[MCASSgt New River]

This thread is simply to collect data on what you've been through personally. Not heard, saw or read about.
Pick the one that best matches what's happened to you.

Please vote and share any stories when you've been asked "You got a permit for that" or "You got a license for that" or "You got papers for that?"

Thanks for all replies.

P.S.
I did NOT vote but the only time I have been asked for my FORM 4 was at a public shooting range while shooting suppressed.

This post has been edited by MCASgt New River: 24 August 2009 - 10:26 PM

[Azrial]

Nope, never been asked.

[GeorgiaPD]

I've never been asked for paperwork on any of my guns. However, I was a passenger in a pickup that was stopped on the way to the range about two years ago. The officers that stopped were more curious then anything else, but stated that they had received several calls about a pickup driving down the road with a machinegun in the back. A friend had his 1919 mounted on a tripod and sitting in the bed on the truck. The tarp fell off while driving down the road without him realizing and several people called the police. Officers were fine and just asked if we could cover it back up. If I recall, they did not ask for paperwork either, but did ask a ton of questions about the gun...LOL

This post has been edited by GeorgiaPD: 24 August 2009 - 11:32 PM

[scoutjoe]

Never been asked about papers when I've had my can out

[I Love B( . )( . )bies]

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

[tritium]

22_Shooter, on Aug 25 2009, 06:21 AM, said:

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

Believe so, but it should be a black and white copy. Some stupid rule against copying gov't stuff in color, so I'm told.

[BobAsh]

It needs to be a copy. Never carry your actual papers, keep them in a safe deposit box.

[VanKiller]

BobAsh, on Aug 25 2009, 09:45 AM, said:

It needs to be a copy. Never carry your actual papers, keep them in a safe deposit box.

+1..........if you loose your original, ATF will usually claim not enough manpower to run down the existing paperwork and make a copy........................This has caused the loss of some very expensive early registered machine guns.

I carry copies of my paperwork and I usually place another copy under the buttplate, or somewhere on the weapon. "Just in case".......

Of course I've never been asked to produce my paperwork, BUT, I'm usually handing out business cards to any LEO in sight anyway........"Hey, I can build your dept one of these, or these......ect."

[vbrtrmn]

At the NRA range in Fairfax, the range master will usually ask if you're shooting with a suppressor. Probably the same for other stuff, though I haven't noticed other NFA weapons there.

[MCASSgt New River]

tritium, on Aug 25 2009, 08:31 AM, said:

22_Shooter, on Aug 25 2009, 06:21 AM, said:

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

Believe so, but it should be a black and white copy. Some stupid rule against copying gov't stuff in color, so I'm told.

22_Shooter, on Aug 25 2009, 06:21 AM, said:

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

BobAsh, on Aug 25 2009, 08:45 AM, said:

It needs to be a copy. Never carry your actual papers, keep them in a safe deposit box.

Tritium & 22_Shooter,
I had a full size & 1/4 size color copies laminated. The color copy is in a sleeve protector and the 1/4 size are kept in my wallet. As stated in my OP the only person to ask for my paperwork has been the owner of the public range that I shoot at. And there is no gov't rule against color copies or laminating it.

Bob has the storage idea right too, I keep mine in a ziploc baggy in my safe inside a small safe for documents. I never want to try and get them replaced. Even though I was standing over the lady when she made copies I was worried about letting anyone handle my forms.

[BobAsh]

Yeah, my copies are in color and laminated. They look just like the real thing! Keeping them in your safe is OK, but a safe deposit box is best.

I just keep each gun's form in it's range case. The guns are never far from their cases

[Shandlanos]

Never been asked for it. All I have so far is a stainless YHM Mite .22 suppressor, and the only police officers who have seen it did so on a pretty friendly basis, and were more curious than anything. I keep a copy in my pocket and a copy in the case I carry the can in. The original stays in the safe at home.

[Jeaux E]

I've never been asked for my papers on my guns anywhere..........., but never fail to have them with me, just in case.
Always make sure to have the 5320.20's as well, for all stated destinations, as approved.................

Color copies with me in the gun cases, originals in the safe at home...............

[Blam]

22_Shooter, on Aug 25 2009, 06:21 AM, said:

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

Its also a good idea to keep the phone number of the NFA in your cell (304 616-4500). If you are asked for a copy of your stamped form, and there is a question or problem after you presented your copy (or cant find or produce your copy when asked)... AND its a weekday 8:00 - 5:00 Eastern time ... the NFA can look up your item by serial to verify you have lawful possession of the item.

[I Love B( . )( . )bies]

Perfect. Thanks to everyone who answered my question. I've been wondering this for quite some time, but this thread reminded me.

[jaybird]

22_Shooter, on Aug 25 2009, 07:21 AM, said:

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

I had my papers copied and laminated and keep it with the gun. The original papers I keep in a safe.
I have never been asked, but if I ever do I keep the laminated copy with each gun.

[tritium]

I double checked with the NFA branch today and color copies are fine. The black and white business is apparently the policy of some copying centers, like Kinko's, not the ATF.

[William M]

An old shooting buddy had some neighbors that called the Law, regularly. However the neighbors must have been stupid or deaf. When the Law showed up, it was regularly another Buddy of mine. The Volume of automatic fire would increase as he couldn't resist letting go a mag or two!

