October 21, 2012, 08:38 PM | #1 |
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Machine Guns
I read in a local paper this morning that Virginia has more registered machine guns than any other state. There are over 30,000 machine guns registered in the state. Florida and California were 2nd and 3rd but they have a far larger population. I don't understand the need for a machine gun or why there are so many here. I live on the Hillbilly end of the state in the mountains and my friend knows three people locally who have them.
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October 21, 2012, 08:45 PM | #2 |
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I used to live in California. I was under the impression nobody outside of the movie industry and/or law enforcement could own a machine gun.
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October 21, 2012, 08:47 PM | #3 |
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Define Need.
I don't think there are that many people that "need" machine guns as much as want them. I might have one if I could afford all the costs associated with owning one. I don't need it though.
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October 21, 2012, 09:05 PM | #4 | |
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I might not need a car that gets less than 30 miles to the gallon, or a house that has an extra room I don't use. However, as long as I'm not hurting anyone, I'm free to own those things. So, why not a machine gun?
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October 21, 2012, 09:10 PM | #5 |
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Why does there have to be a need? To me its like wanting a sports car or multiple pairs of shoes. They arent anymore dangerous than the person using them, just like any other tool.
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October 21, 2012, 09:14 PM | #6 |
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The only thing you really need is oxygen and so far that's still free.
Most everything else is a want |
October 21, 2012, 09:15 PM | #7 |
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As far as the amount in Virginia, that probably has to do with the large concentration of wealth in the state.
Starting price on a machine gun is about 4 grand. That will get you something like a mac 10 or sten. |
October 21, 2012, 09:31 PM | #8 | |
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October 21, 2012, 09:53 PM | #9 |
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It depends when you bought also. Pre 86 you could get stuff a lot cheaper. I talked to a guy that said he never paid more than $400 for a Colt M16. Today you are lucky to get one under 15k.
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October 21, 2012, 09:55 PM | #10 |
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If you have ever fired a full-auto weapon, you can easily understand the "need".
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October 21, 2012, 09:58 PM | #11 |
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Im talking legal machine guns also. I dont know if your neighbors have the right papers, but I hope they do. It isnt to hard to convert some semi autos, but its highly illegal and a very bad idea that carries quite a strict punishment if you do.
If they have their own business and the proper license, they can do it legally. |
October 21, 2012, 10:04 PM | #12 |
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Do we need a car capable of going 120 MPH? Do we need a TV that receives 1,000 channels? Lots of the things we take for granted today are wants, not needs. I might need one firearm to protect my family, but I own a lot. I also happen to own a number of different machine guns. They're simply a lot of fun to shoot.
The requirements to own a machine gun in the USA are (1) no local city/state prohibition on ownership, (2) application to BATFE to transfer a legally registered gun to yourself, (3) payment of a $200 tax on each transfer, (4) submission of a set of fingerprints, and (5) a letter from your local LEO that you do not intend to use the firearm for other than lawful purposes. That tends to be the snag for a lot of people, but there are legal ways to avoid that letter which don't serve any purpose here. Basically, if you can own a firearm, you can own a machine gun, if you have the money to buy it and feed it. Actually I recall seeing some figures on state ownership and I believe Texas has the largest number of machine guns. There are I believe seven examiners in BATFE who handle all the transfer applications, and Texas has one examiner assigned to that state alone. Yes prices have greatly increased lately. It was the Hughes Amendment that passed in 1986 which prohibited the manufacture and transfer to individuals of any newly mnaufactured machine guns. The supply of guns is now fixed, no more can be made, and prices are climbing. Pre 86, I sold a 1943 manufactured .50 M2HB BMG for $800, and today that gun would likely sell for over $30,000. Would that my foresight was as sharp as my hindsight! |
October 21, 2012, 10:14 PM | #13 | |
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Or golf clubs, who the hell needs golf clubs, stupid sport in my mind. Golf Course is nothing more then a waste of a good rifle range. Betcha there have been more crimes committed with golf clubs in the last 30-40 years then machine guns. We all have likes and dislikes, we think other sports are silly, but not to the guy who plays that sport. Machine Guns, or any other gun for that matter, is nothing but another man's sporting implement. I have lots of guns. since I retired from the police department and the national guard, I don't have a NEED for any gun. But I do compete in competition, much like some dude in town doesn't have a need for a golf club, but its his sport. What I don't need is someone telling me what I need to participate in my sport.
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October 21, 2012, 10:33 PM | #14 |
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It's worth it to me. I know several people that own 50, even 100 guns, but no Class III. I'd rather save my money for a few rare and nice things, instead of 100 guns that sit in the safe. Everyone is different, though.
The belt fed stuff is pretty expensive to feed, but submachine guns aren't all that bad. Yeah, needs testing part gets pretty slippery when it comes to gun. I definitely wouldn't like to prove need before buying one... Most people, including many politicians, are convinced that machine guns are illegal. That's fine. The NFA process confuse most non-enthuiast enough that they think they're already banned, which oddly enough, keeps them legal. Last edited by testuser; October 21, 2012 at 10:46 PM. |
October 21, 2012, 10:35 PM | #15 |
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Thank you Kraigwy.
On another forum someone did a whole 'Nobody Needs A -' thread and listed everything from golf clubs (as Kraigwy mentioned) to jet skis, private planes, etc. I'm beginning to see where the mentality of 'if it isn't expressly permitted it is prohibited' is gaining ground over the 'if it isn't expressly prohibited it is permitted.' It's kind of like freedom. |
October 22, 2012, 07:50 AM | #16 | |
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October 22, 2012, 08:05 AM | #17 | |
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October 22, 2012, 01:37 PM | #18 |
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All legal machine guns in the US are registered. That means that even those owned by various .gov agencies are registered. Many of those agencies are located or headquartered in Virginia. Virginia is also home to sales offices of several military arms manufacturers (such as FNH USA).
This could account for why there would be so many more MGs per capita in Virginia.
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October 22, 2012, 01:46 PM | #19 |
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Is this actual machine guns or does it include weapons such as Ohio's stupid law regulating 30+ round magazines
30,000 is a lot of hardware
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October 22, 2012, 01:55 PM | #20 | |
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As for the need for machine guns, I'm going to just side with the second amendment and state that that's all the need that anyone has. If I (still) can, then why the hell not?
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October 22, 2012, 02:18 PM | #21 | |
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October 23, 2012, 03:11 AM | #22 |
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October 23, 2012, 06:42 AM | #23 |
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I think we need more machine guns.
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October 23, 2012, 07:36 AM | #24 |
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Me too!
One in .22 would be a blast. Could actually afford to fire it. |
October 24, 2012, 01:40 PM | #25 |
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I definitely have to agree with these ^ 2. More machine guns would make them more affordable to the average Joe, and if we could get some in .22 they would be both more affordable to shoot and less "evil" in the minds of anyone who knows what they're talking about. I'm not implying that .22 is "less-lethal" than other calibers, simply more controllable and (relatively) less accident prone because of that.
To be fair, during a camping trip earlier this month, we had a S&W M&P15-22 start going burst fire due to a dirty trigger group (I honestly don't think the owner ever cleaned it). Unfortunately some of the more safety-conscious adults didn't like the idea of us letting little kids shooting something that had the potential to go SF, so we had to clean it up which put an end to our fun. But gd, after shooting that, I would love to be able to own an FA .22, that was some of the most fun range time I've ever had.
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I have a mild interest in guns. Actually, I think the clinical term is "obsession," but that makes me sound like some kind of gun-nut. Which is fair, since I am. Wastin' away my future children's inheritance one box of ammo, range fee, and bottle of Hoppe's #9 at a time. |
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