4 ms·
IANAL, but mere possession of an automatic weapon is prohibited, is it not? I thought the idea behind the receiver for the AR15 is that with a slightly differe
by fleitz 15y ago
IANAL, but mere possession of an automatic weapon is prohibited, is it not?
I thought the idea behind the receiver for the AR15 is that with a slightly different receiver that the AR15 becomes an automatic weapon (aka. an M16)? Or are we talking about the semi-auto (AR15) receiver?
- philwelch 15y agoThe receiver doesn't make any difference at all whether it's full auto. Or rather, the legally designated lower receiver contains the firing mechanism (which can be full or semi auto), but the receiver itself is just a piece of steel and you can change out the actual mechanism.
- monochromatic 15y agoUsually aluminum. But you are otherwise correct.
- commandar 15y agoNot entirely accurate. The ATF actually specifically requires that semi-auto weapons are not readily convertible to fully automatic by way of a simple parts swap. A standard, semi-automatic AR-15 will not accept a full-auto M16 trigger group; the M16 trigger group requires an extra hole to be milled in the receiver which isn't present on semi-auto receivers.
- hvs 15y agoThe lower receiver doesn't determine if it is automatic or semi-automatic. That's the upper receiver. And automatic weapons are regulated in the U.S., they are not prohibited (everywhere, anyway). If you go through the appropriate paperwork (and a few months wait), and live in the appropriate places (Louisiana, etc.), you too can own a (pre-May 1986) fully automatic weapon.
- kevinpet 15y agoThis is incorrect. Phil Welch gives the most precise answer.
- dmm 15y ago> IANAL, but mere possession of an automatic weapon is prohibited, is it not? They are legal to own. They require a class III license and no automatic fire guns made after 1986 are permitted to be sold to private citizens.
- monochromatic 15y agoYou actually don't need a license. You just pay a $200 tax, submit to a background check, and wait a few months
- dmm 15y agoYou're right. You have to purchase from someone with a class III license and have to get a tax stamp.
- kevinpet 15y agoDon't know about the legality, but you're correct about the reality. There are number sliding and rotating parts in the lower receiver that determine whether it fires single shot, burst or fully automatic. Modern M-16s have single shot and 3 round burst. The original 70s model had single shot and full auto.