Some guys had registered silencers at a rifle range and were confronted by other shooters who thought they were illegal. After showing the registration forms, the others left and possibly ratted their fellow shooters out to the police who then confiscated the silencers after seeing the registration forms.
http://www.northwestfirearms.com/for...ad.php?t=23533
A question for any police officers who post here. Think the shooters will be charged with violation of RCW 9.41.250 that makes silencer use a gross misdemeanor? I have heard claims that the WA police will arrest someone who possesses a silencer with gunpowder residue in it as it is evidence that it was possibly used on a firearm in WA.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250
Do you think these guys will get their property back? Do you think the police will receive some additional training on firearm legalities?
Federal law always requires ATF approval for transferring possession of a silencer. Since these police officers allegedly were informed of the law before confiscating the silencers, would they be in violation of the National Firearms Act of 1934? They had no reason to believe a crime was being committed, so how would the WA police in this case stay out of trouble if the ATF wanted to make an example of them? Thanks.