How would you guys handle this | The Compost Bin | Forums

Tough situation all around.

My standard practice with stuff like this is to not invest the time and energy into it if possible. Then again I have been fortunate to not have had to deal with a situation of this magnitude. You're dealing with a completely unreasonable individual, so nothing you are really going to say or do is going to matter, hence they are going to drag you into their painful reality for the duration of this. You are a man, he is a boy, unfortunately it would be too much to ask for him to act as anything but.

The one point of concern I would have is this person having firearms in your name. Not sure of the implication as I do not know US law, but I would be speaking with law enforcement as recommended by the lawyer to see if they will secure them. An irrational individual like that having possession of a firearms registered to me would be unsettling. Maybe mail back the SKS as it will cut one more thread he has tied to you.

I can understand the sentimental value surrounding the firearms, however I do think you'd be better off getting this guy out of your life asap. Remember your wife's father in other ways, and focus on the best times, don't let something like this individual taint that memory by dragging this on and on. When the family thinks of your wife's father it would be sad to have this issue first and foremost in their minds.

Sorry you have to deal with crap like this man, hope it all works out quickly and for the best.

K,

This advise..take it with a grain if salt as I have been out of the herding cats business for some time now. Maybe confirm with rinkus.

If such a call as yours was dispatched to a local Uniform patrol LEO, who had no foreknowledge about what was going on, as soon as you mentioned to dispatch that it involved a domestic or civil dispute involving firearms...you are going to get several "helpers" respond. You are going to tell the same story several times to several people. You will get asked if you filed a report and do you have the number. They will figure out that it involves multiple jurisdictions (and they can pawn it off on someone else). You probably get told "this is a civil matter".

So..what to do...what to do...option 1. Lawyers. May be as simple as a certified letter from lawyer to brother in law which scares him into compliance. Could however turn into a Lengthy process. Costly too, if he is stubborn or stupid.

Option 2. Arrange a time with him for the exchange. Respond to the nearest LEO dept hours before and request to speak with the sgt or lt. Explain situation, have make, model, serial #s of the weapons YOU own. He will handle or designate someone to respond. Be warned...any firearm they handle will probably be run for stolen. Some departments have a policy of impounding, running the firearms clearance report, and placing in property and evidence until everything checks out. Ask about this.

Option 3. If the weapon belongs to you and it was taken illegally and without your permission....file a stolen incident report in the jurisdiction it was taken from. Tell the investigator assigned to follow up you know where the weapons are and that your bro in law has refused to return them and each is worth in excess of $200 (or whatever the felony limit is in the jurisdiction they were taken from). Let nature take its course.

Option 4. Make a call to you bro in law and send a cert letter to follow that clearly states which weapons are yours and your intentions to follow through with option 3 if arrangements are not made to immediately return your property. Clearly state a deadline and that you will follow through if he has disposed of or sold your property.

As for the items that don't belong to you.....your mother in law is on her own and she will likely not act. They never do. Domestics are always a filthy business and all LEO's hate dealing with them. Btw...what states are we dealing with, if it's not too personal?