One thing that needs to be clarified. There is no such thing as a "Class 3 license". There is a Class 3 Special Occupational Tax, paid by a licensed (FFL) dealer or manufacturer to deal in NFA firearms. NO federal license is required to own NFA firearms, only BATFE approval of the transfer and payment of the transfer tax.
As to the legal possession of NFA firearms attracting attention, in most cases, local LE won't even know about it; BATFE does not tell them who has registered guns in their area unless there is a criminal investigation. The CLEO can use the signoff to keep a record, which is one of the reasons that provision may be eliminated. If there is local or state registration, then of course they might know, but in some states that have state registration, not even local LE can get access to the records, at least officially, unless there is a criminal investigation.
IMHO, an LE that would make such a statement needs to lose his badge and most of all, his gun. He is just the kind of cop who goes around hoping for an excuse to shoot people.
Jim
As to the legal possession of NFA firearms attracting attention, in most cases, local LE won't even know about it; BATFE does not tell them who has registered guns in their area unless there is a criminal investigation. The CLEO can use the signoff to keep a record, which is one of the reasons that provision may be eliminated. If there is local or state registration, then of course they might know, but in some states that have state registration, not even local LE can get access to the records, at least officially, unless there is a criminal investigation.
IMHO, an LE that would make such a statement needs to lose his badge and most of all, his gun. He is just the kind of cop who goes around hoping for an excuse to shoot people.
Jim