The following is a video transcript.

Independent Program Attorney: Hi, this is attorney Richard Hayes. How can I help?

Member: Oh, hi Richard. My name is Germaine Baur and I am a U.S. LawShield member.

Independent Program Attorney: Hi, Germaine, what can I do for you?

Member: So, I read an article today online, about a guy who had his gun stolen out of his car. He called the police to report it. They came to take the report, but then they ended up taking all of his guns and now they may even take his handgun license.

Independent Program Attorney: Yeah, I’m familiar with the story. Unfortunately, it’s real. I see it happen in my practice, where good intentioned gun owners get themselves in trouble by inadvertently tattling on themselves in the process of reporting a lost or stolen gun. Whether it be they were in a prohibited place, like a post office or a bar or even there’s some states where it’s a crime if you don’t report your lost or stolen firearm within a certain period of time. So, it’s really important that you talk to an attorney first, because if you find yourself in one of those situations, I don’t want you inadvertently implicating yourself in a crime. And when the authorities are out there, you think they’re working to get your gun back, really they’re investigating you for a crime.

Member: Okay. So, that seems really, really unfair. Are you saying that I shouldn’t report a stolen gun?

Independent Program Attorney: No. By no means am I saying that. You absolutely want to report your gun if it’s lost or stolen. Especially, in those cases where it’s a crime for failing to report the gun lost or stolen. But, you want to talk to an attorney first, because we don’t want you falling into one of those pitfalls.

Member: Why is that?

Independent Program Attorney: Well, in cases where you’re associated with your gun and if you failed to report it lost or stolen and it shows up at a crime scene, the ATF or local law enforcement could trace it back to you. I don’t want the authorities showing up at your house unexpectedly asking you questions. It’s very uncomfortable.

Member: Well that makes sense. So, what’s the best way to handle the situation if my gun ever gets lost or stolen?

Independent Program Attorney: Well, unlike in cases of self-defense where the first call after the scene is safe is to 911, in this case it really should be to an attorney, because they’re going to be familiar with the laws in your state to make sure that you’re complying with your state’s law, and also they’re going to prepare you. They’re going to be able to walk you through the likely questions you’re going to receive from law enforcement, so you’re prepared for those followup questions.

Member: Right, so I don’t accidentally say something or do something that could get me in a lot of trouble right?

Independent Program Attorney: That’s exactly right. In my practice, I’ve seen a lot of good intentioned gun owners get themselves in trouble because they didn’t talk to an attorney before speaking to authorities and I wouldn’t want that to happen to you.

Member: Thank you so much.

Independent Program Attorney: You have a good day.

U.S. LawShield President, Kirk Evans: I’m Kirk Evans, President of U.S. LawShield. Thank you for watching and thank you for being a U.S. LawShield member. I hope you found this video useful and informative, because the information is vital to helping you preserve your rights as a gun owner. Hundreds of thousands of guns are stolen every single year, with many of them turning up at grisly crime scenes, and when there’s no obvious culprit, the gun’s most recent owner quickly becomes a person of interest. If you’re ever the victim of gun theft, we want you protected, which is exactly why we created Gunowner Identity Theft Coverage, so you can have the peace of mind knowing that you’ll have an Independent Program Attorney ready to help you prepare to deal with the authorities when reporting your gun lost or stolen. Simply click the link below to add this vital coverage to your U.S. LawShield membership today.

Simply click here to add this vital coverage to your U.S. LawShield membership today.