it just requires an excise tax which is difficult to pay For anyone interested, it's not actually very difficult to get the NFA tax stamp. The cost is a flat $

it just requires an excise tax which is difficult to pay For anyone interested, it's not actually very difficult to get the NFA tax stamp. The cost is a flat $200 per regulated item (each automatic weapon or sound suppressor counts) but for an individual you do have to get approval in writing from a local Chief Law Enforcement Officer; a local Chief of Police or Sheriff will do. A great deal of local agencies are not too keen on having citizens with NFA weapons, however if the weapon is to be transferred to a valid trust, there is no requirement for local approval (1). Of course, you then have to wait for the BATFE to actually get around to processing your application, which can take months. The real problem with NFA automatic weapons is scarcity - only automatic weapons manufactured prior to 1986 are allowed for civilian ownership, so interested parties are limited to existing stock. (1) Note that a state or locality may, and often do, have more strict regulation (or outright bans) than the federal government. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act