[mazda77]

That is dangerous to do because if you are in possession of a stolen gun, you go to jail, not the person who sold it, gave it, or lent to you. Granted, the police will still want to be talking to anyone in the chain of custody.

[marktwain]

“That is dangerous to do because if you are in possession of a stolen gun, you go to jail, not the person who sold it, gave it, or lent to you. Granted, the police will still want to be talking to anyone in the chain of custody.”

I believe that you are mistaken. If the gun was found to be stolen, you would be required to return it. I have never seen anyone prosecuted for mere possession of a gun that turned out to have been stolen, when they otherwise bought it legally. How could you know it was stolen or not?

I would have not had any problems with buying guns on the free market.

Many of the pre-1968 rifles and shotguns do not even have serial numbers.