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**44 AMP** · July 4, 2011, 02:54 PM

If the bringback was a functional machine gun (select fire is a machine gun under the law), not a DEWAT, then, to be legal it had to be registered, and the tax paid. Up until 1986, the law allowed you to register and own it.

Lots of guys got the paperwork for the bringback, but didn't always register it with the ATF after getting home. Lots of others just brought stuff back, no paperwork from anyone.

There was an amnesty period (ended in 68) where previously unregistered (and therefore illegal) guns could be registered, taxes paid, and legally owned.

Until May 1986, machine guns that were "discovered" could still be registered. SO finding out Granpa brought back a BAR or tommygun, or Dad brought home an AK, after they had passed away, you could register it, pay the tax, and keep it. All that ended in 1986.

Understand that for decades, Uncle Sam's attitude to trophy machine guns was usually "oh, didn't register it? That's a tax violation. Pay the tax, register the gun, and we'll forget about charges...." That changed drastically around the 1960s, and since then the attitude is "thats a Fed Firearms FELONY! Your's looking at 10 years"...and everything that goes with it." And, since 1986, you are not ALLOWED to register it. Period.

As much as I hate the current laws, and would love to see the registry reopened, it is a very, very risky subject to bring up. Everyone "knows" that only govt agencies and bad guys have (or want) machine guns. They have been taught this by decades of the media and entertainment industry. Most non enthusiasts don't know there is any legal machine gun ownership allowed.

And many people, who are otherwise all for gun rights, draw the line at machine guns. Opening the subject up to public scrutiny seriously risks the tiny legal avenue for ownership that we have left. I don't see it worth the risk, at this time.

July 4, 2011, 02:54 PM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	If the bringback was a functional machine gun (select fire is a machine gun under the law), not a DEWAT, then, to be legal it had to be registered, and the tax paid. Up until 1986, the law allowed you to register and own it. Lots of guys got the paperwork for the bringback, but didn't always register it with the ATF after getting home. Lots of others just brought stuff back, no paperwork from anyone. There was an amnesty period (ended in 68) where previously unregistered (and therefore illegal) guns could be registered, taxes paid, and legally owned. Until May 1986, machine guns that were "discovered" could still be registered. SO finding out Granpa brought back a BAR or tommygun, or Dad brought home an AK, after they had passed away, you could register it, pay the tax, and keep it. All that ended in 1986. Understand that for decades, Uncle Sam's attitude to trophy machine guns was usually "oh, didn't register it? That's a tax violation. Pay the tax, register the gun, and we'll forget about charges...." That changed drastically around the 1960s, and since then the attitude is "thats a Fed Firearms FELONY! Your's looking at 10 years"...and everything that goes with it." And, since 1986, you are not ALLOWED to register it. Period. As much as I hate the current laws, and would love to see the registry reopened, it is a very, very risky subject to bring up. Everyone "knows" that only govt agencies and bad guys have (or want) machine guns. They have been taught this by decades of the media and entertainment industry. Most non enthusiasts don't know there is any legal machine gun ownership allowed. And many people, who are otherwise all for gun rights, draw the line at machine guns. Opening the subject up to public scrutiny seriously risks the tiny legal avenue for ownership that we have left. I don't see it worth the risk, at this time. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.