Opening the machine gun registry

[suemarkp]

I got an email from my state senator regarding ideas for how to fix the federal budget shortfall. One of my suggestions was to open the machine gun registry -- probably many people eager to pay the $200 tax if there are new guns made available to be put into the system. Probably won't raise a whole bunch of money, but I'm sure there'd be some stimulus action from this simple legal change.

Both of my state senators are anti gun though, so the idea may be shoved into the fireplace.

 

[ChileRelleno]

1) Adjust the 1938 NFA Tax Stamp for inflation, that would be $3200.00+ for a stamp
2) Rescind the Hughes Amendment, and allow the transfer and ownership of post 1986 machine guns.
3 ) Require manufacturers to price firearms equally for civilians and LE/Military.
Current M16/M4 FA/SA rifles sell for an average $1000.00.

I'd go for this, this would put machine guns within the means of the majority of civilians who really want one. I could afford $5000+/-, but not $10,000.00+.

 

[kayak-man]

Chile,

With all due respect, I may be missing something, but why on earth would we want to pay $3200 for something that is currently $200?

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[ChileRelleno]

Chile,

With all due respect, I may be missing something, but why on earth would we want to pay $3200 for something that is currently $200?

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

Myself and others would be more able to afford a brand new M16/M4 style FA/SA at $4500-$5000 than used at $10000-$20000.
The government would see an increase in revenue from the inflation adjustment and from the spike in applications.

The tax increase is a carrot on a stick.
The Politicians are always crying about compromise... Lets compromise.
We give you a tax increase, you rescind the Hughes Amendment.

Firearms owners seeking to own NFA toys would win on this, new toys for less.
Or would you rather continue to get taken, paying premium prices for used NFA toys?

 

[outerlimit]

LoL, guys they could make a billion dollars off of that and what would that be to them? NOTHING! They spend that kind of money probably every hour of every day just servicing the debt.

I know how they can fix the budget shortfall. It's the same way we all fix our own budget shortfalls. Stop spending so much money and start paying down our debt.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Agree with the goal, but limiting a right by taxation is not a model I want to follow.

 

[AlexanderA]

Simply open the registry. The budgetary arguments are insignificant.

Actually, one of the biggest roadblocks to opening the registry is the vested interest of current MG owners, who would stand to lose a lot of money if the supply became unrestricted. That's the diabolical genius of the Hughes Amendment -- it has had the effect of dividing gun owners.

 

[mortablunt]

I'm going to write my Congressman about this.

 

[Sam1911]

Actually, one of the biggest roadblocks to opening the registry is the vested interest of current MG owners, who would stand to lose a lot of money if the supply became unrestricted. That's the diabolical genius of the Hughes Amendment -- it has had the effect of dividing gun owners.

Do you feel that this is a realistic issue? Assuredly there must be some machine-gun owners so heavily invested that they're complicit in maintaining grossly anti-2nd Amendment legislation in order to protect their investment. But that's certainly not the majority of MG owners. (In fact, there are some here who will chew you a new ejection port for insulting their ethics by suggesting that.)

Comparing those (I believe, few) numbers with the tens or hundreds of thousands who would stand to benefit -- I'm not sure I see any kind of actual roadblock here.

 

[tyeo098]

(In fact, there are some here who will chew you a new ejection port for insulting their ethics by suggesting that.)

...and now I have to clean up my office.
Thanks, Sam.

But adjusting the tax stamp for inflation would be a very bad idea.
Sure it suits for new MG purchases, but would anyone pay that much to make an SBS/SBR or even to buy a can? Remember that the stamp applies to ALL NFA items, not just MG's

 

[TexasRifleman]

Actually, one of the biggest roadblocks to opening the registry is the vested interest of current MG owners, who would stand to lose a lot of money if the supply became unrestricted.

I have never heard of an NFA owner, myself included, who would not gladly give up all the value of the firearms in exchange for an opening of the registry and reversal of Hughes.

If you personally know of someone like that I'd frankly be shocked. If you DO know someone like that odds are they are purely an investor type, not a shooter.

 

[Sam1911]

...and now I have to clean up my office.
Thanks, Sam.

Hey, gotta keep it "High Road" and gun-related, right?

 

[zoom6zoom]

3 ) Require manufacturers to price firearms equally for civilians and LE/Military.
Current M16/M4 FA/SA rifles sell for an average $1000.00.

If the registry were unlocked, this would be a self correcting problem. The only reason for the price disparity NOW is that transferables are a fixed (and decreasing) commodity.

 

[Sam1911]

The only reason for the price disparity NOW is that transferable are a fixed (and decreasing) commodity.

I don't think that's what he meant. Many gun makers give volume or incentive discounts to LEO and military buyers to encourage sales. Hence "LEO pricing" on Glocks, for example.

I can't see that as much of a big issue, but I guess it might be important symbolically.

 

[Prince Yamato]

First off, I already think the $200 tax is too high. Second, the best way to open the registry is a poison pill attached to whatever legislation is going to be rammed through before 2012.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Agree on the transfer tax staying no more than $200. If you really wanted to try to sell repealing Section 922(o) as a fundraising measure, set a fixed excise tax of $1,000 or so on new manufacture of MGs.

The only problem would that someone (like me) would want to entail the funds to provide MG ranges.

 

[Amb]

3 ) Require manufacturers to price firearms equally for civilians and LE/Military.

You see how easy it is to create new regulations?

 

[Sam1911]

You see how easy it is to create new regulations?

Amb raises the point clearly. I'd rather not muddle a restoration-of-liberties issue with a restrictions-on-trade issue.

 

[Owen Sparks]

As I understand it, the sum of $200 was settled on because at the time that was the price of a new Colt made Thompson submachine gun.
The tax in effect doubled the price.

 

[mortablunt]

I still support opening the registry, even if the MG transfer cost was the inflation adjusted $3200. However, I would prefer that the tax stamp for SB, suppressors, and DD to have lower costs, say no more than $400.

 

[Bubbles]

I got an email from my state senator regarding ideas for how to fix the federal budget shortfall. One of my suggestions was to open the machine gun registry -- probably many people eager to pay the $200 tax if there are new guns made available to be put into the system. Probably won't raise a whole bunch of money, but I'm sure there'd be some stimulus action from this simple legal change.

Actually it would be a net loser for the government, as processing a F1 or F4 costs them more than $200, and there would be an increased number of F2's and F3's to process, and those don't generate any additional tax income.

Nice try, though.

 

[N003k]

Well simple than Bubbles, clearly as a cost saving effort we should repeal the NFA 34, and stop wasting money on all the paperwork, processing, input into computers, etc, etc...one can dream anyways.

 

[7.62 Nato]

First off, I already think the $200 tax is too high. Second, the best way to open the registry is a poison pill attached to whatever legislation is going to be rammed through before 2012.

I like the way you think. I'll pass this suggestion along also.

 

[MrWesson]

Think about someone who can afford machine guns today.. they are living pretty well to be able to afford up to 20k for a gun.

Now think of how many machine guns that person could afford if the registry was opened back up.

 

[wally]

3 ) Require manufacturers to price firearms equally for civilians and LE/Military.

And I should get the "fleet" pricing when I buy a new car too, same as Hertz pays.

We don't need more Government meddling in what little remains of the free market.