Have you ever had an "LEO encounter" with your firearms?

[elsolo]

I see a common question here, "What would happen during a LEO encounter" with this gun, that magazine, this ammo, etc.

Who here has ever been approached by a LEO while in possession of a firearm at a shooting range? Not a friendly chat with somebody that happens to be in law enforcement, but a checking-out-legality kind of situation.

I have heard of encounters on BLM land, but never at a dedicated shooting range unless a fire is started or some other cause for people to pick up a phone and call some authorities.

My only encounters have been while dove hunting on the season opening day, where they just check for a hunting license and check that my shotgun doesn't hold more than 3 rds.

[stix213]

My only encounter was with federal LE in a NF, not at any kind of range. They argued with me about how they believe all long guns needed to be registered, ran the S/N one one of my guns to make sure it wasn't stolen, and jokingly told me when seeing the brand of stock I had on one of my AR's.... "Tapco?? Freaking Tapco? I should confiscate this rifle for that alone!" I've since switched that rifle to a magpul stock

[the86d]

Wow! Really?! Power-trippin...

[oldsmoboat]

Only on Forest Service land and only once actually looked at my M4.
"Nice rifle" is what he said.

[LAL6]

I saw a cop looking guy at the range once walking up and down the line eyeballing everyones AR's. Not sure if he was actually a cop.

[Divernhunter]

Not at a range. Several times not at a range and most of it was ok. A couple of Highway Patrol guys were butt heads. But the older guy riding with one was cool and told him to back off. The other was fine after we talked for awhile. One sherriff was really good and we had a soda and talked about firearms and how some idiots get worked up too easy. He came by since a neighbor called in complaining how many guns I had. He then went down and told her not to waste his time and all was legal even if she did not like it.

[Flintlock Tom]

"Tapco?? Freaking Tapco? I should confiscate this rifle for that alone!"

ROFL!

Out at Carrizo Creek, before it was shut down. Border Patrol officer drove by slowly, slammed on his brakes, backed up... and asked if he could shoot my M1 Garand.

[alfred1222]

Ive had people look at my guns before, but never had a police talk to me at the range. the only time i ever had police talk to me was when me and my brother were driving back from a day shooting a whole bunch of new guns on a friends property. the cop saw us wearing camo (we were hunting that morning) and asked about weapons, and than looked in the trunk of the SUV and couldnt see in because all the gun cases were stacked to the roof. he ask if he could see them, and i said sure, so we had a nice 30 minute talk about my AR and my brothers AK. he just looked at the 2, ignored the rest of the cases completely. nice guy as well, congratulated me on having a nice AR

[cabinetguy]

only once, at a country shooting spot where people were dumping crap the sheriff was nice and polite, but I have not been back since

[Capybara]

I take the advice of many of the senior Calgunners. Don't draw attention to yourself. Don't be covered in tats and piercings. I drive a truck but it is bone stock, not plastered with stickers, lifted, etc. Just look and act "normal". Being 49 probably helps in most cases, a lot of the guys I see getting hassled, not just about guns, are young guys who are calling attention to themselves.

Having a son, daughter or wife with you probably helps you appear to be "normal" as well. LEOs scan and look for things that strike them as unusual or out of place. The more you blend in, the less chance of a LEO hassling you.

[CSACANNONEER]

I've EXCHANGED handguns with a uniformed CHP officer while on the side of a public road. In the end, he gave me mine back and I gave him his back.

[fighterpilot562]

Not at a range. Several times not at a range and most of it was ok. A couple of Highway Patrol guys were butt heads. But the older guy riding with one was cool and told him to back off. The other was fine after we talked for awhile. One sherriff was really good and we had a soda and talked about firearms and how some idiots get worked up too easy. He came by since a neighbor called in complaining how many guns I had. He then went down and told her not to waste his time and all was legal even if she did not like it.

really? what a *insert b-word*. course how did she know you had "too many guns"?

[CA Cowboy]

Got pulled over by a Deputy Sheriff on my way to shoot in the hills for no mud flaps covering my 35x12.50s.I had 2 mausers a garand a 10/22 a winchester and a few revolvers in my truck.All were being transported legally and unloaded.I told him I had the weapons right away.Seeing my 1st Marine Division decal he jokingly asked "No hand gernades mortars or rpgs"? No sir not today just WW2 relics mostly I told him.He told me to have fun and stop in at Napa or somplace when I got back to town to buy mudflaps for my rock slingers.If you take time to make sure you are hauling legal and you are honest with em they dont bother ya.Most LEOs are shooters too they aint all out to get us like some think they are.Them in the fancy suits and clean shoes with a capital D next to their names up in Sac they is the ones out to get us not John Smith the Mariposa Sheriff deputy.

[RandyD]

I've EXCHANGED handguns with a uniformed CHP officer while on the side of a public road. In the end, he gave me mine back and I gave him his back.

I had the same experience at my home, but we knew each other from going through the academy together.

[Capybara]

I think that is cool but I wonder what his/her CO would say about that if they saw them doing that?

I am friends with a sheriff and a CHP officer but I have never gone shooting with either, yet.

I've EXCHANGED handguns with a uniformed CHP officer while on the side of a public road. In the end, he gave me mine back and I gave him his back.