Is it legal to own a SAM or MANPADS (surface to air missiles) in the United States?

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jlbraun

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MANPADS - man portable air defense system
SAM - surface to air missile

Are they prohibited from civilian ownership? Are they just like any other DD? Do SOTs work with them?

Given that you can make your own DD and pay the $200 tax, can one make a SAM or MANPADS and appropriately register it with the BATFE?

(Hi to the Secret Service, the BATFE, and DHS. I do not own one of these weapons, I have no desire, need, or want to procure one of these weapons, nor do I know anyone that does. Please don't burn my house down, I'm just asking a question.)
 
would any manufacture sell a system to a civilian?

Hence the second part of my question. Could one make their own and register it as a DD? A high power rocket with a warhead, IR sensor, and guidance system would work pretty well.
 
Please don't burn my house down, I'm just asking a question.)

The answer to the question as to whether you actually own one of these will be forensically determined by an analysis of the ashes, as well as chromatographic analysis of the fireball.

And, uh...duck.


Luv,

Agent Schmukatelli.

:neener:
 
I can answer this, Yes you can under NFA it is a DD just a 200.00 tax BUT I highly doubt you will find a LEO that will sign off on that, or a person that will sell one to you. And the FBI will be on you and a half.
 
Living trust gets past CLEO signoff. I agree you would have a hard time finding a vendor willing to sell what could be classified guidance technology. Assuming for the sake of discussion you could have something not in current inventory which may jeopardize the armed services, it may be feasible... I don't know of any in private hands.

The NFA board on subguns.com may be a venue which has a knowledgeable "BCR"...
 
While we're all hypothetical here....

Let's say you owned a plane like a little crop duster. Then, let's say you already legally owned a couple of .30 cal MGs. Could you legally mount them on your plane? I don't think it'd be difficult to come up with some kind of rudimentary control system for it.

Aw hell, the black helo just landed...
 
I highly doubt that any one person is gonna design a functioning SAM system. Not saying it can't happen, just probably wont unless you are efficient in electrical enginering, computer science, mechanical engineering, chemistry, aerospace engineering and probably quite a few things I'm not even thinking of.

Now, maybe if you had a few friends.....

Oh, I worked for an aerospace contractor for a while. Most of what you would be dealing with would be highly regulated under all sorts of arms and import/export control acts anyways.
 
Uh-oh. I see a black helicopter outside..

As an interesting note, the black helicopters were at my house the other night. A unit from Ft. Campbell (home of the 160th) called my father to ask him if they could use our private strip as a practice place to do a couple of approaches and hover while waiting on a tanker. They didn't say whether they were the 160th, but not many units do air to air refueling when it comes to helicopters...
 
On GI Factory they went to Dillon Aero and when the helicopter test came up they had to bring it disassembled to the test site and then reassemble it, they sited some FAA mandate.
 
It's a destructive device.

Yes, you can own one.

Yes, you can build your own.

No, an LEO probably won't do a sign-off.

But, you can own one. legally...
 
There is a website on which a cruise missile is constructed from commonly available ingredients for under $5,000. (Notice too the Sicherheits Polizei: I do not have any cruise missiles, and am not constructing any>)
 
woodybrighton said:
be really an anti cilmax to fire though fired milan anti tank guided missiles bit of a let down in the bang part
huh :confused:
 
There is never a stupid question .......................till now .

Should get the clip fed model ......:scrutiny:
 
Doesn't seem illegal if you get a DD tax, but I don't see where you could find one to buy. I mean, the Army isn't going to send you a launcher in the mail, and I bet there are import restrictions on things like RPGs and such....
 
This is the problem with buying most destructive devices. Yes you can legally own them if you follow the NFA (assuming your state allows it), but actually finding them for sale is really hard...and in the case of an SAM, I doubt you will find one for sale or a company willing to sell you one. Nonetheless, you can if you have the money and ability do the NFA paperwork and build one...let me know when you have it working.;)
 
I wasn't talking about buying one, I was talking about building one - and that isn't all that hard for motivated engineers (1 amateur rocketeer, 1 electrical engineer, 1 year). I just wondered if they would accept the DD registration.
 
Last edited:
Sorry - illegal.
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 113B > § 2332g

§ 2332g. Missile systems designed to destroy aircraft

(a) Unlawful Conduct.—
(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (3), it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly produce, construct, otherwise acquire, transfer directly or indirectly, receive, possess, import, export, or use, or possess and threaten to use—
(A) an explosive or incendiary rocket or missile that is guided by any system designed to enable the rocket or missile to—
(i) seek or proceed toward energy radiated or reflected from an aircraft or toward an image locating an aircraft; or
(ii) otherwise direct or guide the rocket or missile to an aircraft;
(B) any device designed or intended to launch or guide a rocket or missile described in subparagraph (A); or
(C) any part or combination of parts designed or redesigned for use in assembling or fabricating a rocket, missile, or device described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(2) Nonweapon.— Paragraph (1)(A) does not apply to any device that is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon.
(3) Excluded conduct.— This subsection does not apply with respect to—
(A) conduct by or under the authority of the United States or any department or agency thereof or of a State or any department or agency thereof; or
(B) conduct pursuant to the terms of a contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof or with a State or any department or agency thereof.
(b) Jurisdiction.— Conduct prohibited by subsection (a) is within the jurisdiction of the United States if—
(1) the offense occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce;
(2) the offense occurs outside of the United States and is committed by a national of the United States;
(3) the offense is committed against a national of the United States while the national is outside the United States;
(4) the offense is committed against any property that is owned, leased, or used by the United States or by any department or agency of the United States, whether the property is within or outside the United States; or
(5) an offender aids or abets any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection in committing an offense under this section or conspires with any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection to commit an offense under this section.
(c) Criminal Penalties.—
(1) In general.— Any person who violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than 25 years or to imprisonment for life.
(2) Other circumstances.— Any person who, in the course of a violation of subsection (a), uses, attempts or conspires to use, or possesses and threatens to use, any item or items described in subsection (a), shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and imprisoned for not less than 30 years or imprisoned for life.
(3) Special circumstances.— If the death of another results from a person’s violation of subsection (a), the person shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and punished by imprisonment for life.
(d) Definition.— As used in this section, the term “aircraft” has the definition set forth in section 40102 (a)(6) of title 49, United States Code.

Go here, search for "missile"
 
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