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Yes, you could own a full-auto gun in 1984 without jumping through a lot of hoops & they were inexpensive at that time. You can still own one today, but you have to buy a tax-stamp, submit fingerprints & wait for a background check, and the guns are more expensive than they used to be.
False. The hoops, stamp, fingerprints, wait and local-chief signoff started in 1938. The cessation of private manufacture is what started later.
An extensive background check, fingerprints, several forms, and a $200 "tax" must be paid. In addition, in 1986 the Federal Government banned the importation, and manufacturer of fully automatic firearms, thus creating a finite market. The result was as intended, as their prices have skyrocketed. Now a basic full auto firearm start at $20,000 and up making them collectors items for the wealthy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilot1
I was speaking about the application to civilians. That was the question the OP asked. Of course the military and police can have them.
The Hughes Amendment was a ban on the importation, and manufacturer of new full auto firearms for the civilian market.
The highlighted portions are not true. The Hughes amendment didn’t do anything to affect the importation nor manufacture of machine guns, it simply prevented any newly manufactured machine guns from being transferred to non-SOT holding civilians.
If you disagree, by all means, quote the relevant language from the Hughes amendment.
To sum up the responses because we are now nitpicking at details which make it probably even more confusing:
- "The Terminator" was just a movie, and as such Hollywood tended to dramatic license.
- No you cannot now or then simply walk into a gun store and buy a fully automatic weapon as The Terminator did. Such weapons are severely restricted in the US and, even if you have the proper licenses, very expensive.
Simple as that.
Again, a license is NOT required to own a machinegun. Sheesh. . .
The highlighted portions are not true. The Hughes amendment didn’t do anything to affect the importation nor manufacture of machine guns, it simply prevented any newly manufactured machine guns from being transferred to non-SOT holding civilians.
If you disagree, by all means, quote the relevant language from the Hughes amendment.
Now you are just talking about semantics. The effective result of the Hughes Amendment was to ban CIVILIANS from transferring newly manufactured, fully auto firearms whether made domestically, or imported. No? The intent was to make the supply FINITE for civilians. No?
Yes, full auto can be manufactured and imported, but NOT for transfer (buying/selling) to civilians.
Quote:
Ban On New Automatic Firearms[edit]
As debate for FOPA was in its final stages in the House before moving on to the Senate, Rep. William J. Hughes (D-N.J.) proposed several amendments including House Amendment 777 to H.R. 4332, which modified the act to ban the civilian ownership of new machine guns, specifically to amend 18 U.S.C. § 922 to add subsection (o):
(o)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to transfer or possess a machinegun.
(2) This subsection does not apply with respect to— (A) a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of, the United States or any department or agency thereof or a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or
(B) any lawful transfer or lawful possession of a machinegun that was lawfully possessed before the date this subsection takes effect.
Again, a license is NOT required to own a machinegun. Sheesh. . .
A Federal Firearm License is required for a civilian to purchase a machine gun manufactured after 1986, either newly manufactured or converted. I think this is all people meant by that.
“For example, someone can lawfully possess a machine gun made this morning if it is in connection with their duties as a government or law enforcement official, or if they have their Federal Firearms License (FFL) and have either made or possess the machine gun for possible sale to government/law enforcement personnel.”
I’d like to add that the licensed purchase also applies to people who own a shooting range that rents full auto. All but a couple of the full autos at our local range were built up from parts for rental.
If the shop was a class three it could have been real. A class 3 lisc. shop can make and sell hold and test full auto for the police and other law enforcement entities. Any full auto liscenced pre May of 86 is legal to own by a citizen if its legal in their state. Since Reagan closed the loop they have went up in price because of the limited pool.
Nope. An 03 SOT (Dealer in NFA Firearms) Is not permitted to make machines. Machinegun manufacturing requires an 07/02 (manufacturers license).
Now you are just talking about semantics. The effective result of the Hughes Amendment was to ban CIVILIANS from transferring newly manufactured, fully auto firearms whether made domestically, or imported. No? The intent was to make the supply FINITE for civilians. No?
Yes, full auto can be manufactured and imported, but NOT for transfer (buying/selling) to civilians.
No, it's not just semantics. Manufacturing a machinegun, and transferring the gun are two completely separate issues, and are totally unrelated. The Hughes amendment didn't, in any way, shape, or form, affect the manufacturing or importation of machineguns. Your claim is that it did, and that is incorrect.
An 07/02 licensee can manufacture new machineguns, for any purpose they wish to (and, to be technically correct, they could even manufacture one for a non-SOT holding civilian). But, because of the Hughes amendment, they can't transfer one of those newly manufactured machineguns to a non-SOT holding civilian.
When discussing a law with as much downside as this one has for non-compliance, accuracy is very important.
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