Considering it was a legally obtainable firearm when it was purchased and also had the firing pin removed.. yes. It was part of a gun collection no different then you collecting tea cups. It isn't any more powerful... actually less powerful, than most high powered hunting rifles.
Loss of a $200 gun was valueless, in comparison to the lawyer fees and loss of business thanks to the publicity for an improper/illegal search and seizure of a collection. We lost over a million gross a year in business over this b s.