What To Do If You Obtain A Handgun

A couple of days ago, the Detroit Cost-free Press ran a story on an Oak Park woman who mistakenly left behind and consequently lost a pistol in a clothing store’s dressing room. Apparently, the handgun was “located” by a further individual and was not turned in to the nearby enforcement agency.

Presumably, the thief in this story knew how to safely manage a firearm with no accidentally discharging it. Having said that, numerous other persons who are unfamiliar with handguns may well be unsure as to what they need to do if they unexpectedly find a pistol. This post will talk about this circumstance and supply recommendations.

How Many Handguns Are Becoming Carried In Michigan?

According to information on the Michigan Coalition of Accountable Gun Owners (MCRGO) web site, there are roughly 247,000 Michigan residents who have state-issued Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs). Add in an unspecified number of visitors to our state from 35 other states which have concealed firearm reciprocity with Michigan and a increasing number of criminals who illegally carry firearms, you’ll reach the inescapable conclusion that there is a considerable amount of handguns getting carried across the state.

How Specifically Does A Person Fail To Retrieve A Handgun?

Though most firearm owners are responsible with their handguns, there is generally a opportunity that a individual, irrespective of whether he is a civilian or a law enforcement officer, will mistakenly fail to retrieve their unholstered handgun.

In almost all of these cases, the gun carrier knowingly disarmed himself so that he could achieve a task that is difficult to do when being armed: use the services of a restroom, undress to go to bed for the evening, or to adjust clothes in a dressing area. The challenge rears its ugly head when the gun owner fails to don’t forget to reclaim possession of his firearm just before leaving the location.

Dealing With A Discovered Firearm

An unattended firearm, not dangerous or incapable of harming anything all by itself, can immediately grow to be problematic if it is possessed by an unauthorized or inappropriate user. Clearly, if a compact kid finds a handgun it is virtually assured that a tragedy will make certain if not detected and resolved rapidly. In the exact same vein, a firearm controlled by any person, regardless of age, who has not been educated in the fundamentals of firearm safety is also a unsafe scenario.

A person who has taken a firearm security class will know and adhere to the guidelines:

– Constantly treat a firearm as if it is loaded.

– Always keep the firearm pointed in a protected direction

– Usually hold your finger off the trigger until prepared to fire

It would only take a moment for a educated individual to safely manage and unload the handgun. If all security guidelines are followed, there is no way that a poor consequence – an accidental discharge resulting in property harm or injury – can take place. The unloaded handgun, in this case, need to then be placed back at its original resting spot, until it can be turned over to the police.


If an untrained particular person finds a handgun, he should not attempt to manage the firearm under any circumstances. The handgun really should be left in its existing location when the owner or manager of the facility can be alerted. The “finder” should take suitable measures to make sure that it is safeguarded in the meantime. It would then be anticipated that the nearby law enforcement agency would be contacted to take possession of the pistol.

sig sauer p320 will take possession of the handgun and will conduct an investigation to decide its lawful owner. Presumably, the handgun will be returned to the owner with a lecture.

Bottom Line:

Given the growing number of firearms being carried across the state of Michigan, there may perhaps be a time or two when a knucklehead accidentally leaves a handgun unattended. In such scenarios, the “finder” if trained in firearm security must safely unload it and return it to its original location. If untrained, the “finder” ought to not attempt to deal with the firearm but safeguard it from other folks until the police can be named to take possession of it. Firearms are totally secure when handled by trained citizens but can create a serious hazard if utilized by any person else.