Stupid bitch sold my pistol without my permission!!!

[plain82]

Slight problem arose yesterday. Before I went to New Orleans, I asked a buddy to hold a pistol for me until I got back. While I was gone, he asked if I wanted to sell it. I somewhat agreed at the time. Well, I got back and decided that I didn't want to sell it after all, so I told him on Friday evening that i wanted it back. He said it was at his mothers place and he would get it back for me. I spoke to him yesterday and he told me that she sold it without his or my permission to help pay for an engine for her truck. What kind of recourse do I have available to me? I found out that he is a convicted felon, which I did not know before, and is not supposed to even touch or be in the same room as a firearm. I'm pretty pissed at his mother for selling this, but at the same time I'm kinda pissed at him for not taking better care of something I entrusted to him and also not telling me that he's got a felon record.

[firecop]

Sounds like a possible illegal sale of a firearm. If you want to make an issue of it you can contact the weapons division of the police department and try to make a complaint. That won't get your money or your gun back though.

[plain82]

Illegal on my part or on hers? He's offered to pay me for the pistol, but will a receipt clear me of any trouble if the pistol is used illegally? I still can't believe that she sold it without asking. I'm just trying to cover my ass in case the gun is used in comission of a crime.

[firecop]

Well, it becomes a deeper subject. Was the pistol registered to you? If so, and she sold it, it's still owned by you. If it's used in a crime they can and will come looking for you.

If it was not registered then that's another can o'worms. I'm not familiar with Texas law in regards to handguns but there would certainly be federal violations.

[plain82]

When i bought it from the pawn shop, my receipt had my name and the serial number on it. I'm assuming it's registered to me. I've never gone to the courthouse or anything to register it, so I'm not sure. I've just got this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. :(

[firecop]

As I stated, I'm no expert on Texas gun laws. Federal law requires that you register the firearm upon ownership/sale. You didn't sell it so I would assume they didn't register it.