USA Laws

[Birdseye]

Reading about the UK laws was really an eye opener. I thought that I would share what the situation here is.

Before I go further, let me say that there are at least 3 levels of law in the US: Federal (National), State, and local.

The Federal Law supercedes all other law and is embodied in 5 bills:

• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act"]National Firearms Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Nfastamp.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f2/Nfastamp.jpg/160px-Nfastamp.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/f/f2/Nfastamp.jpg/160px-Nfastamp.jpg[/ame] (1934)
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Control_Act_of_1968"]Gun Control Act of 1968 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] (1968)
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act"]Firearm Owners Protection Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Unbalanced_scales.svg" class="image"><img alt="Unbalanced scales.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Unbalanced_scales.svg/40px-Unbalanced_scales.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/f/fe/Unbalanced_scales.svg/40px-Unbalanced_scales.svg.png[/ame] (1986)
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brady_Handgun_Violence_Prevention_Act"]Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:James-Brady-August-2-2006.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/James-Brady-August-2-2006.jpg/180px-James-Brady-August-2-2006.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/c6/James-Brady-August-2-2006.jpg/180px-James-Brady-August-2-2006.jpg[/ame] (1993)
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnibus_Crime_Control_and_Safe_Streets_Act_of_1968"]Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Mergefrom.svg" class="image"><img alt="Mergefrom.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Mergefrom.svg/50px-Mergefrom.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/0/0f/Mergefrom.svg/50px-Mergefrom.svg.png[/ame] (1994)

"Supercede" in terms of restrictiveness I hasten to add. That is to say that the most restrictive law prevails. Therefore, while it may be perfectly legal for me to possess a selective fire weapon (A real assault weapon) as far as the Feds are concerned, my state may not allow possession of such firearms. Oddly, my state (Connecticut) forbids ownership of weapons such as the M-16 but allows non-selective fire machine guns!! A locale, like a town, might pass restrictive laws. Interestingly this has rarely happened. There have been incidents (the LA Riots, New Orleans after Katrina and one notable Supreme Court case) where it was made clear that the government could not provide protection (and was not obligated to) for citizens and in light of that it would take a brave politition to write a law disarming a population. I write all of this because ammunition availability reflects the attitudes toward gun ownership.

I have a copy of state and federal law as of 2006. There are 709 small text pages.

On to the world of projectiles.

First off, any inert/demilled anything is allowed. This goes from the biggest cannons to .22s. Generally, any cartridge smaller than 1/2" in diameter is freely available. I buy my modern ammunition mail order. You need a drivers licence on file for these purchases. If you buy in a local store you need nothing but cash. There are no limits to amount or caliber.

Things larger than 1/2" are defined as "destructive devices" and are illegal to possess without a license from the feds. Grenades and claymores and suchlike are all "destructive devices". This is for "live" ammo. Demilled/inert you can own what you wish. There is no lisenceing.

The only small arms ammunition that is restricted, as far as I know, are those where teflon coated bullets or "explosive" bullets are loaded.

Feel free to ask questions, I have the regs right here.:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

 

[Falcon]

In some states apparently you can buy rifles and shotguns without the need for any sort of permit, is this true?

 

[Birdseye]

Most states do not require a permit or registration. You do need to ID yourself and there are federal forms to be filled in though.

There is also something called a "Collector of Curios and Relics" license which allows you to buy virtually anything over 50 years old mail order and with no forms to fill in. That is how I got my Artillery Luger and SKS.

NYC requires a long arm license and requires a license for purchase of ammunition.

 

[pzgr40]

Interesting, however, what about trading stuff over the atlantic ocean, lets say trading a 88mm (complete either cutaway, but fully inert ) for some 20 or 30 mm ammo (also fully inert). Than you run into the next set of laws; custom laws that make it impossible to in and export stuff.
What law(s) enable the trading of (inert) stuff between both sides of the Atlantic Ocean?
Up till now I had to refuse any trade offer with collectors from the USA, as I was warned this would give very big trouble with the (US) customs department.
Regards DJH

 

[Birdseye]

I am very hesitant to offer advice on shipping objects. I have shipped and had shipped to me various inert material (see my sectioned shell, for example) with no problem. I have bought and sold old cannon barrels internationally without a hitch. I would not hesitate to ship or receive anything that is legal here (I do not know how foreign countries might react to these things regardless of the law) and I would tell the sender to write up a clear invoice with an accurate description and statement of value and put it in the package, right on top. The thinking is that if they read the customs declaration and go so far as to actually open the package, let them see some detail right off the bat.

Personally, If I were you, I would write directly to US Customs and lay out your questions. The folks that I have dealt with there have been quite nice.

Remember also that words like "inert" and "demilitarized" and "dummy" resonate. One time I had imported a small hand cannon barrel of ca. 1350. The guy who sent it made the mistake of using the term "Handgun".
I found out later that that created an "event" where BATF (Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco and Firearms) had to be called in to make a determination of the legality of the import. That said, it was only held up about two extra days.

Hey... if you have something interesting to sell, we can do an experiment.

Interesting, however, what about trading stuff over the atlantic ocean, lets say trading a 88mm (complete either cutaway, but fully inert ) for some 20 or 30 mm ammo (also fully inert). Than you run into the next set of laws; custom laws that make it impossible to in and export stuff.
What law(s) enable the trading of (inert) stuff between both sides of the Atlantic Ocean?
Up till now I had to refuse any trade offer with collectors from the USA, as I was warned this would give very big trouble with the (US) customs department.
Regards DJH

 

[spotter]

easy solution to this ,like Birdseye says check with customs before posting ,saves problems at both ends

 

[Birdseye]

Another point is that what the law is and what you are told may not match up with what is actually done at a port of entry.

Do the appropriate checking by all means and then craft a disclaimer to the effect that adherence with the laws of the destination country are solely the responsibility of the buyer and that your responsibility ends once the object is accepted for shipment.