The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents about Ohio’s Stolen Gun Portal, an online tool that debuted earlier this year.
The searchable database is designed to increase the integrity of firearm sales, a press release from Attorney General Dave Yost said.
“With our new portal, when buying a used firearm, private citizens and firearms dealers can instantly check to see whether a gun was previously reported as stolen,” Yost said in the release. “This is a tool for gun buyers and law enforcement alike that will lead to the recovery of stolen firearms and serve as a deterrent for criminals seeking to make a quick buck.”
Searchable by serial number — and updated daily — the database tracks information on stolen guns gathered from Ohio law enforcement agencies and the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS).
If a serial number is logged into the portal and finds a match, the dealer or individual user is directed to notify the law enforcement agency that originally reported the firearm stolen.
“We believe this will assist law enforcement in Ohio with the recovery of many stolen weapons, which will enable us to return them to the proper owner as well as keep stolen firearms off the streets and out of the criminals’ hands,” said Hardin County Sheriff Keith Everhart, president of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association.
To access the portal, visit ohioattorneygeneral.gov/stolengun.
