What type of guns are illegal for US Civilians to own?

Question

What type of firearms are considered illegal for civilians of the United States to own? Are there any? Can citizens own M16s and AKs? Can they own automatic machine guns?

Answer 1

I  Believe, last time i heard US Civilians are able to own all firearms as long as they are not fully automatic.  There was a show 30 days, on FX, were this family of gun enthusiasts had a M16, and a .50 calibur rifle.

Answer 2

It doe's not require a class 111 license to own a FAW. It requires class111 to sell them. To own 1 only requires a back ground check and the payment of a 200$ tax stamp.==========================ADDED>>>...   To transfer <sell> a faw it has to have been Manufactured /imported before 1986

Answer 3

The only weapons that are illegal (in general, barring any state oddities like California's ban on civilian ownership of .50 BMG rifles) for citizens to own are fully automatics, regardless of their system (MG, SMG, Assault Rifle, or even Pistol).

Yes, civilians CAN own M16s and AK-47s. You can even purchase legal semi-automatic versions of those over-the-counter in some specialized gun shops. You can even get semi-automatic versions of weapons such as the G3, G36, and P90. However, as soon as you modify them into fully automatic (or acquire one that is fully automatic), they are illegal and you are in violation of a slew of laws - state and Federal.

You also have to look at odd local laws, such as California banning private ownership of .50 BMG rifles (which, ironically enough, Barrett took personally and now refuses to sell or service any of their high end .50 BMG sniper rifles to Californian authorities). And Washington D.C., since having it's ban on personal firearms overturned, considers any weapon with a magazine capable of holding more than 12 rounds a "machine gun" - regardless of whether or not it is capable of fully automatic fire.

There are also special situations where a citizen can own machine guns. These are normally private dealers with a Class III license who are allowed to own fully automatic weapons for demonstration purposes to local police and sheriffs departments.

Answer 4

since the federal weapons ban was lifted in 2004 it is legal to own rifles such as m16s and AK-47s, but only if they are semi automatic. any fully automatic weapon requires a class III license to own.

Answer 5

They cannot own a fully automatic weapon, unless they have a very special permit.

Answer 6

It depends what state you live in.

In order to own an M16, you have to have a Class III license, which requires an extensive background check.  

If a fully automatic machine gun was manufactured before 1986, it is legal to own or sell it in many states.

Answer 7

Americans can own any kind of firearm they want; almost.  The federal government does not ban any type of firearm, but they do put strict controls on some of them.  Some states ban or restrict certain firearms like machine guns, cannon, silencers and short barreled rifles or shotguns.

The federal government divides firearms into two categories; title 1 and title 2.  Title 2 guns are machine guns, silencers, short barreled rifles/shotguns (barrels shorter than 16“/18“), destructive devices (rifles greater than ½” bore, bombs) and AOW’s (any other weapons; pen guns, cane guns, smooth bore pistols).  The National Firearms Act of 1934 controls the possession of machine guns and other title 2 firearms.  Title 1 guns are ordinary rifles, handguns and shotguns that you can buy at Walmart or other gun stores without ATF authorization.  

Title 2 guns are not banned, but in order for an unlicensed person to buy or make them, they have to pay a $200 tax ($5 to buy AOW‘s) to the ATF and have the required ATF form 4 (to buy) or ATF form 1 (to make).  Approval of the forms is routine and they are easy to fill out.  There are hefty fines (up to $500,000) and jail time (10 to 25 years) for those who do not follow the rules though.

The ATF form 1 and 4’s are not permits or licenses; just proof the tax was paid.  The only people who need a federal firearms license (FFL) are those retailers that deal in title 1 or 2 firearms.  For title 2 firearms, they also pay the special occupational tax of $500-$1000 a year to import (class 1), manufacture (class 2) or deal (class 3).  

In May of 1986 Reagan signed a bill into law that prohibited the registration of new machine guns for civilian use.  Those FFL/SOT’s that make machine guns now can only sell them to other dealers or government agencies (FBI, US Army etc).  Machine guns registered before May 1986 can be sold to anyone that lives in a state where they not banned and is 21 years or older.  Since all parts can be replaced except for the auto-sear and the receiver, the machine guns are very durable and command very high prices; $4000 and up.  Check out http://www.subguns.com for more info.  This website also has state law summaries.

Ranb