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In many states you totally can own a functional tank, missile system, or explosives -- you just need the right $200 stamp from the ATF and maybe a background ch

In many states you totally can own a functional tank, missile system, or explosives -- you just need the right $200 stamp from the ATF and maybe a background check. (Each tank shell or missile would require an additional ATF stamp, this is where things become different from owning a normal gun and ammunition.) Driving them around - outside of your property - would require them to be properly licensed and road-legal, that's something your local motor vehicle agency would have to decide. Here's the first Google result for your entertainment: You Can Purchase a Fully Functional Army Tank Online Because This Is America https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2015/09/armslist-sells-fully-functional-military-weaponry https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2015/09/armslist-sells-f...

BeefWellington 4y ago
> In many states you totally can own a functional tank, missile system, or explosives -- you just need the right $200 stamp from the ATF and maybe a background check. I'm aware and my point was explicitly about being able to drive them around wherever I like, under the guise of it being the rough equivalent of concealed carry for an MLRS. You can't; there's restrictions. At the minimum, it's likely that people would argue they're heavy and would harm infrastructure (or outright destroy it in the case of some tanks). Separately, explosives are also tightly controlled, but are still a key part of armaments.
- bmelton 4y ago
  I think if you looked deeper, you'd find that the restrictions for where you could and could not drive tanks are more restrictions on the _roads_ than the _tanks_ The government owns the roads, ergo can sidestep a lot of the what might otherwise be mandated under strict scrutiny for their usage with rational basis tests. E.g., "the roads are rated for <x> class of vehicles, and a tank is <y> class."
- exhilaration 4y ago
  I'm aware and my point was explicitly about being able to drive them around wherever I like... But you're wrong, while I couldn't drive my tank around, I could certainly load it onto a tractor trailor and show it off around town. I would argue that's functionally the same thing.
- belorn 4y ago
  In theory states could write a new law that forbid carrying any explosive on public road as a matter of road safety. Ammunition would be non-road-legal, making concealed and non-concealed carry impossible on public roads.

BeefWellington 4y ago

> In many states you totally can own a functional tank, missile system, or explosives -- you just need the right $200 stamp from the ATF and maybe a background check. I'm aware and my point was explicitly about being able to drive them around wherever I like, under the guise of it being the rough equivalent of concealed carry for an MLRS. You can't; there's restrictions. At the minimum, it's likely that people would argue they're heavy and would harm infrastructure (or outright destroy it in the case of some tanks). Separately, explosives are also tightly controlled, but are still a key part of armaments.

bmelton 4y ago
I think if you looked deeper, you'd find that the restrictions for where you could and could not drive tanks are more restrictions on the _roads_ than the _tanks_ The government owns the roads, ergo can sidestep a lot of the what might otherwise be mandated under strict scrutiny for their usage with rational basis tests. E.g., "the roads are rated for <x> class of vehicles, and a tank is <y> class."
exhilaration 4y ago
I'm aware and my point was explicitly about being able to drive them around wherever I like... But you're wrong, while I couldn't drive my tank around, I could certainly load it onto a tractor trailor and show it off around town. I would argue that's functionally the same thing.
belorn 4y ago
In theory states could write a new law that forbid carrying any explosive on public road as a matter of road safety. Ammunition would be non-road-legal, making concealed and non-concealed carry impossible on public roads.