A-320 FO'S RPT ON THE CARRIAGE OF AN UNLOADED GUN IN THE COCKPIT BELONGING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHICH WAS LATER CHALLENGED BY A REP OF THE CHIEF PLTS OFFICE AT ZZZ; US.

Narrative

APROX 20 MINS PRIOR TO PUSHBACK; THE STATION MGR CAME TO THE FLIGHT DECK TO SPEAK WITH THE CAPT. APPARENTLY; A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAD PACKED HIS UNLOADED GUN IN HIS CHKED BAGGAGE. THE STATION MGR WANTED US TO PUT HIS SMALL BAG IN THE FLT DECK AS THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO TRANSPORT THE GUN. THE CAPT DECLINED. A FEW MINS LATER THE STATION MGR RETURNED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TSA. HE ASSURED THE CAPT THAT IS WAS OK TO TRANSPORT THE GUN UP FRONT. THE CAPT TRIED TO CALL THE CHIEF PLTS OFFICE; BUT ONLY WAS ABLE TO GET A PHONE TREE THAT KEPT LOOPING BACK TO THE MAIN SWITCHBOARD RECORDING. HE THEN TRIED TO DIAL-UP DISPATCH ON THE RADIO AND THAT ALSO FAILED. HE THEN LOOKED THROUGH HIS MANUAL FOR A RULE THAT WOULD STATE THAT HE COULD NOT DO THIS. SINCE HE COULDN'T FIND A SPECIFIC RULE STATING THAT HE COULD NOT DO THIS AND WITH THE PRESSURE OF AN ON-TIME PUSH; STATION MGR; AND THE TSA REP; THE CAPT DECIDED HE COULD DO THIS. WE WERE MET AT THE DEST BY A REP FROM THE CHIEF PLTS OFFICE TELLING US WE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS.