The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Can you get a Class III license in New York?

ctdonath · May 10, 2000, 10:25 PM

For most practical purposes, the answer is MGs are verboten in NY. You _can_ do it legally, but it's extremely painful. Ask yourself "why do I want to own this, other than the mere joy of owning a bullet hose?"

Individuals are not allowed to own automatics in NY state. Corporations can; if you own a company or incoroporate yourself (not sure how to do that legally) you could get it...but beware, the legal range is extremely tight and you could get nailed hard if someone decides you're over the line. If someone hears full-auto fire and reports you, even if you're legal ("really! I was testing it's capabilities as an employee of Donath Inc.!") you could have a LOT of explaining to do. Getting the appropriate approval for a corporation could also be very difficult; the Class III dealer in Schenectady I worked with said it took him a year of paperwork plus some very long and intense interviews and local police connections to get his C3 dealer's license.

That said, some Class III items are wholly legal.

May 10, 2000, 10:25 PM	#3
ctdonath Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 1999 Posts: 1,904	For most practical purposes, the answer is MGs are verboten in NY. You _can_ do it legally, but it's extremely painful. Ask yourself "why do I want to own this, other than the mere joy of owning a bullet hose?" Individuals are not allowed to own automatics in NY state. Corporations can; if you own a company or incoroporate yourself (not sure how to do that legally) you could get it...but beware, the legal range is extremely tight and you could get nailed hard if someone decides you're over the line. If someone hears full-auto fire and reports you, even if you're legal ("really! I was testing it's capabilities as an employee of Donath Inc.!") you could have a LOT of explaining to do. Getting the appropriate approval for a corporation could also be very difficult; the Class III dealer in Schenectady I worked with said it took him a year of paperwork plus some very long and intense interviews and local police connections to get his C3 dealer's license. That said, some Class III items are wholly legal.