Later today I am going to a police station to report a missing firearm in an estate, of which I am the executor.
Not the late owner’s fault; the firearm was handed in to a legitimate dealer for repairs, but this dealer went bust plus was doing some shady stuff. There are others that went missing too. There’s a case with the police about it all. But I, as executor, am responsible for a firearm in an estate. Wonderful.
I have learnt from the professional executors who help me with my estates, that, when a firearm owner passes away and I am the executor, it is my responsibility to ensure that any firearms have been moved to a place that is registered and licenced to store firearms. And if not, there’s a possibility of a case of negligence against me. Getting better all the time! Learning all this over the past year, has made me decide to check carefully that I am aware of whether you own firearms and that there are plans in place for them.
Something to think on here… if you own firearms and don’t use them or haven’t for years and years and might never again, sell them. It will be helpful for your estate. If there is no-one to inherit them, then the estate can simply sell them. If whoever you have nominated to inherit your firearms wants them – yes, check with them first – then they need to be prepared to apply for and get a firearm licence as soon as possible when you pass away. Plus they need to be prepared to buy a proper gun safe. But in both cases, I’m still supposed to ensure they’re moved to legal storage in the meantime.
These are just my thoughts for what is potentially the most frightening – not necessarily the most frustrating or time consuming; I can list those for you – but frightening, item in an estate.
So, if no-one hears from me all weekend, I’m in a police cell waiting for the magistrate on Monday morning for the bail hearing because I’m in trouble for not reporting a missing firearm close enough to the date of death.