View Single Post
Unread 06-16-2009, 06:31 AM   #16
alanint
User
 
alanint's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Marco Island, Florida
Posts: 4,867
Thanks: 1,685
Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts
Default

That's a ridiculous wive's tale that has circulated for years. I have had over 15 class 3 items for more than 10 years and have never even gotten a call from ATF, much less a visit.
Unless you have a meth lab in your basement local LEOs just found out about or other similar scenario you will NEVER be bothered by an ATF visit. They only visit licensees for compliance checks, never individuals.
What's more, say you get stopped in a traffic incident and the arresting officer finds you have title 2 items in your trunk. They can call ATF if they want to but ATF will reveal NOTHING to them other than to state, "we have no interest in prosecuting Mr. so-and-so" To reveal anything about your collection or you is revealing priviledged tax information, which is illegal for ATF to release. This is why I carry copies of my Form 4s for each gun when I travel, as a courtesy for the officer who may have stopped me, not as a requirement. The copies are merely to show that the guns are legal. I am under no obligation to show an LEO anything concerning the weapons if I choose not to. I just weight the certainty that an officer will panic and call backup, take me downtown until the guns can be proved to be mine and legal versus settling that point on the spot.
I have a friend who showed paperwork in a similar minor traffic incident and the officer wanted to confiscate the guns anyway. My friend phoned ATF on the spot and explained the situation then handed the phone to the LEO. The LEO was told by ATF that he could be charged with stealing a registered title 2 weapon if he had no other grounds for confiscation!!
The short story is that you have nothing to worry about as long as you stay on the right side of the law in all respects.
alanint is offline   Reply With Quote