The NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT was passed in 1934 and HEAVILY restricted several classes of weapons.
The Act defines a number of categories of regulated firearms. These weapons are collectively known as NFA firearms and include the following:
Machine guns – this includes any firearm which can fire more than 1 cartridge per trigger pull. Both continuous fully-automatic fire and "burst fire" (i.e., firearms with a 3-round burst feature) are considered machine gun features. The weapon’s receiver is by itself considered to be a regulated firearm. Courts have held that where a worn firearm malfunctions in such a way as to fire multiple cartridges one or more times, this makes it a machine gun.
Short barreled rifles (SBRs) – this category includes any firearm with a buttstock and either a rifled barrel under 16" long or an overall length under 26". The overall length is measured with any folding or collapsing stocks in the extended position. The category also includes firearms which came from the factory with a buttstock that was later removed by a third party.
Short barreled shotguns (SBSs) – this category is defined similarly to SBRs, but the length limit for the barrel is 18" instead of 16", and the barrel must be a smoothbore. The minimum overall length limit remains 26".
Suppressors – this includes any portable device designed to muffle or disguise the report of a portable firearm. This category does not include non-portable devices, such as sound traps used by gunsmiths in their shops which are large and usually bolted to the floor.
Destructive Devices (DDs) – there are two broad classes of destructive devices:
* Devices such as grenades, bombs, explosive missiles, poison gas weapons, etc.
* Any non-sporting firearm with a bore over 0.50", such as a 40mm grenade launcher often used in conjunction with military rifles. (Many firearms with bores over 0.50", such as 12-gauge shotguns, are exempted from the law because they have been determined to have a legitimate sporting use.)
Any Other Weapons (AOWs) – this is a broad "catch-all" category used to regulate any number of firearms which the ATF deems deserving of registration and taxation. Examples include, among others:
* Smooth-bore pistols
* Pen guns and cane guns
* A firearm with combinations smooth bore and rifle barrels 12 inches or more but less than 18 inches in length from which only a single shot can be made from either barrel.
* Disguised firearms
* Firearms that can be fired from within a wallet holster or a briefcase
* A short-barreled shotgun which came from the factory with a pistol grip is categorized as an AOW rather than a SBS, because the Gun Control Act describes a shotgun as “…designed or redesigned to be fired from the shoulder…”
* Handguns with a forward vertical grip. It is therefore illegal to place an aftermarket foregrip on any pistol without first registering it as an AOW and paying the 0 "making tax" imposed by the Act.
Violations of the Act are punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and forfeiture of all devices or firearms in violation, and the individual’s right to own or possess firearms in the future. The Act provides for a penalty of ,000 for certain violations.[8] A willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax imposed by the Act is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a 0,000 fine (0,000 in the case of a corporation or trust), under the general tax evasion statute.[9] For an individual, the felony fine of 0,000 for tax evasion could be increased to 0,000.[10]
Someone mentioned on another question that gun control should be tighter because "Noone needs a machine gun!" Well I have good news for you, as stated above.
And semi-automatic (ONE ROUND PER TRIGGER PULL, AKA AUTO-LOADING) firearms are NOT easily converted to fully automatic!
Most current fully-automatic trigger groups will not fit their semi-automatic firearm look-alike counterparts – the semi-auto
automatic firearm look-alike counterparts – the semi-automatic version is specifically constructed to reject the fully-automatic trigger group by adding metal in critical places. This addition is required by the ATF to prevent easy conversion of Title I firearms into machine guns. Additionally, some fully-automatic trigger groups are also permanently modified in such a way that they can no longer be made to function as fully-automatic fire control devices. The ATF has listed required manufacturing procedures for modifying these fully-automatic trigger groups to make them into legal semi-automatic trigger-groups for civilian sales.
The Assault Weapons Ban had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS! The AWB banned certain rifles, shotguns, and handguns based on certain features, like pistol grips, folding stocks, bayonet lugs (As if there’s ever been a drive-by bayoneting HAHA)
The assault weapons ban was pointless because all it did was ban mostly cosmetic features tha
t have NOTHING to do with how the firearm operates!
Do you know really think that you can just go into a gun store and walk out with a machine gun?!
Natalie: Do you even know what you are talking about? Fully automatic weapons are not ENTIRELY banned, but STRICTLY regulated. You must have permission from the federal government!
Do you think those people want to risk up to 10 years in federal prison and forfeiture of all devices or firearms in violation, and the individual’s right to own or possess firearms in the future. The Act provides for a penalty of ,000 for certain violations. A willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax imposed by the Act is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a 0,000 fine (0,000 in the case of a corporation or trust), under the general tax evasion statute. For an individual, the felony fine of 0,000 for tax evasion could be increased to 0,000.
THERE IS NO LOOPHOLE!
And BTW, I am a SOCIALIST that believes in the right to keep and bear arms.
Wounded Duck:
PROVE IT!
How come my uncle who was a cop for over 25 years NEVER encountered a criminal with an illegal fully automatic weapon?
Most of the guns criminals have are crappy pot metal handguns like Jennings Lorcin, Bryco etc.
Share This
