[CLUE-Talk] Bowling for Columbine

[bof]

Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier wrote:

>I wonder what that would set me back...
>

Individuals may only own a firearm that was manufactured and registered 
with the BATF prior to May 1986. Firearms manufactured after that date 
are restricted to military and law enforcement agencies. In addition to 
a complete firearm, the BATF also allowed certain parts to be registered 
as "the machine gun", for instance, an auto sear for an M-16 rifle may 
have been registered. In this case, it would be legal to install that 
part into a semi-auto AR-15 rifle manufactured after 1986, making it 
fire fully automatic. This is not considered manufacturing a new machine 
gun because the part, or parts, allowing fully automatic fire were 
registered prior to May 1986.

A $200 tax stamp must be purchased for each Class III item transferred. 
This is a one-time tax paid to the Department of Treasury.

Once you have decided on and paid for a specific firearm, a Form 4 must 
be completed. This will become your license to possess that firearm and 
is the document the tax stamp is affixed to. The completed Form 4, along 
with 2 fingerprint cards and 2 passport photos are then submitted to a 
person who has felony jurisdiction over you. This is commonly the Chief 
of Police or County Sheriff but may also be a District Attorney or 
Judge. This individual must sign the Form 4 stating they have completed 
a background check on you and have found no reason that you are 
ineligible to possess the firearm. After local approval is obtained, the 
Form 4 package is then sent along with the $200 tax to the BATF for 
approval and transfer of ownership processing. This commonly takes 3 to 
4 months. Once approved, you will receive a copy of the Form 4, which 
allows you to take possession of the firearm. This copy must be kept 
with the firearm at all times.

If you're thinking about doing this, you might want to talk to some who 
has one. I believe that there are other requirements concerning storage, 
inspection of the weapon and it's storage at any time by the BATF.

Similar provisions like the above also apply to ownership of silencers, 
and short-barreled shotguns.

There's more information on the National Firearms Act of 1934 at  
http://www.tpgfaq.org/ap1/gfnf34.htm.