Need some advice

[ghentry]

A little background info:

My son, 18 years old, has had a dark past of drug addiction and gang involvement. Recently after looking at some serious consequences, I think he realized that he wasn't willing to "do the time". He's made many positive steps in the last few months to get his life straight and he's beginning to communicate with me again and ask advice.

He called me and asked if he could go to the range with me this weekend and spend some time with me and in the conversation he mentioned that he has a handgun. I told him that it was illegal for him to own this gun, not to mention that I'm sure it is stolen. He admitted that it had been given to him and he was sure it was in fact stolen. He agreed that he shouldn't have it and is willing to get rid of it, but isn't sure how.

Is there any way for him to get it back to its rightful owner without him being charged for possesing it? I really don't know what to tell him to do with it?

[stevie_d_64]

I recall a recent discussion about a person who inadvertently got a firearm past the security at the airport...That person realized what they did, knew it was wrong and came clean and admitted this to authorities...

From what I recall, vaguely, that person is being raked over the coals, and no one in the TSA in that situation is being similarly taken to task...

This is a tough call for you...You cannot fabricate any "real" story about how you or the 18 year old came into posession of the firearm, even thought your intent is to now return the property to the rightful owner...

There may not be a "rightful owner" in this case...And I'll bet if you do get authorities to accept your story, it'll end up in some property room, and remain unclaimed and collecting dust until it is disposed of, or lost...I heard that happens a lot too...

The only bend in this is what will happen to you guys...And it would be good not to lie or fib about how you came into posession of this firearm either, again, its a bit tricky in my opinion to even make an approach to any law enforcement entity about this...Tough call...

Our Law Enforcement contingient may have an idea about how to go about this, and possibly relieve you of any scrutiny directed at you, I hope there is a real solution here...

[Sport Coach]

I can't offer you any legal advice but I will offer my prayers that he's able to keep on the straight and narrow.

[ELB]

Go find a criminal defense lawyer. NOW. Yes it is probably $$$. So is getting caught with a stolen gun. Any of your son's old felonious buddies could rat him out at any time, just to try to get a better deal for themselves. Or they may come to get it back, or who knows what. Even if you just drop it in the Gulf of Mexico, who knows how many people also know your son had that gun at some point? Get a lawyer, and let him figure out how to help your son turn it in without problems.

elb

[nedmoore]

You could contact local Leo and see if they a gun buyback program or contact your sheriff and explain your situation.

[HankB]

If I discovered I was in possesion of something extremely illegal - say, I found an old WWII war trophy Thompson in the attic of my new house - I'd be very reluctant to hand it over to LEOs in such a way that they knew who I was. Destroying it - cutting it into small pieces - before dumping it in the lake would be safer.

If I had reason to believe the "contraband" were stolen and wanted it to get back to the rightful owner, I'd consider mailing it to police (uh-oh, mailing a gun is illegal) or going to a gun buyback.

Doing the "right" thing and boldly walking into the police station to turn it in MAY turn out badly.

[CJATE]

You should take it to the LEO,
Surly you know a leo you can ask off the record, there must be some amnesty, they after all, want it off the street almost as much as the person who stole it.

Heck, wipe it down, put in paper bag, tell them you “found� it… that’s the truth.

[ScubaSigGuy]

I would think that the first priority would be to get it out of your son's hands ASAP! Figure the rest out after that, but get it away from him and his friends right away.

[Jeremae]

1. Unless he is disqualified (has felony conviction or Domestic violence conviction or been involuntarily committed or provably addicted to drugs or ... can't remember rest) it is NOT illegal for him to possess a handgun.

2. It is illegal to Knowingly possess stolen goods.

3. I can think of several ways you could aquire this firearm and be able to take to LEO and state your misgivings as to it's past history without having to implicate your son.

4. Speaking to a lawyer before doing anything is GOOD advice.