LEO Only Purchases

[marklbucla]

I found this online:

For Individual Officers wishing to order 'Law Enforcement Only' Firearms or L.E. high capacity mags, the following specific legal requirements (with limitations) apply:

1. A letter from your Department Chief, Sheriff, or Shift Supervisor authorizing such purchase. This letter must state:
A- The weapon/s (or magazines) are for the Officer's use in his/her official duties
B- Said purchaser understands the gun cannot be resold for non-duty use
C- That said buyer's record has been checked and found clear of any misdemeanor crime or domestic violence conviction
D- This letter should show the Residence address of the officer.

In general, at what point would one be eligible for such a purchase?
Do Reserves or Cadets qualify?
Can LEO's in "less free" states purchase their own AR-15's and other "evil" guns?

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I'm not a LEO, but ...

I'd guess you're eligible as soon as you convince the chief to write that letter.

Read and re-read item "A" a few times. When you are convinced you qualify, then go to the chief. "B", "C", and "D" are no-brainers.

Regards.

 

[Rob62]

Having dealt with this issue from several agencies here is what I've found to be the case.

The CLEO (Chief Law Enforcement Officer) generally signs the letter. IIRC correctly, and I may be wrong here, the CLEO in fact has to sign the letter.

One must be a "peace officer" having the authority to arrest persons for violations of the law and to obtain and execute search warrants - cadets or those in an academy are not elligible.

Reserve officers are elligible but obviously only with letter through agency that "employes" them. There's thousands of reserve officers who may be "employed" by an agency, but are not getting paid. That sure doesn't seem like employment to me

Many places that sell to LEO's will sell to you direct without getting the letter, specially on used items, as long as you provide them with a copy of your credentials once you are sworn in. FWIW - I have heard a couple of anecdotal stories of officer who go this route to acquire restricted magazines for their own non duty guns and then getting in a jam.

Hope that helps,
Rob

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Generally you have to be a sworn officer and have documentation from your department allowing you to purchase the LEO only stuff. Otherwise, you are treated the same as the rest of us peasants, which means you have to abide by any federal and state restrictions.

LEOs in states other than CA can buy the same ARs as anyone else, pre-bans or postbans. To buy a postban with evil features, they need the permission of their department.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Key words here...

A- The weapon/s (or magazines) are for the Officer's use in his/her official duties
B- Said purchaser understands the gun cannot be resold for non-duty use

It basically comes down to dept policy. Simply wanting these "better" items for personal fun isn't going to cut it. Of course those baynet lugs sure do enhance the performance of those ARs

 

[Standing Wolf]

Yeah, but we don't have aristocracies in America.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

This burns me up. I recently bought some "pre-ban" high cap mags for a Glock. Price: $60 (some as high as $120). Price to LE: $12.95.

 

[Ed]

What if they buy it while a LEO then leave the job? Can they keep it? If they paid for it and it is theirs.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Regardless of who pays for it, if it is bought with the approval of a law enforcement agency, that agency owns the item. That includes LE Only magazines and semi-automatic firearms. If the officer retires, the agency may allow the officer to keep the item if they desire. If the officer quits or is fired, they stay with the agency.