P-1 said:
Would he have the right to arrest you when the Full-auto is an ATF thing? You should have your stamp with you at all times.
No only Federal agents have the authority to impound your NFA weapon. However it won't stop local LEO's from arresting someone and tossing it into their squad car because most simply don't know the regs.
As to the stamp thing you're not required to keep the stamp with you. But I do carry a copy of my stamp (forms) most of the time. You should never carry the originals those should remain in a secure place like a safety deposit box or fire proof safe.
In a nutshell the problem I had with said officer stemmed from the fact that he wouldn't let me finish a sentence. Had he just STFU and let me answer his question instead of interrupting me in mid sentence the whole thing would have been painless for both of us.
It went like this............
Him: Do you a license for that gun?
Me: No sir, what I have is a....
Him: WAIT RIGHT THERE - I'm going to ask you again do you have a license for that gun?
Me: No sir, what I have is a...
Him: WAIT RIGHT THERE - I'm going to ask you again and if you answer NO you're going to JAIL - do you have a license for that gun?
Me: No sir, what I have is a...
Him: LISTEN TO ME - IF YOU ANSWER NO YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL!!! - DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE FOR THAT GUN?
Me: Yes I have a license, I have what you want.
At this time I retrieved the form 4 from my vehicle and gave it to him. Now I can tell he has no clue as to what he is looking at and I offer to help. Lets just say my offer of help was not well received and he voiced his protest strongly so as to assert his control over the situation.
I returned to the tables with my buds and we loaded up the rest of the guns, ammo and accessories into our vehicles as the LEO called the station.
7 or 8 minutes later the officer calls me over and returns my forms and states the next time someone asks if you have a license the answer is YES. He has a much softer vocal tone and finishes his lecture.
By now I've had enough and w/o yelling and jumping up and down I proceed to explain the finer details of NFA ownership. Like how I'm under NO legal obligation to show him any of my CONFIDENTIAL FEDERAL TAX DOCUMENTS! Also that only federal agents can demand I produce said documents.
I explained I don't have a LICENSE but rather a tax form to prove legal ownership of my gun. How I'm not a FFL/SOT holder and therefore I don't have the LICENSE he asked for.
He replies: "in the future when asked for your license, uhh I mean forms, I should simply say yes."
I reply: "I was trying to tell you that but you wouldn't let me answer you."
He replies: "well you had an attitude when I asked if that gun was a full auto MG."
I reply: "I answered why yes it is - how was that showing an attitude?"
He replies: "well just simply say yes next time."
I reply: "man you're the one with the attitude........(pause as he looks at me kinda confused).... OH YEAH YOU THREATENED TO TAKE ME TO JAIL.....YUP YOU THREATENED TO TAKE ME TO JAIL."
He replies: "well uhh I'm just doing my job"
The rest is kinda boring but lets just say he had a much different attitude after he called in and confirmed my paperwork. So know the regs and your rights. Stand your ground but be polite and in the end it should all work out OK.
BTW he declined my offer to shoot the MG, claimed he had no interest in FA stuff.
One last thing - he never looked at the gun in question and never verified the serial number of the registered MG. Never got closer than 30 feet to it. That's some good police work right there man!