[Zach S]

Why did they decide to ban machineguns? Since I really got into guns, it seems like I've always known new ones were banned in 86, but never really thought about why untill a few minutes ago.

Also, I've heard different stories about how many registered MGs were used in a crime. Sometimes one, sometimes two, which is it?

I've heard that the one was was a cop who killed his wife with a MAC variant, correct? Any more details?

[boofus]

Simple. They banned registration of new transferable MGs because Lautenberg is a jackass. He tried to poison the FOPA much like they did the junk lawsuit ban but the NRA went ahead and told Reagan to sign it into law instead of vetoing it. :cuss: :fire: :banghead:

God, I hope Kerry wins. Maybe the shooting can start then and gunowners won't have to keep taking it up the rear. :what:

[Bartholomew Roberts]

If you think we took it hard with the '86 ban, imagine eight years under Clinton without FOPA.

FOPA was a great deal for us, we gained more than we lost and it was nothing short of freakish luck combined with Democratic arrogance that it ever got passed in the first place.

Had we not been able to pass FOPA then, we would not have had another chance until 1994 - post Brady, Assault Weapons etc.

Here is a good historical discussion of it:
http://www.hardylaw.net/FOPA.html

[El Tejon]

Zach, it was Rep. Hughes from New Jersey. It passed because the NRA brass are a bunch of fat, feckless duck hunters who have little interest in freedom, only their convenience.

If you speak of Form 4 weapons, it is one. A cop in Dayton, Ohio used a Form 4 weapon (MAC in .380 acp) to commit a murder for hire.