jminn1 wrote:I finished my business on the shooting range and exited. While I was waiting for the range manager to check me out, the guy next in line to go on to the range popped his large tactical rifle bag up on the counter and proceeded to partially unload the content. Since the facility I was at requires rifles to be trigger-locked while carrying them through the store, he was first of all miffed about having to have the range manager unlock his rifle. The guy hauls out shooting glasses, some targets, a silencer, and the rifle he's going to shoot. [insert sound of tires screeching to a halt] The range manager asks if he has the paperwork for silencer. The room goes kind of quiet. The guy becomes a bit confrontational, and asks the range manger if he is a LEO, to which the range manager says no, and then proceeds to politely explain that range requires the permit for the silencer to be presented, and that the police would be called if the permit cannot be produced. The guy gets out his phone and pulls up an image, then shoves the phone at the range manger and with demands of the range manager "do you know what that is?" The range manager examines the image on the phone and says "no, don't have any idea." The guy says "Its a dealer stamp". The range manager says "ok", and then dropped the issue..
I'm looking for a bit of education here, but am mostly just curious.
Was the range manager entitled to ask to see the permit for the silencer? I'm assuming it would be some sort of federal permit.
Entitled is a good choice of words here. He is acting entitled, but if that is the policy of the business, we abide by the policy. As mentioned already, you need your tax stamp, that shows you have paid the federal tax, for each NFA item. There is no permit, just a 'stamp' that acts as a receipt for tax paid. Unless the manager actually checked the serial number on the silencer against the serial number on the stamp, what did the manager really accomplish?
Would being a firearms dealer convey the proper level of permission to possess and deploy the silencer in that setting?
No, just being a firearms dealer doesn't get you permission to have a silencer. As a dealer or manufacturer, you have to submit an application/fee to be able to deal/manufacture these special items (silencers, short barreled guns, AOW). Dealers that have received their Special Occupational Tax (SOT) receipt that allows these types of items may take them to the range and shoot/demo them, but only if allowed at the range and the dealer is following the range's policies. Dealers have a different form they would take if the dealer company owns the silencer and not an individual/trust.
Is the image of a dealer license on a phone good enough, or should the actual permit for the silencer been required?
The image of the stamp for that particular item, on a phone, is OK, but really the stamp should be with the item at all times. It might have flown at the range, but probably would get you a ride if you came into contact with a LEO and could not produce the actual stamp. This really comes into play when a trust owns the actual item. What's to say you didn't just grab a copy of a stamp issued to a trust you do not belong to? Stamp should be with the item.
I learned one thing today for sure: Don't mess with the old guy behind the counter at the range!
TBM