[Red Jacket]

Usually , no problem . There was this one time though... I was in Lwr E.Bumfuck Ms. , going to a 'Nam re-enactment . Pig trail , fog , around 1-2 in the morning . Going slow looking for the homemade arrow nailed to a tree to mark the turnoff . Local pulled me over , said I was driving kinda slow ......... OK , truck's full of guncase's , steel box's , all the shit you'ld expect , I'm wearing part of the uniform . Ask's "what's in the gun cases ?" well hell . "Gun's" , "What's in the big steel box ?" , "Which one , the one marked "Explosives" or the one marked "detonator's" ?" [been on the road a while....] Well , my shit deteriorated rapidly from there ...... A hour later , he still wasn't convinced I hadn't made up all that fancy paperwork [well , he ain't nver heard off such doing's] 2 hour's later his uncle showed up , luckily he had been schooled out of the local area and was familiar with English in it's written form . An hour after that , I had all my stuff loaded back up . If you want a moral to this story , "Don't smartass the guy with the gun" is probably it

[Azrial]

Very nice composition and lighting in your photo.

[Raoul_Duke]

Never been asked.

But I carry full-sized color copies, just in case . . .

One time I made the "mistake" of taking my Tromix S17 and Micro 7.62 over to one of the local PD Sergeant's house . . . He LOVED them, I practically had to pry them out of his hands!

And thanks Blam, I have heard that before. I'll put that number into my cellphone.

[Vultite]

Well a LEO has never asked, but range officers always ask upfront what your shooting and then ask for papers. But when I go with a friend of mine with his SBR select fire M4, then the tension in the air rises, I bet he's had some hassle before, but he's got a badge....

[WaffenSchmied]

I get asked things like "Is that legal?" Or, "can you shoot that here", or asked to go elsewhere by people with no authority to require that I go else where (I ignore them). I have been asked repeatedly "Is that an automatic weapon" (no, would you like to shoot it? usually the response is "Hell yes!").

At the range the most common comments from RO's are "Damn!" Or, "no rapid fire". A week or so ago someone identifying himself as a range board member asked me to stop shooting because the people in the pistol berm next door heard "ricochets". I pointed out that #8 bird shot fired directly into a berm does not make "ricochet" sounds, and that the SWAT range is about 100 yards to the south. This doofus finally admitted that the shotguns scared them, and would I go to the class III range down the hill. I said no. I am a member, I am training, I had been told by his superiors that I could shoot at that berm, and I had no intention of going anywhere else.

Then the little prick asked me if I were a certified firearms instructor. I said no. (WTF has that got to do with anything?). I told him that my father had been a firearms instructor. He had been eying the Glock on my hip, and invited me to join his pistol group. I politely declined. He finally left, unsatisfied, and I continued as before.

The moral of the story is that these self appointed authoritarian douchebags are EVERYWHERE. They will appear almost everytime you go to the range, and attempt to make rules up as they see fit. Be polite, be assertive, and dismiss them as quickly as possible. If you are shooting an S12 you WILL get this sort of bullshit wherever you go. Get used to it, and enjoy shooting your gun. As long as you comply with published range rules, you are golden.

WS

[termite]

Never been asked, but at the range I'm a member of, if you pull out a can or FA, you're everyone's bestest buddy. Most of the guys that have the FA's, just say, use your ammo and have fun. The S12 with the drum does get some looks, but they are all looks of envy. :) Once a can gets shown, everyone starts comparing theirs to everyone elses to see who has the best, it's like kids in a candy factory.

[A2DAK]

When I shoot my suppressed ak handgun at the range 10 minutes from my house I always get the standard "aren't those illegal" or "don't you need a class 3 license?". I show a color copy of my paperwork then inform the person or people involved that both the suppressor and handgun are perfectly legal in the state of AK and I have no need for a class 2 or 3 license. I then tell them to google fa/suppressor firearm ownership so they can enlighten them selves on the current gun laws in the state that they reside in before making uninformed legal judgment on another gun owner. Most people and RO's at that range don't have a clue when it involves title 2 or 3 weapons. So to avoid the hassle or sometimes bad attitude of the uninformed I drive 45 minutes south of town to another range that has plenty of other class 2 & 3 firearm owners. I have met really nice people there and because I also own a class 3 item I have had the privilege of shooting many different fa, sbr, sbs, and different suppressors. In general the class 2/3 owners are usually a very friendly and curios bunch.

[Kacey_Arnold]

22_Shooter, on 25 August 2009 - 07:21 AM, said:

I've been wondering this, and this seems like the perfect place to ask...........I don't wanna hijack the thread, so if someone who knows a definite answer can just give me a "yes" or "no"..........Can you just carry a copy of your paperwork? (As opposed to the actual paperwork)

I've been on the ATF's website dealing with NFA issues for two days so to answer your quest directly from BATF
(M25) Does the owner of a registered NFA firearm have to have any evidence to show it is registered lawfully to him or her? [Back]

Yes. The approved application received from ATF serves as evidence of registration of the NFA firearm in the owner's name. This document must be kept available for inspection by ATF officers. It is suggested that a photocopy of the approved application be carried by the owner when the weapon is being transported.

[tritium]

Again, just see reply #17 above.

[Twinsen]

Never been asked, but I've gotten a "I won't tell anybody!" and dirty looks.