Can cops own guns that civilians can't?

Question

like the H&K g36c or m4

Answer 1

You can get most of the same weapons. However you have to settle with the semi automatic one while they get the fully auto.

The M4 is great gun.

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

I know cops who have guns like that, but they all went through the same paperwork with the ATF that anyone would (getting a class III license, etc.)

Many cops *posses* those weapons, but they are owned by the department, and are issued to officers (SWAT, etc.)

Answer 4

Depending on what state you live in you can get pretty much whatever you want.

When I lived in Idaho I knew plenty of people who legally owned fully automatic weapons.  In some respects the citizens were better armed than the police but the citizens respected the law so the cops had nothing to worry about.

In California and Washington D.C. you get throw in prison for drawing a gun on a piece of paper.