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Posted: 9/13/2007 6:33:33 PM EDT
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I was told today that it is required to carry your paperwork with you when you have your suppressor. Anybody know anything about this? I don't remember seeing this in the ATF FAQ. If it's true a link would be appreciated. Thanks |
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Some guys will say, "It's a tax document. Don't show it to anyone, especially the cops!! They can't make you show them!" Yeah, whatever. I think anyone who would refuse to show paperwork to an officer isn't being very smart. Oh, you'll beat the rap, but you'll take the ride. I'd rather show the papers and explain the purchase process to the officer than spend a few hours (or a night) in the pokey while my NFA items are being handled by God knows who. Now, I wouldn't let anyone take a copy or write down info from it. I draw the line there. I've never been asked to show paperwork except at a local range. The range guys wanted to make sure the weapons were legal. I showed them and they gave me no problems. I have had several off duty officers ask about silencers. They didn't even know the items were legal. They got a good education, had some fun shooting my stuff and I never got asked for any paperwork. Mark |
Absolutely +1 Just think about it... if a police officer isn't familiar with Class III stuff, do you want to act in a professional manner and help explain any misconceptions to them, or act like a douchebag and paint all CIII owners in a negative light? |
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I've never bothered. I'm in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. I have a Green card for the machine guns. I would show them that. I don't have any SBR's . I do have a few AOW's but I never shoot them, so I'm not concerned. I have been questioned about the Suppressors and I explain that I'm a licensed manufacturer and that usually ends it. I do have a copy of my FFL in my wallet. You should carry copies of the papers. Make many of them and put them in each gun case. Be polite and show the papers if asked. Who really cares if it is a tax document? If it saves you from being arrested ... then it is worth it. |
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Never carry mine. Went to an outdoor range this morning with my Dad. Brought my suppressed 11.5" AR-15, and suppressed Ruger MKIII. 6 sheriffs were there training/shooting, and not one said/asked anything. One did keep eyeing us, but nothing more. Once I get some color copies I'll start carrying them. I'm not too concerned about it as most people around here don't seem to be nosey, and most cops seem to know the legality. |
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This is interesting. It is a tax question, let's not forget that. Tax matters should be private. However, I understand the difficulties involved. My hat is off to any one who actually spends a night in jail over legal NFA activities. I almost spent one over a FN PS90! I am going to say some thing unpopular here. America is a great country, only slightly reduced from her greatness by things such as the NFA of 1934. FDR introduced a lot of legislation, and not all of it was good. Can't blame him for the income tax, though. When FDR supported the NFA, $200 was a substantial chunk of change. Now, it is not. Time wounds all heels. |
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If I have contact with you and don't have your NFA forms, you will be arrested and the NFA item will be seized. Ohio law strictly bans all NFA items...except when approved by the NFA branch. As far as the ATF form, it is not a tax form. It is an application form to make or transfer. It only has your name, address and NFA description. Take your forms to kinkos have them reduced in size and then laminate them. They fit in your gun case and all is good. A little common sense goes a long way. Like the other guy said, you may beat the rap but is it worth the headache? You decide. |
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As Mogwa said, in some states registration is a exemption from prosecution so it is a good idea to carry you paperwork. That said I carry my paperwork in my shooting pack but most of the time my pack stays in my garage. In as long as I've been into NFA I have never had anyone, other than a nosy range lady, ask to see my paperwork...even after the police were called for machinegun fire. In this state, and especially this part of Oregon, firearms are an accepted part of life. Everyone that I know carries pistols and rifles and most of the local PD are shooters. I still carry my paperwork, sometimes, but it is usually because I left it in my pack and not because I made the conscious decision to grab it before heading out. |
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While it may be correct that you don't have to produce paperwork on demand for anyone but an ATF agent, why not use the inquiry as an opportunity to educate the individual about the legality of NFA firearms? I show off my SBS all the time (currently my only NFA firearm) for that exact reason. People see the 13.5" barrel and that gets the questions flying. By the end of the conversation, at the very least they know these things are legal and at most they're off to the ATF website to order up a few Form 1 kits of their own. There is strength in numbers. Why not do everything you can to increase our numbers, and therefore our strength? Imagine if we could convert 10-20% of the "fudds" into NFA firearm owners. Or leaving "fudds" out of it completely, imagine if we could educate every EBR owner on the NFA. That group practically destroyed Jim Zumbo in a weekend over his comments about the AR15. Imagine if we could bring that power to bear on some NFA-related topic. I know I plan on buying a few silencers and hopefully a full-auto AR or SBR AR (or both) and I fully plan on sharing them with as many people as possible. One magazine of .22LR through a suppressor, in the back room of my business, is quite likely to result in one more .22 suppressor owner added to the fold. 
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