Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Hi all,
Here's a question for the real brains on NFA issues:
"Any other weapon" is usually thought to encompass a few specific types of items: pen guns, cane guns, wallet guns, smooth bore handguns, pistols with a vertical grip.
But it was posed to me the other night that "Any Other Weapon" SHOULD encompass ANY other weapon, beyond those described in Title I and Title II.
Specifically, the question was raised of belt-fed semi-autos.
They are NOT rifles, per the written opinion of the ATF who agrees with the NFA in saying that these are not designed to be "fired from the shoulder". The ATF has stated clearly that belt-fed semi-autos are not required to adhere to the 16" barrel length requirement because they are NOT rifles. (Still have to be 26" oal, though...why?)
And yet, they clearly aren't Title I handguns. They aren't shotguns. They aren't machine guns. Are they "ANY other weapon?"
Same question applies to PGO shotguns. The definition of shotgun includes "…designed or redesigned to be fired from the shoulder…" Sooo... PGOs are not Title I shotguns. Not handguns. Not rifles. Not machine guns. Seems to me that they must be "ANY other weapon."
It also seems to be that, since they aren't legally "shotguns," then cutting one down below 18"/26" wouldn't produce a firearm "made from a shotgun" but would probably make an "ANY other weapon."
But if so...what was it BEFORE it was cut down?
I've heard folks say that these are "just firearms." But if neither of these fits into any of the Title I named firearms, OR into any of the other descriptions of Title II firearms ... how do they NOT then be "Any Other Weapons?"
This question was posed to me a few nights ago and I really fell flat trying to answer.
...
I'd assume in box 18 of the 4473 form you'd check "Other Firearm" for either instead of handgun or long gun. But isn't that "ANY" other firearm?
Here's a question for the real brains on NFA issues:
"Any other weapon" is usually thought to encompass a few specific types of items: pen guns, cane guns, wallet guns, smooth bore handguns, pistols with a vertical grip.
But it was posed to me the other night that "Any Other Weapon" SHOULD encompass ANY other weapon, beyond those described in Title I and Title II.
Specifically, the question was raised of belt-fed semi-autos.
They are NOT rifles, per the written opinion of the ATF who agrees with the NFA in saying that these are not designed to be "fired from the shoulder". The ATF has stated clearly that belt-fed semi-autos are not required to adhere to the 16" barrel length requirement because they are NOT rifles. (Still have to be 26" oal, though...why?)
And yet, they clearly aren't Title I handguns. They aren't shotguns. They aren't machine guns. Are they "ANY other weapon?"
Same question applies to PGO shotguns. The definition of shotgun includes "…designed or redesigned to be fired from the shoulder…" Sooo... PGOs are not Title I shotguns. Not handguns. Not rifles. Not machine guns. Seems to me that they must be "ANY other weapon."
It also seems to be that, since they aren't legally "shotguns," then cutting one down below 18"/26" wouldn't produce a firearm "made from a shotgun" but would probably make an "ANY other weapon."
But if so...what was it BEFORE it was cut down?
I've heard folks say that these are "just firearms." But if neither of these fits into any of the Title I named firearms, OR into any of the other descriptions of Title II firearms ... how do they NOT then be "Any Other Weapons?"
This question was posed to me a few nights ago and I really fell flat trying to answer.
...
I'd assume in box 18 of the 4473 form you'd check "Other Firearm" for either instead of handgun or long gun. But isn't that "ANY" other firearm?