Guns in an AirBnB… Give me some advice

This is a slightly unique situation, but it's bugging me. 
 

We manage AirBnBs.  Recently after a guest checked out, we found a loaded 9mm in the nightstand drawer. Unlocked. 
 

We identified the owner and have been communicating, but my partner and I disagree on how to handle it. She would rather just return it and do nothing. Make no waves.  I don't think it's that simple. 
 

I am a strong supporter of 2nd amendment rights. But I also have zero tolerance for people who handle firearms irresponsibly.

The weapon was overlooked by the cleaning staff, and found by my partner when she double-checked the cleaning.  A new guest checked into the space less than an hour later.  This means the new guest could have found the weapon, perhaps a child.

AirBnB's policies say:

- Guests must inform the host if they plan to bring a firearm and get permission before check-in.

- Safe Storage: If a host allows firearms, they must be securely stored.

None of these things happened.

Additionally, it is illegal in AL a leave a gun unsecured where a child could easily access it.

I say that this should be reported to AirBnB (yeah, I know they won't do much), and perhaps a police report should be filed.  (We are now in possession of a firearm that is not registered to us).  My partner doesn't want to file any reports.

The owner wants us to ship the weapon to them (across 2 state lines).  Nope.

It's my partner's AirBnB account.  The decision will be hers (nothing will be done), but I don't have to like it.

What say you?  How would you handle this?

I'd have them pick it up from the Sheriff's office after I dropped it off with them for safe keeping.

I'd take it to the nearest police department, as well as report to Airbnb. 
 

The dangerously negligent firearm owner berkeleyed around. Now they can find out. 

Remind her that if someone else would have found it first, she'd have a huge problem, and the gun owner wouldn't care about her hassle. 
 

100% turn it in and let the owner explain it to the police. Not your problem at that point. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

I did point that out to her. It didn't change her mind. 

Yep - call Sheriff or local police - let them handle it. Ship it back?  LOL

In reply to SV reX :

Well then your statement of "we are in possession of a firearm...." should say "she is in possession..." and bow out. I wouldn't discuss it further. 

Is there an attorney you can ask?  There might be legal requirements here.

In reply to Steve_Jones :

She's my fiancé. I'm comfortable with plural pronouns.

I'm not discussing it with her. I'm discussing it with you. 

SV reX said:

In reply to Steve_Jones :

I'm not discussing it with her. I'm discussing it with you. 

And this is one of the few times this entire board will be in agreement, the correct thing to do is turn it in. What is she scared of, a bad review? How does expect to return it? I'm baffled that anything other than turning it in is even an option. 
 

Edit to your edit: what I mean is it's now not a "we" problem, it's her problem if she doesn't want to do the right thing. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

That's why I asked the question. I see no acceptable alternatives either. 
 

Like I said... I don't have to like it. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

I agree with your edit. It IS her problem. I was pretty clear about that in my first post. 
 

Doesn't mean I can't ask for input and discussion from people I trust. 

What does Holiday Inn do in this situation?  Or, what I'm really asking is what is the industry standard reaction to this situation?  

I ask because my answer, overall, is why break from industry standard?  

In reply to John Welsh :

Holiday Inn has secure safes (both in the rooms and in the office area).  They have policies, trained staff and a security team.

AirBnB is a business arrangement which allows guests into private homes. The policies are determined by the individual property owners.

I would contact the police and have them come to you. I wouldn't want to walk into the station unannounced with someone else's firearm in my possession. 

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Good point

You don't have an Airbnb problem. You don't even have a firearm problem. You have a partner problem. And that's a problem. Good luck.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

That's a pretty broad brush you are painting with. 
 

The only problem I have with my partner is that I didn't meet her sooner. 
 

I don't have to agree with everything she does, and I don't need to control her.  Sometimes she makes mistakes (so do I).  That doesn't make it a partner problem. 

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

You don't have an Airbnb problem. You don't even have a firearm problem. You have a partner problem. And that's a problem. Good luck.

This is the big one. 
 

This one to me is a pretty black and white right and wrong issue to me, and it's a big issue. I personally would be having a very hard time coming to terms with her decision. 

Out of curiosity, what is her reasoning to want to avoid the proper channels? To me, this is like a street racer making it harder for all autosports enthusiasts to enjoy the hobby. 

In reply to mtn :

I agree. That's why I am here. It's a big issue, and I am having trouble coming to terms with her decision.

Thats a long way from being a partner problem. 

Steve_Jones said:

And this is one of the few times this entire board will be in agreement, the correct thing to do is turn it in. What is she scared of, a bad review? How does expect to return it? I'm baffled that anything other than turning it in is even an option. 

All of this.  Good luck with that conversation.

Is her decision made, or is it tentative?  

I'd be digging my feet in on this one for sure.

I am not seeing any realistic options here.

The only reasonable thing to do I see is giving it to the police (have them pick it up).

All other potential options seem like very bad ideas.

Not to pile on posts, but you mention she has made a decision (which apparently is not the above).  What would that possibly be?

If you step aside and she does something wrong in shipping it back and she gets popped, there's no way you don't get charged as some kind of accessory. And that is indeed a partner problem. 

SV reX said:

In reply to John Welsh :

Holiday Inn has secure safes (both in the rooms and in the office area).  They have policies, trained staff and a security team.

AirBnB is a business arrangement which allows guests into private homes. The policies are determined by the individual property owners.

 

Yes, Holiday Inn has safes but they also have night stand drawers.  My assumption was that the Holiday Inn policy would be: 

• Do not touch that murder weapon found in a night stand drawer so as to avoid falsely laying a finger print onto it.
• Call the local authorities to secure the weapon and leave it to those authorities to further determine foul play

I'm not implying that all handguns are murder weapon but rather than negligence does not lead credence to it not being one.