Originally posted by: Jack Flash
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: retrospooty
I thought it meant automatic weapons like AK47 and such... Why do we need automatic weapons? I read your quote, and I stil dont get it. Regardless of appearances, or fears, why should automatic weapons be sold over the counter? There are too many psycho's out there...
What if John Hinkly had one? Reagan wold have died that day.
Just stop it. I don't know if you're trolling or not but you CANNOT BUY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS OVER THE COUNTER. They are extremely expensive ($20,000+), require immense paperwork, have so many restrictions it's not even funny.
For all intents and purposes you can't buy an automatic weapon. Technically you can but the requirements for you to do so are long.
An "assault weapon" is only about the look of the gun, not the performance or function which in many cases is exactly the same, using the same parts as a hunting rifle.
Just curious, but how much and what guns do our soldiers use in Iraq and Afghanistan?
This is semi-off topic but I wanted to know if their guns were as expensive as they would be in the private sector. (i.e. is the $20k sticker price to discourage ownership or is it just a complex device?)
Clarification and a little background on automatic and semi-automatic weapons...
An automatic or select fire weapon will fire multiple rounds with each press of the trigger. Some guns have a device that may limit each 'burst' to 3 or 4 round each, but they are considered select fire.
They have been tightly controlled since 1934, and required a $200 tax stamp and an extensive background check be completed at the federal level before a civilian could purchase, as well as a form with signature from your local chief law enforcement officer. States have added controls over these types of weapons, and not all states allow them, but most do.
The Gun Control Act of 1968 created further restrictions, and no longer allowed foreign produced select fire weapons imported after 1968 to be owned by civilians. In 1986, further restrictions were imposed on select fire weapons. Any select fire weapon produced after May, 1986 is not a transferable weapon, and cannot be owned by a civilian. There is a finite number of select fire weapons in the federal registry, and these are the only weapons a civilian can own. The demand for automatic weapons is high, and with the finite number of weapons available, has made the price skyrocket.
There are other categories such as pre and post '86 dealer samples, but to buy or own one of these you have to have special licenses to deal in them...
The weapons used in the military are bought under contract, and a M4 is purchased for somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 to $800, maybe lower, the number escapes me... A similar weapon that is transferable, or able to be owned by a civilian, is anywhere between $14,000-$20,000 with many variable affecting the price. Its the demand that has caused the price to be so high...
A semi-automatic fires one round with each pull of the trigger, and while they make look identical externally, they have different components that keep them from being easily modified to fire automatically.
An AR-15 that may appear similar to an M4 can be purchased for significantly less, $800 to $2000 or higher, depends on brand, configuration, etc. While they look similar, they do not have the capability for select fire.
In 1994 there was a ban implemented that banned civilian purchase of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, as well as banning further sale of many military looking semi-automatic firearms based on appearance or certain features. The ban had a sunset clause, the only way democrats could get the bill passed, that caused the ban to expire after 10 years, and it did so in 2004.
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