Pred, I agree you did the right thing. You basically took the lesser of the evils. Being you did not allow them in let them know you know your rights. But you made a rational decision to partly comply. You showed them the firearm in question, thats it. Maybe they asked to come in and see all firearms to test for suspicion? Ya know like the officer who pulls ya over and asks "any guns, knifes, missles or handgranades in the car" . You get a deer caught in the headlights look or get nervious, well thats now reasonable cause. One would have acted nervious the game of cat and mouse would be on.
Had they of come back with a search warrent they would have turned your place upside-down looking for all firearms. Uncovered all dirty socks under the bed , and playboys in the top of the closet
And then walked out saying have a nice day..
The fact of asking to come inside, well figure it as two motives. One to peek around and get a overall view of you as a person. On the other side, the less your neighbors know of your business the better. I am sure alot of folks on this forum have enough firearms to scare the hell out of a town police department. Being some folks on here actually outgun (own more guns and ammo) the PD's
Unfortunatly, WE (all others of this board) can only say what we would have done. BUT unfortunatly Alot say one thing and do another when put on the spot.
Now, on the registry bit. Maybe I watch to many tv shows on discovery etc. But does the ATF actually have one of every gun for ballistics?? So they can match a bullet to a few specific gun makes? If so could it be you own one of the makes of firearms that is identified by a balistics lab?? So they search the records as to who in the area owns a said make 9MM??
Snert.