full auto why?

[JPglee1]

Its illegal because gansters in the 30s were tearing the police to shreds with that kind of stuff. The tommy was a big favorite.

NOT really... if you really check the stats, the "gangsters" used .38 revolvers and .45 autos and Mod 97/Mod 12/Auto 5 shotguns primarily...


Bonnie and Clyde were the most notorious machine gunners and they never ever even possessed a tommy as far as I know...BAR all the way for them.

Machine gun kelly had carried tommys but was killed w/a pistol on him, same with pretty boy floyd IIRC.

The myth of the "ever present" tommy gun in the 30s is like the myth of the ever present full auto AK47 in Compton...

You know how many full auto illegally converted AK47s the LAPD has confiscated from STREET GANG members in the last 20yrs. less than 5 if I remember correctly.

I think the most famous recent use of full auto was the hollywood bank robbery, where the guys had a converted G3, AR and AK. All illegal of course.

My point is "full auto" guns aren't nearly as prevelant in the illegal circles as is made out in the press.

JP

P.S. Full auto is great when you got military supply trucks w/ammo following you and a squad or platoon of guys who also have F/A so you can suppress and cover/fire/reload. A single guy w/a full auto is about worthless.

[Solidmch]

Because our "leaders" do not understand what, "shall not infringe." means

[Fate]

Because our "leaders" do not understand what, "shall not infringe." means

Some must think it bans doing this to a hat:

[Experimentalist]

Even if you could comply with the NFA rules, and CA's rules as well, since 1986, it has been illegal for any civilian to make a new full-auto firearm.

Actually, I believe it is the auto-sear that is controlled in the case of M16/AR15 conversions. If you legally acquired an existing auto-sear, you could convert your AR15.

I attended the Small Arms Review 10 year convention last year, and in one of Dan Shea's speeches he made reference to the social tension that accompanied the Great Depression. He asserted that the NFA was at least in part an effort to control the people, and dull the effectiveness of a potential rebellion.

As to the utility of full autos, I think the tactics employing squad automatic weapons are pretty effective. Obviously they're relevant to situations where a large base of fire is needed.

My brother and I had the opportunity to rent an M-240B at the Scottsdale gun club last December. It was quite a lot of fun. Is it expensive? Well, yeah. But then, we only do it once a year.

[rkt88edmo]

Nope... Like he said, you have to pass Cal DOJ, and then only FILM and LEO armorers are allowed to possess the good stuff (SBR SBS or FA).

And even the film guys are having a harder and harder time in CA

[Max-the-Silent]

can anyone tell me why full auto is illegal.i have shot full auto and to me its just a waste of ammo.semi has way more advantages than full.there is the cool factor but thats it.if i shot full auto i would hit nothing.why is it illegal?can any one give dates on when the gov imposed this law and why.id like to convert one of my ars to full auto but it would do nothing for practical proposes.3 round burst seems to be fine.i just want to know why?

Whoo Boy! Where do I start?

1920's bootlegger wars, the "Auto-Bandits" (Bonnie and Clyde, Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, the Barker gang et al) the desire of the Congress and Senate to solve non-existent problems that endear them to their constituents, the universal fear by the governors of the governed, take your pick.

Your experience with fully automatic fire is the typical one for untrained persons - if you aren't trained, you won't do much more than make noise and disturb the birds. With training and experience, full auto fire capability is just another tool, if we're taking about tactical scenarios.

If we're talking about fun, fully automatic firearms are at the high-end of the hobby both expense and legal responsibility wise.

Living in California, you're pretty much limited by statute to title 1 firearms, and even those types are restricted (AW's, "unsafe" handguns)

If you are determined to own NFA weapons and devices legally here, your only viable method is to get a wheelbarrow full of cash, form a corporation, get your federal SOT (Special Occupational Taxpayer) license, your State of California MG dealer license, get another wheelbarrow full of dough, and start buying.

[leelaw]

But it was a secret underground meeting of Ds that ratified and added the 1986 amendment. President Reagan probably didn't catch that, and was probably signing it based on the previous revision, which was 100% pro-gun.

Nope. He was fully aware of the machinegun ban within the legislation, and was even counseled on it by the NRA.

The sad part is the NRA advised that he sign it, because it'd be thrown out in court............ or not.

[leelaw]

Nope... Like he said, you have to pass Cal DOJ, and then only FILM and LEO armorers are allowed to possess the good stuff (SBR SBS or FA).

FFLs with the correct permitting may have machineguns, SBR, SBS, DDs, silencers, etc.

Our shop has them all (no, you can't visit and touch them, sorry) but the permit fees are stupid expensive, and there are a bunch of restrictions on what they may be used for.

And even the film guys are having a harder and harder time in CA

correct. The permit fees have gone up recently, and DOJ is tightening down on people with the permits - they now have to show proof that they are using them for the intended use as stated on their permit.