Unwanted gun

SelfDefense · August 30th, 2007, 09:53 PM

Short story. My mother passed a few years ago. Soon after, my father, who is not in good health, said he was going to kill himself. They had been married for over fifty years so that response was not overly concerning. Still, I knew he had a gun in the house. So, I went to the the sock drawer where I first discovered it forty years ago and there it was in its original box. Kids will find everything!

It is a Higgins 85 .22 LR. I guess they used to sell them at Sears back in the olden days. Unless it is some rare, valuable antique, I really don't want it. I am not an ebay kind of guy so selling it is not much of an option. How do you dispose of a firearm? Throwing it in the garbage does not seem like a good idea.

aus71383 · August 30th, 2007, 10:11 PM

Take it to a gun store, pawn shop, gun show - maybe you can trade it for something you want. Or else just sell it to them. You'd get at least 50 bucks I'd guess - no idea if they're valuable/rare/collectible etc..
There's my two cents.

Austin

Janq · August 30th, 2007, 10:19 PM

Call your local PD and tell them exactly what you've stated here.
They will either come pick it up or ask you to drop by with it unloaded, mag removed, and action locked back in a bag and to see Officer Sonso to have it disposed of.
No fuss, no muss, no problems.

Please do not toss it into the trash.

- Janq

CopperKnight · August 30th, 2007, 10:20 PM

Spend a little time on the 'net checking on a general value, then post it here for sale, or just sell it like aus says if you are looking for minimal hassle. Maybe buy your dad something with the money...

retsupt99 · August 30th, 2007, 10:31 PM

If you really don't want the gun...take it to your local PD or stop a county sheriff and explain your situation.

QKShooter · August 30th, 2007, 10:34 PM

J.C. Higgins was a SEARS pistol.
Actually not made by Sears but imported by Sears and was a French made pistol.
In really good/excellent condition it has some value (maybe about $200)
You might as well take it into the gun shop and take anything on trade for it.
Even a few boxes of ammo would be better than giving it to the cops for destruction.

SIGguy229 · August 31st, 2007, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janq

Call your local PD and tell them exactly what you've stated here.
They will either come pick it up or ask you to drop by with it unloaded, mag removed, and action locked back in a bag and to see Officer Sonso to have it disposed of.
No fuss, no muss, no problems.

Please do not toss it into the trash.

- Janq

Janq...
Wouldn't calling the local PD to take it be the same as tossing it in the trash?...I'm missing the sarcasm here...

Mike

peacefuljeffrey · August 31st, 2007, 09:24 AM

Is there nothing that ought to be said about the fact that his dad said he wants to kill himself? Is this really all about the gun?

And it sounds like an anti-gunner notion, to suggest that as long as we get the gun out of the house, the concern about the father's potential suicide can just evaporate. Are there no razorblades, household chemicals, ropes and ladders, or plastic bags in the house? Does he live in an area where there are no buses he can step out in front of? Did the dad say, "Oh, I was just kidding, I'm over that now"?

I understand that the original poster specifically asked about the gun, not what to do about the father's threat of suicide.

But that's another thing I find troubling.

peacefuljeffrey · August 31st, 2007, 09:26 AM

Besides which, I don't understand what the big hassle with just keeping the thing would be. Is it that much of an encumbrance to just let it sit in a safe along with the others? Is space at such a premium? Is it too hard to keep track of them?

Ghettokracker71 · August 31st, 2007, 09:36 AM

+1 Peacfuljeffrey. Is your father going to be okay? Maybe you should pawn/sell the weapon and help him seak mental help!

Why do you not want this firearm so much? Seems like a relic from your past,and something your father used to own. That would be a sentimental ownership for me...But as a former Sears employee,I am partial to sears items :)

August 30th, 2007, 09:53 PM	#1
SelfDefense Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,526	Unwanted gun Short story. My mother passed a few years ago. Soon after, my father, who is not in good health, said he was going to kill himself. They had been married for over fifty years so that response was not overly concerning. Still, I knew he had a gun in the house. So, I went to the the sock drawer where I first discovered it forty years ago and there it was in its original box. Kids will find everything! It is a Higgins 85 .22 LR. I guess they used to sell them at Sears back in the olden days. Unless it is some rare, valuable antique, I really don't want it. I am not an ebay kind of guy so selling it is not much of an option. How do you dispose of a firearm? Throwing it in the garbage does not seem like a good idea.

August 30th, 2007, 10:19 PM	#3
Janq VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,882	Call your local PD and tell them exactly what you've stated here. They will either come pick it up or ask you to drop by with it unloaded, mag removed, and action locked back in a bag and to see Officer Sonso to have it disposed of. No fuss, no muss, no problems. Please do not toss it into the trash. - Janq __________________ "Killers who are not deterred by laws against murder are not going to be deterred by laws against guns. " - Robert A. Levy Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Op Ed -- The Washington Post

August 30th, 2007, 10:20 PM	#4
CopperKnight Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Spokane area, WA Posts: 4,582	Spend a little time on the 'net checking on a general value, then post it here for sale, or just sell it like aus says if you are looking for minimal hassle. Maybe buy your dad something with the money... __________________ Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, but that you've decided to see beyond the imperfections. The only thing that stops bad guys with guns is good guys with guns. SgtD

August 30th, 2007, 10:31 PM	#5
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 14,621	If you really don't want the gun...take it to your local PD or stop a county sheriff and explain your situation. __________________ "That I cannot do." "Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." *********************************** NRA Life Member

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August 30th, 2007, 10:11 PM	#2
aus71383 Distinguished Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United States Posts: 1,691	Take it to a gun store, pawn shop, gun show - maybe you can trade it for something you want. Or else just sell it to them. You'd get at least 50 bucks I'd guess - no idea if they're valuable/rare/collectible etc.. There's my two cents. Austin

August 30th, 2007, 10:34 PM	#6
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off Of The X Posts: 19,796	J.C. Higgins was a SEARS pistol. Actually not made by Sears but imported by Sears and was a French made pistol. In really good/excellent condition it has some value (maybe about $200) You might as well take it into the gun shop and take anything on trade for it. Even a few boxes of ammo would be better than giving it to the cops for destruction.

August 31st, 2007, 09:24 AM	#8
peacefuljeffrey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: south Florida Posts: 3,169	Is there nothing that ought to be said about the fact that his dad said he wants to kill himself? Is this really all about the gun? And it sounds like an anti-gunner notion, to suggest that as long as we get the gun out of the house, the concern about the father's potential suicide can just evaporate. Are there no razorblades, household chemicals, ropes and ladders, or plastic bags in the house? Does he live in an area where there are no buses he can step out in front of? Did the dad say, "Oh, I was just kidding, I'm over that now"? I understand that the original poster specifically asked about the gun, not what to do about the father's threat of suicide. But that's another thing I find troubling.

August 31st, 2007, 09:26 AM	#9
peacefuljeffrey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: south Florida Posts: 3,169	Besides which, I don't understand what the big hassle with just keeping the thing would be. Is it that much of an encumbrance to just let it sit in a safe along with the others? Is space at such a premium? Is it too hard to keep track of them?

August 31st, 2007, 09:36 AM	#10
Ghettokracker71 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 921	+1 Peacfuljeffrey. Is your father going to be okay? Maybe you should pawn/sell the weapon and help him seak mental help! Why do you not want this firearm so much? Seems like a relic from your past,and something your father used to own. That would be a sentimental ownership for me...But as a former Sears employee,I am partial to sears items :)