[spuwdsda]

A runner has two fake SINs. He gets a fake gun licence for each SIN. All very simple.

However, surely he needs to register his real guns to these fake licences? In 2073 virtually all guns should have RFID tags with unique codes, if not full wireless functionality. These ID codes would be attached to the licences, and so registered with national databases.

A problem arises however if these gun are stolen or are otherwise attached to more than one SIN. If the runner had the same set of guns attached to multiple fake licences, should this flag an alert, burning the SINs?

[ZeConster]

The entire point of a fake license is that it's fake. Why would it involve registering your black-market gun?

[OneofSorrow]

Most runners make it a point to kill the RFID tags in just about anything they use because it can be used to trace you.  Most of my runner chums make it a point to kill the RFID tags in just about anything they find or steal so it can't be traced when they steal it.  Gun founds on the black market no doubt have had the numbers filed off and the RFID tags removed as well so unless they purchase a gun by legal means then they shouldn't have the tag in them. 

[spuwdsda]

Then you get arrested for carrying an illegally tempered gun. What then is the point of the licence?

Surely the SIN, the licence and the guns need to look legal.

[Reaver]

2 lines of thought for you here spuwdsda,

1) How much do you as a GM care to put effort into the thought?? He (the Character) has a SIN (real or not) has a gun, and has a fake license. check to make sure the gun is not forbidden, and GTG. The character did his effort.


2) In the actual order of operation in the real life, (barring certain countries) it would be:

Gun
Permit
SIN

Meaning, it's the gun that is going to trigger an alert (either by a MAD, a drone, a cop, a business, a citizen). That alert will be followed up with a challenge. (physical, matrix) this challenge would be a simple "Hello, license please, Fire-arm serial please" AR window from a Drone or a MAD sensor, or even a security officer... Who the players never even see.  (The wonders of the wireless world)

If the gun serial numbers and license fit, things are groovy for most places. A security officer might run a SIN check as well.....After all, you have to have a SIN to buy a gun and a license right? 

So yes, you are registering a "Gun" to a license and they must match closely AND be legal to restricted only. But that serial number does not have to be the actual serial number of your gun, a quick edit of the RFID chip for the gun changes that serial to the license... and poof! matching paperwork, untraceable gun.. Until you start using it.

[spuwdsda]

On the point of practical play, obviously I don't want to burden players with minutiae. I'd like to explore the issue here and form a view, so I can present a consistent and practical approach.

Firstly, can we assume that a legal (or pretending to be) gun in 2073 has the following features:

1) Some sort of way of uniquely marking rounds fired. With that mark recorded on a database. i.e. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_fingerprinting
2)  Some sort of unique ID
3) A history record of ownership from manufacture on a database

Let us explore a couple of cases:

Case A: black market gun.

The gun was brought on the black market. Imo, for the sake of practically, assume the gun has been 'cleaned' and given a fake ID. The cleaning will have removed the ballistic fingerprint and changed any physical and/or electronic serial numbers to match the new ID. Some hacker updates/inserts the ownership record, linking the gun to one of the runner's fake SINs with a licence. This deals with 1), 2) and 3). All part of the black market service.

If the SIN is burnt, he needs to get a new fake gun licence. When you buy a fake licence, re-cleaning and registering your guns is part of the service.

Case B: Gun brought retail with fake SIN with licence

This gun is perfect for issues 2) and 3), but any rounds left at crime scenes will be tracked to the SIN. The runner needs to have the ballistic fingerprinting removed. Once this is done, the gun this ready to take on a run. At that point it is effectively a black market gun.

However, in both cases, the runner cannot safety register the gun with more than one SIN. I am considering making this ruling in my game, unless someone can make a convincing case for how it could be done.

Perhaps the gun could have multiple IDs. However, I think changing a gun ID would be an extended test for a hacker.

[Caradoc]

Most runners should ensure their weapons are clean of RFID tags which hopefully their supplier contact, if they have one, will do for them. Their first priority is to switch any wireless devices to silent running cause if you have a smartgun, AR interface or other wireless devices in your weapon it is automatically part of the Matrix and can be scanned and possibly hacked. In silent running your weapon signals can then only be detected via an opposed Computer+Int versus Logic+Sleaze Test depending on the device ratings. This will probably let you conceal-carry in the Streets and low security areas of cities, but once you are into the high security zones and high traffic areas, you're going to be going through tougher checkpoints and more often and this is where a decent weapon SIN is required.

