I live in Arizona where compliance to Class III regulations is limited to federal compliance (unlike many other states that require a pound of flesh) and I've seen short barrel weapons (like a Browning HP with a shoulder stock as well as full auto ARs) for sale as NFA only items. I have no doubt that I'll qualify for ownership.
For NFA owners, what are the practical aspects of ownership and is there any downside (besides buying enough ammo to fire it more than once a year)?
Is the tax stamp a one time fee, or are there annual fees and other hidden costs besides the initial tax you only find out once you're past the financial point of no return? What kind of "security" does ATF demand, just a gun safe or something more elaborate with buzzers and bells?
I would like to eventually get an NFA MP-5 or 9mm CAR-15 for the joy of shooting periodically (the MP5 is so much fun to shoot, it's no wonder it's illegal!). I would appreciate the experience of NFA owners to put this on a practical level. Who knows, it might be like buying a boat where the two happiest days are the day you buy it and the day you sell it? Or once the ATF issues your tax stamp, does the NFA weapon just become another AR in the gun safe collecting dust between outings to the range? And when you go to fire it at a range, do you have any document besides a fragile paper receipt of payment of the tax crumpled in your wallet to show a police officer who might be drawn to the sound of an MP5 at an outdoor range? Is the NFA proof of compliance at least laminated for some durablitiy?
As I understand it, you sign permission for the ATF to enter your storage area (home) to inspect 24/7/365, whether you're at home or not. Maybe I'm misinterpreting the regulations I read on the ATF web site, my eyes glazed over after reading through the first dozen or so pages. Is an attorney needed to understand how to comply with all of the rules or is the ATF very eager to help you understand your complete responsibilities - before you make any unwitting infraction of the rules?
To me, NFA has always meant "Not For Anyone" and now that I live somewhere that I can own one, I'm seriously considering it. But is ownership worth it when there are shooting ranges in AZ & NV that offer them as supervised range rentals, however worn and torn they may be because it's such a big personal liability? A BHP or Glock with a shoulder stock is very intriguing as a 100 yard target pistol and might be my first experience going through the NFA application process if it's just filing and paying a tax, rather than being an ongoing liability.
Finally, can an NFA registred Glock with a shoulder stock ever be "unregistered" (i.e., the stock is discarded and the pistol alone resold as a non-NFA firearm)? Or is it once NFA, always NFA?
Thanks for your opinion!
For NFA owners, what are the practical aspects of ownership and is there any downside (besides buying enough ammo to fire it more than once a year)?
Is the tax stamp a one time fee, or are there annual fees and other hidden costs besides the initial tax you only find out once you're past the financial point of no return? What kind of "security" does ATF demand, just a gun safe or something more elaborate with buzzers and bells?
I would like to eventually get an NFA MP-5 or 9mm CAR-15 for the joy of shooting periodically (the MP5 is so much fun to shoot, it's no wonder it's illegal!). I would appreciate the experience of NFA owners to put this on a practical level. Who knows, it might be like buying a boat where the two happiest days are the day you buy it and the day you sell it? Or once the ATF issues your tax stamp, does the NFA weapon just become another AR in the gun safe collecting dust between outings to the range? And when you go to fire it at a range, do you have any document besides a fragile paper receipt of payment of the tax crumpled in your wallet to show a police officer who might be drawn to the sound of an MP5 at an outdoor range? Is the NFA proof of compliance at least laminated for some durablitiy?
As I understand it, you sign permission for the ATF to enter your storage area (home) to inspect 24/7/365, whether you're at home or not. Maybe I'm misinterpreting the regulations I read on the ATF web site, my eyes glazed over after reading through the first dozen or so pages. Is an attorney needed to understand how to comply with all of the rules or is the ATF very eager to help you understand your complete responsibilities - before you make any unwitting infraction of the rules?
To me, NFA has always meant "Not For Anyone" and now that I live somewhere that I can own one, I'm seriously considering it. But is ownership worth it when there are shooting ranges in AZ & NV that offer them as supervised range rentals, however worn and torn they may be because it's such a big personal liability? A BHP or Glock with a shoulder stock is very intriguing as a 100 yard target pistol and might be my first experience going through the NFA application process if it's just filing and paying a tax, rather than being an ongoing liability.
Finally, can an NFA registred Glock with a shoulder stock ever be "unregistered" (i.e., the stock is discarded and the pistol alone resold as a non-NFA firearm)? Or is it once NFA, always NFA?
Thanks for your opinion!