Though most people try to keep their guns safe and locked up, many guns are stolen each year. It's easy to understand why as criminals are not able to go into a gun shop and purchase and register a gun like everyone else. And understandably, it's in the criminal's best interest to use a stolen gun when committing a crime. Why? It's more difficult to trace.Luckily, guns come with serial numbers
. just like your car comes with a VIN. This is extremely useful since there are plenty of guns that look exactly alike, just like there are plenty of cars that are the same. Although there are no government searches specifically for gun serial numbers, there are state sites that let you search for stolen guns. If you suspect that a gun that you have is stolen, then you need to speak to a police officer. A lot of stolen guns are used in crimes. If you don't report that you have a stolen gun, you could end up being charged with a crime you didn't commit. Try searching for a stolen gun serial number search for you state.A gun serial number can also prove useful if you're trying to understand the value of your gun. No matter if it's a shotgun or a small revolver, each gun has its own value depending on how many are around, the condition, etc. Imagine if you had a gun from the old days of the Wild West! By searching using the serial number and/or the brand and model of the gun, you can figure out how much it is estimated to be worth according to Blue Book values. It's amazing how much cars and guns have in common in that respect, but it's understandable that both are an investment and, therefore, both are coveted by people who otherwise wouldn't have the means to purchase a gun or car legally.More reference links: http://www.stolenweapon.com/Stolen-Gun-Search-Startsearch.html http://www.shotgunworld.com/identify.html
