On this quiet Sunday was thinking about the sections of the various gun laws that have had the most impact on us as HK collectors and shooters and decided to do some research and list the info in a timeline.
What did I miss or get wrong? I will edit the original post with additions or corrections.
(Not sure about additional uses of the term 'Pre-ban". I think of it as just foreign-made rifles prior to 1989 but looks like for communist states it would also apply to domestics made before 1994?)
First edit:
1934/07/26 – National Firearms Act - NFA
- Tax on manufacture/transfer and created registry of: Machine Gun, SBR, SBS, DD, Suppressor, AOW
1968/10/22 – Gun Control Act – GCA
- “Sporting purpose” requirement for import – MP5, G3 banned for private owners
- ‘Transferable’ – select-fire imported prior to (10/22?)1968
- Serial numbers required for new manufacture
- Created requirement for transfer through FFL (with exceptions)
1982/06/01 (ATF Ruling- no open bolt MAC10's, MAC11's)
1986/05/19 – Hughes Amendment to FOPA
- Made sale of machine guns manufactured after signing illegal to private owners.
Rules became:
- ‘Transferable’ – Domestic registered prior to 05/19/1986 and imported registered prior to (10/22?)1968
- ‘Pre-Sample/Dealer Sample’ (stamped ‘Sales Sample’) – Imported after (10/22?)1968 but before 05/19/1986. Limited to military, LE agencies, FFL/SOT. No law letter required for FFL/SOT. Can keep after closing business. That gun can then only be transferred to another FFL/SOT.
- ‘Post-Sample’ (stamped ‘Restricted’) – Manufactured after May 19, 1986. Also limited to military, LE agencies, FFL/SOT. FFL/SOT requires ‘law letter’ from law enforcement. After closing business can sell to another FFL/SOT without law letter
1989 – signed 03/14, permanent 07/09
George H.W. Bush banned importation of (43?) foreign-made semi-auto rifles that do not have a ‘sporting use’. Couldn’t find a list
- No more 91s, 93s, 94s.
- Guns imported after the ban modified for ‘sporting use’ or pistols or parts kits with either requiring compliance with 922(r) to be a rifle. Still some rifle imports with mods until when?
1990/11/30 (no use of "pre-89" parts on imported firearms)
1994/02/28 – Brady Act
- NICS background checks
1994/02/28 (Destructive Devices--- no Striker-12, USAS 12)
1994/05/01 (Amnesty deadline for registering Striker-12 and USAS 12)
1994/09/13 – Federal Assault Weapons Ban – AWB
- 1994-2004 nationwide ban of ‘assault’ weapons and high-capacity mags
Only some ‘pre-ban’ (pre-AWB) legal in communist states?
1998 – Clinton bans import of 58 types. See possible list below
2005/09/10 (ATF Ruling- no imported barrels, frames, or receivers)
2014-2021 – Increasing restrictions of I believe only Russian guns and ammo
What did I miss or get wrong? I will edit the original post with additions or corrections.
(Not sure about additional uses of the term 'Pre-ban". I think of it as just foreign-made rifles prior to 1989 but looks like for communist states it would also apply to domestics made before 1994?)
First edit:
1934/07/26 – National Firearms Act - NFA
- Tax on manufacture/transfer and created registry of: Machine Gun, SBR, SBS, DD, Suppressor, AOW
1968/10/22 – Gun Control Act – GCA
- “Sporting purpose” requirement for import – MP5, G3 banned for private owners
- ‘Transferable’ – select-fire imported prior to (10/22?)1968
- Serial numbers required for new manufacture
- Created requirement for transfer through FFL (with exceptions)
1982/06/01 (ATF Ruling- no open bolt MAC10's, MAC11's)
1986/05/19 – Hughes Amendment to FOPA
- Made sale of machine guns manufactured after signing illegal to private owners.
Rules became:
- ‘Transferable’ – Domestic registered prior to 05/19/1986 and imported registered prior to (10/22?)1968
- ‘Pre-Sample/Dealer Sample’ (stamped ‘Sales Sample’) – Imported after (10/22?)1968 but before 05/19/1986. Limited to military, LE agencies, FFL/SOT. No law letter required for FFL/SOT. Can keep after closing business. That gun can then only be transferred to another FFL/SOT.
- ‘Post-Sample’ (stamped ‘Restricted’) – Manufactured after May 19, 1986. Also limited to military, LE agencies, FFL/SOT. FFL/SOT requires ‘law letter’ from law enforcement. After closing business can sell to another FFL/SOT without law letter
1989 – signed 03/14, permanent 07/09
George H.W. Bush banned importation of (43?) foreign-made semi-auto rifles that do not have a ‘sporting use’. Couldn’t find a list
- No more 91s, 93s, 94s.
- Guns imported after the ban modified for ‘sporting use’ or pistols or parts kits with either requiring compliance with 922(r) to be a rifle. Still some rifle imports with mods until when?
1990/11/30 (no use of "pre-89" parts on imported firearms)
1994/02/28 – Brady Act
- NICS background checks
1994/02/28 (Destructive Devices--- no Striker-12, USAS 12)
1994/05/01 (Amnesty deadline for registering Striker-12 and USAS 12)
1994/09/13 – Federal Assault Weapons Ban – AWB
- 1994-2004 nationwide ban of ‘assault’ weapons and high-capacity mags
Only some ‘pre-ban’ (pre-AWB) legal in communist states?
1998 – Clinton bans import of 58 types. See possible list below
2005/09/10 (ATF Ruling- no imported barrels, frames, or receivers)
2014-2021 – Increasing restrictions of I believe only Russian guns and ammo
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