer involved, and he started gathering some info. Come to find out, after doing a background check, this sorry P.O.S. has at least 11 breaking and entering convictions and 2 armed robbery convictions (these are the ones that the officer told me about). This guys record goes back to the mid-70's. Oh yeah - he's still out and about going about his merry way!! Hmm - so much for the 3 strikes and your out deal!

Bottom line - if I don't turn it back into gun shop, the PO will report it as stolen, the PD will contact the gunshop, who'll point to me, and one of AK's finest will visit my house and secure the weapon until it can all be squared away, w/ me ultimately loosing my money, and having to file a suit against the gunshop. Or... another option that is available, is to bring it back, get my money back, and possibly see if the PO will sell it to me.

GD'it, I've got a screaming case of the @$$ over this one. I busted my keester looking around, trying to find a LH weapon that was affordable. This pi$$es me off something fierce!!

I wonder if there is anyway that I could get the state to let me put this guy downrange on a company live-fire range!

Mike
RLTW

They ( the gun shop ) want it back, as in no refund?

That just smells bad. If any legitimate business asks a customer to bring a purchased product back I would think it would be for an exchange or refund. No matter what the product was, or their reason as long as the customer is not at fault. Then again this is common sense talking and not the legal system.

Please don't damage yourself.

Good Luck

Keep us informed.

David

Not sure if you're aware, but I replaced the blown up M96, w/ a LH Savage 110 30-06, for my daughter. I purchased this about 1-2 weeks ago. In the mean time, I bought some ammo to sight it in, purchased some scope mounts, mounted a scope, and was planning on shooting it tomorrow, in preparation for a caribou hunt Labor Day weekend.

I get a call at work from the gun shop that I purchased it at, saying that they want it back, because the friggin' dirtbag that sold it to them, wasn't the "real" owner of it, and if the REAL owner doesn't get it then they're going to report it stolen!! I asked the guy if he was BSing me or something? Bottom line - nope - he was serious.

Across the street from work, the Anchorage SWAT boys are doing some training, so made a b-line over there, and started twisting some ears. I got an officer involved, and he started gathering some info. Come to find out, after doing a background check, this sorry P.O.S. has at least 11 breaking and entering convictions and 2 armed robbery convictions (these are the ones that the officer told me about). This guys record goes back to the mid-70's. Oh yeah - he's still out and about going about his merry way!! Hmm - so much for the 3 strikes and your out deal!

Bottom line - if I don't turn it back into gun shop, the PO will report it as stolen, the PD will contact the gunshop, who'll point to me, and one of AK's finest will visit my house and secure the weapon until it can all be squared away, w/ me ultimately loosing my money, and having to file a suit against the gunshop. Or... another option that is available, is to bring it back, get my money back, and possibly see if the PO will sell it to me.

GD'it, I've got a screaming case of the @$$ over this one. I busted my keester looking around, trying to find a LH weapon that was affordable. This pi$$es me off something fierce!!

I wonder if there is anyway that I could get the state to let me put this guy downrange on a company live-fire range!

Mike
RLTW

Did you do a yellow sheet when you purchased the rifle?

flhshvlhed,

Something really smells here. If they are offering you a full refund - take it. If not - think thru calling their bluff or reporting to BBB. If it is a scam they may not want attention from authorities. You probably have more options/power here than you think!

Good Luck

Tough break, guy - hope you get it all squared away with no skin coming off you.

See - we all told you to find a 6.5 instead of that 30-06!

In Arkansas, unless the original owner is willing to file charges against the person who sold the gun to the dealer, he would have to purchase it from the current owner to get it back, so ask the original owner if he is willing to press charges for theft against the thief, or if he is willing to reimburse you
in order to get it back. Check with your Prosecuting Attorny about the Law there. You purchased it in good faith, and should be able to get a return of your money. If it was me, I would see to it that the original owner either filed charges, or I would keep the gun. If he files charges tho He could possibly get the gun back at no cost to him. If it's a scam he will back off in a hurry.

Lee L.

Thanks guys - I talked w/ a female trooper friend, and she said that I'm basically hosed. Once the store tells me that it's stolen, if I don't turn it in, then I'm in violation of a felony. Yes - the trasnaction was no different than other times - I filled out all of the paperwork, called it in, got approved. The store did say that they would give me a refund. I'm going to see what kind of perks I can get from them, due to the "mental stress".