As far as RFID tags go, it would seem likely that legitimate weapon makers and suppliers would have a normal tag as well as a stealth RFID tags on the weapons as they want to be able to market their stuff to law enforcement and military users. These organisations would want to be able to ensure the security of their weapons and ensure that the more powerful and military type of hardware is kept off the streets. Being able to track such weapons and ensure that your typical ganger can't just tag erase an RFID from such weapons is high on their list of controlling the distribution of weapons. They probably wouldn't care too much if said ganger shot up his neighbourhood, but the tags will ensure that ganger can't bring his weapon into a high security area without triggering alarms and an armed response.

I would assume any standard gun or device  listed with a Restricted Rating higher than 12R or any Forbidden Rating is certain to have stealth tags in it. This reflects the legality of the gear, but be warned that the GM may have a lower threshold. I wouldn't be surprised if certain GMs also run their games so that Forbidden rating ammo also has stealth tags, which means unless you erase those tags, the authorities could theoretically track the source of the ammo used from any bullets and casings left at the scene and cause problems in your supply chain.

The trouble with finding stealth tags is that the runner has to use the same opposed Computer+Int versus Logic+Sleaze Test using the device rating of the stealth tag as the threshold to be able to find it.

[Michael Chandra]

Given how you get the things through the black market, I doubt the tags will be inside them. Especially in bullets, since a simple tag-eraser would already clear that out. So any decent contact will have burned out all the tags.

[spuwdsda]

You might have skills within the group to this yourselves, if you buy retail.

[Trollbait]

Somewhat related question. Does simply having a license mean I can carry an assault rifle through downtown without much hassle?

[Michael Chandra]

Nope. It simply means you will likely not get thrown in jail after they hassle you for it and tell you to keep it in a bag.

[Mirikon]

No. Having a real SIN, and a real license to go with it, means you can openly carry an assault rifle through downtown, and when the cops stop you every time they see you, they'll question you, run your SIN, bring you in for questioning if there's been any violence in the area, and then (maybe) let you go if there's nothing to hold you on, after giving you a ticket for 'disturbing the peace'.

A fake license gives you a chance of getting out of jail if the Knights pull you over and happen to see the assault rifle in your car, though.

Basically, the rule of "Don't be stupid" applies. Carrying military hardware (and yes, grenades and assault rifles are included for this discussion) openly through a city is going to draw attention. That's fine, if you're the distraction, but most of the time you don't want attention, yeah? Which is why pistols, shotguns, and SMGs are so nice. You can keep them under your coat, ready to go, and aren't causing a major disruption.

[Trollbait]

Common sense still applies then. Awesome and thanx.

[Michael Chandra]

In my character's case, I use a big duffel bag and a Bounty Hunter License.

[Mirikon]

In my character's case, I use a big duffel bag and a Bounty Hunter License.

Exactly. A duffel bag is a wonderful thing for getting your gear from A to B without drawing attention. This is one of the reasons I have several 'outfits' and loadouts for my characters.

Casual - Armored clothes, maybe a lined coat. Civilian-looking gear. Weapons limited to melee or pistols. For when you're 'off the clock', and want to just avoid getting mugged on your way around town.

Fancy (optional) - High class clothes, sacrificing a bit of armor for style. Weapons limited to melee if awakened, or a single pistol/machine pistol, possibly a taser as well. To blend in with classy events.

Working - Lined coat, Armor jacket, chameleon suit, whatever strikes your fancy. This is when you have your 'normal' work clothes, and work weapons. Maybe one or two flash-bangs or smoke grenades, for emergencies.

Wrath of God - Gear up for war. Biggest, baddest armor you got, all the guns, all the explosives, all the ammo. This is for when 'subtle' has gone the way of the dodo, and all that's left is to blow the hell out of anything and everything in your way. Don't do it outside the Barrens or rural areas unless you're leaving town, yeah?