Posted: 2/7/2007 11:29:38 AM EDT
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This might have come up before elsewhere, and if so and anybody knows where the thread is, please point me to it. A friend of mine I made through an Auxiliary Police Officer program has a contact who is going to manufacture a few AR15 receivers with custom serial numbers for a few of the guys who went through the program (including one for myself). The nice thing about this is that it's going to be marked "APO XXXXXXX" where XXXXXXX is our respective badge numbers. It's going to be one hell of a keep-sake! I'm also thinking of having the department's badge style engraved on the receiver. Here's the question, though... I'm no longer a part of the program (no longer with the department). Would engraving my receiver with such an image constitute any kind of violation of law? I'm thinking it wouldn't because only people - not firearms are police officers. I expect some people might raise a fuss about it, or even falsely construe it as a property marking, but I'm willing to put up with the fuss for such a keep-sake so long as I wouldn't be violating any kind of law by doing this. Anybody know if this would be a legal issue? Again, I'm seriously doubting it, but I wanted to ask the experts out here to see what you guys may know about the matter. Thanks! _MaH |
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Legally you can engrave anything you want on anything you own. Most engravers will not engrave copyrighted images due to the laws protecting them. 3 years ago a buddy of mine was retiring from a PD in Colorado and I bought the receiver, had it engraved with his shield and badge number we built it up and gave it to him as a gift. The engraver questioned me about it and I explained that he was retiring and we wanted to give him an AR15 in the same configuration of what he carried in his patrol car with his badge on it. Engraver thought it was a cool idea. From a legal standpoint I assume you are thinking of the 'impersonanting an officer'. If this is your concern, merely marking a gun doesn't fall into that category.....now if you were at the range and were wearing a badge(that you don't have the legal right to wear) you would be crossing the line. I have seen AR's engraved with everything from the United States flag, to the Department of Defense logo to even Elvis! Only logo that there is a law against is the Presidential Seal, that will cause you to be visited by some nice G-Suiters/Shooters for questioning. Legally you are in the clear. -TS |
I know you're not a lawyer, but your explanation confirms my initial thought! As I said, "firearms can't be police officers", so I couldn't be charged with (as you correctly surmised) impersonating an officer. Used to be one; not anymore though... Thanks! _MaH |
You know I'm not a lawyer.....do you know me/do I know you?  (Advice did come from a lawyer though as I wanted to put the insignia of the group I served with on one of my AR's and asked the same question, that was the answer I was told as best as I can recall and repeat.) -TS |