Get this - Palmer is an extremely small community, and I have this POS's address. I told her that I was going to go looking for him. She tells me - "Don't bother - He's not there - we were at his house last night looking for him!" Due to his rap sheet, come to find out, he's well known amongst the LE community. I wonder if I would jacked up by the law, if I saw him in an establishment one night, and opened a case of whup @ss on him! Knowing my luck - I'd have a few days of free room and board at the grey bar motel if I did that though. :(

Gee Kdub - go ahead and rub it in! :)

Thanks
Mike
RLTW

Thanks guys - I talked w/ a female trooper friend, and she said that I'm basically hosed. Once the store tells me that it's stolen, if I don't turn it in, then I'm in violation of a felony. Yes - the trasnaction was no different than other times - I filled out all of the paperwork, called it in, got approved. The store did say that they would give me a refund. I'm going to see what kind of perks I can get from them, due to the "mental stress".

Get this - Palmer is an extremely small community, and I have this POS's address. I told her that I was going to go looking for him. She tells me - "Don't bother - He's not there - we were at his house last night looking for him!" Due to his rap sheet, come to find out, he's well known amongst the LE community. I wonder if I would jacked up by the law, if I saw him in an establishment one night, and opened a case of whup @ss on him! Knowing my luck - I'd have a few days of free room and board at the grey bar motel if I did that though. :(

Gee Kdub - go ahead and rub it in! :)

Thanks
Mike
RLTW


If they are giving you a refund, then return it and be done with it. No point in taking advantage of the situation because you are pissed.

Looks like three choices:
1. Turn it in to the police and lose your $...but it does direct the police to where you bought it as a place to investigate (ever think..that guy has a long sheet...he's obviously has to have some place he's selling his stolen goods...perhaps your gun shop has doen this before).

2. Return it to the gun shop and get your $ back. As you've talked to the police, htey have to be aware of the problem on some level, and probably are going to pay that shop a visit sooner or later.

3. Return the gun to the shop, and then direct the police to that shop.

See...the problem is that the shop KNOWS it's stolen and wants it back...but have they contacted the police in any way? If not, then why do they want it back?

Thisn looks like evidence the shop has commited a felony (and several federal violations as well). At this point, they know they've bought a stolen gun and then sold a stolen gun, and they want to get it back.

IF they make it completely dissapear, then they are going to have to doctor their firearms transaction books (not a good idea)...they aren't allowed to just give the gun back to the guy who sold it to him and then erase the entries in their books like it never happened.

The shop is hosed...if they doctor the books, that's a new crime...and now they are evidently fully away of their part in a felony transaction and haven't notified the police.

I'd go along with M1894. Contact your local District Attorney. He should be well equiped to help you out and it might keep you out of trouble in the long run.

And like ribbonstone mentioned, if criminal intent or involvement by the gun shop is evident, then the DA would decide if criminal procedings were in order.

1. Get money back from gun shop.

2. Notify police, through whatever "official" channels (ie file a written report!).

3. If you see the guy on the street, call the cops.... may be a reward or something..... MUCH better than ending up in the same jail cell with said perp....

Bad luck, yes, but get rid of that thing as quick as you can.....

One other thought -- If the original owner filed an insurance claim then the gun belongs to the insurance company, not to him.

Wow! Sounds like a real mess.

I would notify Prosecuting Atty., sheriff, or some such LE department as to what has happened and that you are returning the rifle ASAP. Get your refund before you relinquish the rifle AND get a written receipt of some sort from the retailer verifying that you relinquished the rifle. Then walk away from the whole deal. It's not worth losing any more sleep over.

Like the bumper sticker says, "Stuff Occurs!"

Thanks for the advice guys. Once I sat down, and cooled down, and let a cooler head prevail, I returned the weapon on Sat. I received a full refund. The worker was very apologetic and offered to make it right. He was wiling to order a new weapon, and sell it to me at cost. I informed him that I had already found one, and he gave me a signed FFL, to have it shipped to him, w/ no change over fee.

I explained that I had about $100 tied up in it already, w/ 3x boxes of 30-06 ammo, new recoil pad, & new mounts. He's going to change out the ammo for 308 ammo, and throw in several other nit noid stuff for my daughter (targets and such). He said he was very sorry about the whole deal, because he remembered when my daughter and I went in there, how she wanted a bolt action instead of a BLR or Savage M99 that we had looked at. All in all, it looks like everything is going to work out. As soon as this dirtbag walks in the store, this guy said he's on the phone to APD.

Like I said - both the Anch. PD and the State Troopers are looking for this guy, so - hopefully it won't be too long, before he's back off the streets. From everything that I've heard, this guy doesn't sound like the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Thanks guys
Mike
RLTW

Mike: I'm glad everything worked out O.K. at least You didn't loose your investment. Like you I hope they catch the Dirtbag.

Lee L.