|
Mike Goob...
The Police will usually do what seems to be the same action for one of two reasons.
In a self-defense shooting involving a human attacker, the police will normally 'seize' the weapon as evidence. The term 'seize' is a legal term meaning to 'take' the item or items as long as is needed to determine the exact events of the incident - usually until the trial is over OR the charges are dropped.
The state - not the police - may (commonly will) 'forfeit' a weapon under certain conditions. Forfeit occurs after seizure and is the official decision and act to permanently retain possession of the item. (Doesn't always have to be a firearm.) For instance, if illegal actions are connected with the arm (like cranking off a few rounds in town to celebrate the New Year or armed robbery or the like), the firearm will usually be seized.
Shooting a coyote or mountain lion attacking you or another? Depends on the circumstances. Was the firearm legally possessed? The court could find one was proper in self defense, but was illegal in having the arm in a 'restricted' area.
And of course, this does not address places like New York or PDSR California, who have laws designed to deprive everyone of firearms. Or the police officer who isn't really sure so the officer takes everything just to be sure. Or other extra-legal actions.
The possibilities can be endless.
|