However, many police departments do not offer this service.

Having the local police check the federal database continues to be the most accurate way to look up gun history by serial number to ascertain whether or not a used firearm is lost or stolen. You should verify that a stolen property report is active with your local law enforcement agency or with the reporting agency.вЂќ Police Checks of Firearms (Stolen Gun Database) вЂњFDLE cannot represent that this information is current, active, or complete. For example, the Florida Crime Information Center maintains a website where an individual can search by serial number for many stolen or lost items, including cars, boats, personal property, and of course, firearms.

Some states are exploring or attempting to build a state database of lost or stolen firearms that is searchable by the public, online. While there have been attempts at creating private searchable internet databases where individuals self-report their lost or stolen guns, these usually contain only a fraction of the number of actual stolen guns, and the information is not verifiable. Unfortunately for purchasers in private sales, only law enforcement agencies are allowed to request aВ gun serial number check or search of the lost and stolen gun database. These reported firearms are entered into a gun database maintained by the FBIвЂ™s National Crime Information Center (вЂњNCICвЂќ). In fact, if a gun is lost or stolen from an FFL, the law requires the FFL to report the missing firearm to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (вЂњATFвЂќ). When a firearm is lost or stolen, the owner should immediately report it to the police.

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