SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A new ruling by the FBI gives federal firearm licensees access to FBI records of stolen firearms.
Before this new ruling, firearm dealers had to use their best judgment when buying guns from strangers.
“People that bring in a used gun, I have no way of knowing if it’s stolen or not and if I do purchase it, and it is stolen, I lose the money I put into it and the gun,” 417 Guns owner Brent Ball said.
We asked how he verifies whether a gun is stolen or not without the database tool. Ball said he was in law enforcement for many years and tries to use his best judgement when buying firearms, but there’s not been a way to verify whether it’s stolen or not until now.
“If I’m not comfortable with the situation, I have them leave. I don’t need that business,” Ball said.
Major Tad Peters with the Springfield Police Department said this new ruling is a good thing, especially since the city has experienced issues with stolen firearms before.
“We’ve found that many of the illegal guns that we seize are guns that have been stolen from other individuals, often stolen from vehicles, but also in burglaries and other circumstances as well,” Major Peters said. “It’s been a big problem and this could help potentially address that.”
He also said that this new ruling isn’t a requirement for federal firearm licensees.
“It takes voluntary participation by those dealers or those licensed people that are exchanging the guns, they have to take the proactive step of doing this check then most importantly, if they find out the gun is stolen, contact the police and let us deal with it from that point forward,” Major Peters said.
Sheriff Jim Arnott with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office said it’s about time gun dealers have access to the FBI database.
“They should have had it a long time ago,” Sheriff Arnott said. “It’s definitely going to be good because it’ll get stolen guns not only off the street but back to their rightful owners.”
Sheriff Arnott also said you can always call or email him if you believe a gun you bought is a stolen one.
If you are a federal firearm licensee like Ball, make sure to read into the new ruling and contact the FBI to get access to those stolen firearm records.