Originally Posted By: Plant.Onethey can ask for it and because its a tax stamp you can legally refuse to show it to anyone but an IRS or BATFE agent.
however they (leo, game warden, etc) can detain you until such an authority presents itself - at your request mind you because you refused to produce legal paperwork showing your right to possess a heavily restricted item - and you'd have no one to blame but yourself for said delay.
so truly, its one of those situations that fall under "just because you can, should you?" and that depends just how big of a nitpicking fight you wanna get into that day. is it really something thats worth ruining your hunting or range trip just to have a urination competition over? because if you wanna push back like that, its something they can easily do make your life [beeep] for that period when you're supposed to be out enjoying yourself.
im not here to tell anyone how to live their best life and all that, just that sometimes the best way to say [beeep] with a smile is to give them what they wanna see and be on with your day.
In Texas, Suppressor's are legal to possess. The NFA is a Federal jurisdiction, not a State, County, or Local.
In all the years that I've owned Suppressor's and Full Auto weapon's, I've been asked twice by County and Local LEO's to see my Tax Stamp's. I refused both times, and instructed them to contact their superior's to learn that they can't ask to see my Federal Tax document's.
Now of coarse, a lot depends on your attitude and tone of voice when speaking to a LEO. If you go off on them, then yes, you may well get detained by them over nothing. Most LEO's don't take the time to actually know all the laws, just the areas that serve them in their daily job areas.
I have shown my stamps to a Texas State Game Warden. Not that I had to, but I have a very high respect for the job they do, and in Texas, they have more legal authority than any other LEO's.
The TPWD legalized the use of suppressor's for hunting several years ago, so if a Game Warden ask to see my stamps while I'm hunting, I don't have an issue with it. It's really no different than them wanting to see your hunting license with a Federal Duck tax stamp on it.