Author Topic: Officer's perspective . . . (Read 885 times)

Ranger413 · « **on:** November 30, 2003, 11:29:48 AM »

This is my attempt at addressing the debate over the way a Contender or Encore is configured and/or registered (i.e. pistol/rifle). I'm an Encore owner so I have a vested interest in this subject, but with all the posts on this topic I just wanted to add a "reasonable officer's perspective". This is to go without saying that there are some hard core law dogs out there that can take things to the limit.

First off you will have to be involved in a serious violation of law or hunting/shooting accident for this to be an issue. Officers do not routinely grab guns off of people and check serial numbers to see how they were registered.

When a violation is observed there are a couple of main checks done. The first would be to ascertain if the subject with the gun is a convicted felon. If so, it's off to the pokey. Convicted felons cannot carry firearms. The second check would be to see if the gun is listed as stolen. Again, if so off to the pokey.

Now comes the part where the officer could possibly find out if how the gun was registered. It is usually mandated by individual department policy that an ATF check be done on the firearm's history if it is stolen, possessed by a felon, or involved in a serious accident or crime. Then a complete workup will be done by the ATF that will show when/where it was manufactured, shipped to, purchased from, registered as (i.e. pistol/rifle) etc, etc.

I honestly don't think that most officers out there know much about Contenders/Encores and know they can convert from pistol to rifle and back again. So I don't see them hassling you to see how the gun was registered. Maybe they do this in some states, but I don't do it here. It's too much work to be just "fishing". The ATF is the agency really concerned about this stuff and to be honest with y'all, I think they have bigger fish to fry.

Once again, not legal advice, just an officer's persective.

Ranger413

Ranger413 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2003, 03:25:59 AM »

A convicted felon may not possess a firearm for any purpose.

rickyp · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2003, 12:38:15 PM »

rember the duke boys from the show duks of hazards. they could only use a bow. it is the same in the real world.

Keith L · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2003, 12:49:57 PM »

A couple weeks ago I heard a guy on the radio who said that differed from state to state. Some states won't allow convicted felons to vote in state elections either. Here in Wisconsin felons can't own guns. A few years ago there was a story about the Mayor of a town that wound up in trouble because he owned a hardware store and sold guns, then it was determined that he was a convicted felon who had served his time. His conviction happened years prior, and he wound up asking for a pardon. I don't recall the outcome.

Ranger413 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2003, 04:06:35 PM »

It's a federal violation of law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Now, if the individual has been pardoned, that's another story.

Ranger413

Keith L · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2003, 12:49:01 AM »

Thats the danger of using the radio for information gathering. Sometimes the information is wrong. Thanks for the correction.

okbow68 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2003, 06:10:05 AM »

everyone should check their individual state laws, because that does not hold true in every state. In OKLA under certain circumstances felons can posses firearms to engage in hunting activities to provide food for the table.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2003, 06:32:34 AM »

okbow68 sez:

Quote

everyone should check their individual state laws, because that does not hold true in every state. In OKLA under certain circumstances felons can posses firearms to engage in hunting activities to provide food for the table.

WRONG! The law is FEDERAL not state. The states cannot over right federal law and allow what is illegal by federal law.

It is a FEDERAL offense for any convicted felon who hasn't been pardoned to own or even to hold in their hands a firearm of any type or description.

GB

Ranger413 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2003, 12:06:03 PM »

Quote

everyone should check their individual state laws, because that does not hold true in every state. In OKLA under certain circumstances felons can posses firearms to engage in hunting activities to provide food for the table.

It is a federal violation. However, I understand that Native Americans can do certain things on the reservations that white man can't. For instance - take a bald eagle for head dresses. So, maybe this is the exception. I don't know, just a guess.

Ranger413

myronman3 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2003, 12:29:35 PM »

just to play devils advocate: so what about he town in california that made weed legal despite what hte feds say? just being a snot!

Graybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2003, 08:35:09 AM »

American Indian tribes ON tribal land are basically treated as if a nation state. Lots of things happen that other folks can't do. But states and cities cannot change or over ride federal law. The city cops might not arrest anyone for weed there but the Feds sure can and will.

GB