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No. An example of a submachine gun is the ubiquitous H&K MP5 [0]. It cannot be easily purchased (legally) because it is a fully automatic weapon, meaning that
by Merad 9y ago
No. An example of a submachine gun is the ubiquitous H&K MP5 [0]. It cannot be easily purchased (legally) because it is a fully automatic weapon, meaning that it has a setting where pulling the trigger once can fire > 1 bullets, and it's less than 26 inches in length, classifying it as a short barreled rifle (SBR).
A MP5 can be legally owned, with a few caveats:
* It must have been manufactured and registered with the ATF as a machine gun prior to 1986. Guns meeting this criteria are fairly rare and very expensive. I don't know the price for a registered MP5, but I would guess > $20000.
* You must apply for and receive a special approval to purchase a machine gun.
* You must apply for and receive a special approval to purchase a SBR.
However, a variety of companies make semi-auto (one trigger pull = one bullet) MP5 clones that can be purchased more easily. Clones are sometimes built with an extended barrel so they are not considered a SBR and can be treated like any normal rifle. A common strategy is to hide the extra barrel beneath a fake non-functional suppressor [1]. Alternatively some are made as SBRs for people who are willing to get the SBR approval.
[0]: http://discovermilitary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/mp5.jpg http://discovermilitary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/mp5.j...
[1]: http://mfiap.com/images/F30028878.jpg http://mfiap.com/images/F30028878.jpg
- etjossem 9y agoThis kind of information is very useful to know - even if you firmly believe regulation of automatic firearms is a good idea. I'm not a gun enthusiast, but this summary helps shed some light on a debate many folks are badly informed on. Thanks.
- taway_1212 9y agoThanks for the thorough answer! My impression was largely based on Gus van Sant's movie "Elephant", where the boys bought some real badass looking rifles over the mail.
- Merad 9y agoInteresting. Well, I don't know what the movie portrays, but there are two ways that I know of to legally order a gun and have it delivered to your door (though I doubt either is exciting enough for a movie). * You can get a Curio & Relic (C&R) license from the ATF which is basically a collectors license. It applies to eligible guns (i.e. not machine guns or SBRs) > 50 years old such as [0]. When you do an online/mail order the seller will require you to send a copy of your C&R license before shipping. * Some guns aren't legally considered to be firearms by the ATF. This primarily (only?) applies to replicas of black powder guns [1][2]. Any other purchase must be sent to a licensed dealer, and when you pick it up from them you'll do the same paperwork as when purchased directly off their shelves. [0]: https://www.classicfirearms.com/m9130-hex-receiver-russian-mosin-nagant-rifle-arsenal-refinished https://www.classicfirearms.com/m9130-hex-receiver-russian-m... [1]: http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/black-powder/traditional-rifles-shotguns|/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104641380/pedersoli-traditional-hawken-percussion-rifle/1608685.uts http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/black-powder/traditi... [2]: http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/black-powder/black-powder-revolvers|/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/567338580/pietta-model-confederate-navy-caliber-black-powder-revolver/740536.uts http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/black-powder/black-p...