“I threw it into the lake/river/ocean just to keep you from getting your hands on it”
If they search your house and come up empty-handed, what is your crime (unless martial law is in effect)?
I am quite certain that it is a crime to knowingly lie to a government official. Thus, as is almost always the case, saying nothing is your best defense.
If you sold a firearm, best to have a receipt of some kind - and if you claim you sold the only gun you had in .308, for example, and "they" can come up with proof that you continued to order .308 ammo, reloading gear or components, mags, etc. after the date of the supposed sale...why, then you'd be in trouble. Best to have solid proof and not lie.
Saying you lost something is more credible if you have a police report or an insurance claim to back it up - but don't commit fraud of any kind.
The best advice I've ever heard is to acquire what you need off paper.
Better hurry, because that will be illegal within one year, under the rubric of "closing the gunshow loophole" (sic). The purpose of said law, (so named to gull the rubes), will be to prohibit any off paper sales.
The real question is, when they come to confiscate them, what will you do (no bravado, what will you really do?) Even presuming that we as a country have plenty of warning (which is why the libs hate FR so much), what then? Hand them over, or what? I ask because I have no doubt that the libs plan to pick us off one at a time. Send the BATFE here, send them there, etc. It’s one thing to buy all the guns and ammo you can, the question is, when the Marxists try to confiscate all guns, are you prepared to meet them with a pitched battle (and don’t forget that they’ll have air, NVG’s, etc.)
I don’t mean to put all this on you personally, but I think I need to raise the question since I don’t see anyone asking it.