Found A Gun in NRH

[Oldgringo]

Finding an holstered handgun in the street would certainly present a serious set of questions for the Oldgringo. I don't know what I'd do but, I suspect giving it to the police would not be at, or near, the top of my list of possible solutions.....unless it was a Glock.

In retrospect, I think what I should have done is called the NRH police department, and reported I found it, along with the serial number (I've read up a little on Texas Unclaimed Property laws), then locked it in my safe. Unfortunantly, it's too late for that now. I'm now better informed, and better prepared, since things like this happen so often...

It's funny you mentioned that about a Glock. I thought it looked like a Glock 27 (in the holster), and when I slid it out and saw that it wasn't, I thought "OK, guess I may as well turn it in, since it's not a Glock". :) Different strokes for different folks ;)

Good one!

I found a box of trout flies lying in the steet in Lake City, Colorado several years ago. If the flies cost $1 each, the box, which had apparently fallen off some tourist's vehicle was worth half a C-note. An angel on my shoulder told me I should run through town shouting, "...did anybody lose their trout flies...". The devil on the other shoulder said, "...finders keepers, losers weepers...".

Better luck next time, angel.

[TexasCajun]

There's no reason why you couldn't lay claim to it after the appropriate amount of time has passed & nobody has claimed it. If it were me, I'd take it to a gunsmith before taking it to the range.

[ScooterSissy]

There's no reason why you couldn't lay claim to it after the appropriate amount of time has passed & nobody has claimed it. If it were me, I'd take it to a gunsmith before taking it to the range.

I called the PD, and the lady (dispatcher, since it's the weekend) seemed astonished that I would even ask. Her reasoning would be funny, if it weren't so sad: "This isn't finders-keepers-losers-weepers" (I wanted to say "I know, which is why I turned it in - so someone had a chance to reclaim instead of weeping"), and "what if someone calls 10 years from now, and reports it was used in a murder" (to which I wanted to say, "Oh, I didn't realize you guys were going to keep it for 10 years...").

I think bottom line, her reaction was the same as many other general public members "gun.... scary... bad"

I'm going to call back next week and see if there's someone a little more sure of the city's policy on found items. My wife works for an attorney, I might give him a shout (though he deals primarily in defending personal injury cases).

I still suspect it's gone...

[WildBill]

I still suspect it's gone...

It's gone. Live, learn and move on.

[rotor]

Finding an holstered handgun in the street would certainly present a serious set of questions for the Oldgringo. I don't know what I'd do but, I suspect giving it to the police would not be at, or near, the top of my list of possible solutions.....unless it was a Glock.

In retrospect, I think what I should have done is called the NRH police department, and reported I found it, along with the serial number (I've read up a little on Texas Unclaimed Property laws), then locked it in my safe. Unfortunantly, it's too late for that now. I'm now better informed, and better prepared, since things like this happen so often...

It's funny you mentioned that about a Glock. I thought it looked like a Glock 27 (in the holster), and when I slid it out and saw that it wasn't, I thought "OK, guess I may as well turn it in, since it's not a Glock". :) Different strokes for different folks ;)

I think I like this approach best.

[tomtexan]

I still suspect it's gone...

It's gone. Live, learn and move on.

You can probably write that one off as history.

[talltex]

I found a box of trout flies lying in the steet in Lake City, Colorado several years ago. If the flies cost $1 each, the box, which had apparently fallen off some tourist's vehicle was worth half a C-note. An angel on my shoulder told me I should run through town shouting, "...did anybody lose their trout flies...". The devil on the other shoulder said, "...finders keepers, losers weepers...".

I have a cabin between Creede and Lake City...I'm pretty sure they must be mine...just went out and checked my fishing vest and I seem to be missing quite a few from start of last season. Don't think I could possibly have lost that many just hanging up in the willows and rocks last year. Probably left a box laying on top of my truck that fell off in Lake City. PM me for my shipping address and keep a couple of parachute adams and elk hair caddis for your trouble. Thanks!!

[The Annoyed Man]

A buddy of mine was doing some contract work in Louisiana 4-5 years ago. He had been driving down a long dirt road looking at possible fishing sites on his day off, and he momentarily set his unholstered HK USP .40 on the back bumper of his truck. 30 miles further down the road, he found it there when he stopped for gas.

