RECOIL's Steps for Handling a Gun Found in a Public Restroom

RECOIL explains what to do if you find a gun left behind in a public restroom, a situation it says is not as rare as you might think as concealed carry grows.

Key points

• How it happens: Holsters without positive retention, especially soft-sided IWB, can let a pistol flop when pants come down. Some carriers set the gun on a tank, paper holder or door hook, then forget it.
• Hands off first: RECOIL says to photograph what you found, where and when. It advises against touching or clearing the gun, since unknown guns may have modifications, and stolen guns have turned up in restrooms.
• Tell someone: In an empty store, tell an employee. In a busy restroom, ask someone to fetch staff without saying why. In an uncrowded park, call the non-emergency police line.
• Crowded areas: If you cannot keep control, RECOIL says this is one of the few times it would consider carefully moving a holstered or safed pistol, then telling someone responsible.
• Stay put: Wait for authorities to take your statement. RECOIL warns that walking off with a stolen gun ends in handcuffs, whether or not charges stick.

Quick take

RECOIL argues that finding the gun makes you responsible for keeping others away from it until it is secured or someone else takes over. It notes the owner who left it may face a reckless endangerment charge.

Read the full story at RECOIL.