[The Dude]

There's no reason why you couldn't lay claim to it after the appropriate amount of time has passed & nobody has claimed it. If it were me, I'd take it to a gunsmith before taking it to the range.

I called the PD, and the lady (dispatcher, since it's the weekend) seemed astonished that I would even ask. Her reasoning would be funny, if it weren't so sad: "This isn't finders-keepers-losers-weepers" (I wanted to say "I know, which is why I turned it in - so someone had a chance to reclaim instead of weeping"), and "what if someone calls 10 years from now, and reports it was used in a murder" (to which I wanted to say, "Oh, I didn't realize you guys were going to keep it for 10 years...").

I think bottom line, her reaction was the same as many other general public members "gun.... scary... bad"

I'm going to call back next week and see if there's someone a little more sure of the city's policy on found items. My wife works for an attorney, I might give him a shout (though he deals primarily in defending personal injury cases).

I still suspect it's gone...

In that case, I think you should post a new lost and found on Craig list. Give the PD phone number as the contact but don't mention the police. If you don't get a shot at the unclaimed property, it's better if some citizen claims it before they melt it to make an anti-gun statue or something.

At first I was going to say update your CL post but it's too funny to delete.

[Boxerrider]

I was in a station in Killeen when a woman came in and turned in a cell phone she found. She asked about claiming it - they took her information and told her to check back after a certain amount of time.
I doubt they intended to release a firearm back to someone who finds it. There is a much better chance that they already knew which officer lost it!

[Oldgringo]

I found a box of trout flies lying in the steet in Lake City, Colorado several years ago. If the flies cost $1 each, the box, which had apparently fallen off some tourist's vehicle was worth half a C-note. An angel on my shoulder told me I should run through town shouting, "...did anybody lose their trout flies...". The devil on the other shoulder said, "...finders keepers, losers weepers...".

I have a cabin between Creede and Lake City...I'm pretty sure they must be mine...just went out and checked my fishing vest and I seem to be missing quite a few from start of last season. Don't think I could possibly have lost that many just hanging up in the willows and rocks last year. Probably left a box laying on top of my truck that fell off in Lake City. PM me for my shipping address and keep a couple of parachute adams and elk hair caddis for your trouble. Thanks!!

Exactly!

[jmorris]

A buddy of mine was doing some contract work in Louisiana 4-5 years ago. He had been driving down a long dirt road looking at possible fishing sites on his day off, and he momentarily set his unholstered HK USP .40 on the back bumper of his truck. 30 miles further down the road, he found it there when he stopped for gas.

I have always been amazed at how far I could drive and find whatever I left on the back bumper still sitting there.

[maximus2161]

Good job on notifying NRHPD. I mean you never know why that gun was laying there. Glad some kid or some wrong person didnt find it.

[maximus2161]

There's no reason why you couldn't lay claim to it after the appropriate amount of time has passed & nobody has claimed it. If it were me, I'd take it to a gunsmith before taking it to the range.

I called the PD, and the lady (dispatcher, since it's the weekend) seemed astonished that I would even ask. Her reasoning would be funny, if it weren't so sad: "This isn't finders-keepers-losers-weepers" (I wanted to say "I know, which is why I turned it in - so someone had a chance to reclaim instead of weeping"), and "what if someone calls 10 years from now, and reports it was used in a murder" (to which I wanted to say, "Oh, I didn't realize you guys were going to keep it for 10 years...").

I think bottom line, her reaction was the same as many other general public members "gun.... scary... bad"

I'm going to call back next week and see if there's someone a little more sure of the city's policy on found items. My wife works for an attorney, I might give him a shout (though he deals primarily in defending personal injury cases).

I still suspect it's gone...

Also NRH has a relatively new chief or did so who knows what the policy or policy changes are there now. I do know that calling their dispatch will not get you who you need to talk to. The dispatcher should have sent you to records or a supervisor. Call the main number for records to get to someone. But I wouldn't put much stock in getting it. That gun is probably going to be locked up a while there. If I turned in a gun that would be the end of it for me.

Now I may be wrong. I am not an attorney, or know what NRHPD's policies are but I dont see how finding a lost firearm would give you rights to it if no one claimed it. But I can bet the PD isnt going to release it to anyone but the person its registered to or the proven owner. (Of course they are probably not going to enjoy that convo with the police) But you make a really interesting point to think about.