"Can someone elaborate on what a "Tax Stamp" is?"
Back in 1934, the US Govt. passed legislation called the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). It regulated the possession, and sale of certain types of firearms and firearm related stuff. Prior to 1934 you could pretty much own anything you wanted to and you could buy it at your local hardware store. One famous advertisment marketed the Thompson submachine guns to farmers as a good tool for keeping foxes out of the hen house. If you wanted a Thompson, you went to anyone that sold guns and bought one. It was the same as buying a bolt action .22 from a legal standpoint. The NFA began our present system of having to buy that same Thompson submachine gun through a specially licenced dealer and required you to pay a $200 transfer tax on the purchase. Back then of course, $200 was a huge sum of money and most people agree that it was intended to basically discourage anyone from owning one. Today however, $200 is chump change.
Short barreled shotguns are regulated by the NFA. You don't have to buy one from an NFA dealer, but you do have to pay the $200 tax.
From a literal standpoint, a tax stamp is exactly what the name implies. It looks just like a postage stamp and shows the value of the stamp to be $200. When you get back your approved form 1, the ATF signs the form you sent in as being approved, and they stick the stamp in the upper right hand corner.
You will notice on this board, there are people who will do anything to discourage people from exercising their right to own NFA weapons.
Some will tell you it is illegal.
Some will tell you that it is legal but a huge hassle.
Some will tell you that if you buy an NFA weapon that you give up your rights and the ATF can search your house at any time without a warrant.
There is no end to the internet BS bandied about regarding this topic.
When you are reading this stuff, one question should be foremost in your mind: has the person telling you this ever actually done it ? Does he really know what he is talking about because he did it, or is he repeating something he read on-line from someone else that has never done it ? Some people of course just have to be negative for some reason: they enjoy it.
Then there are the small minority of people who do instead of talk. They ignore all the internet chatter and simply follow the proceedure to own and enjoy this stuff. While others are talking about it, they are shooting it.
One more definition: Form 1.
The Form 1 is an application to manufacture a firearm. In this case, when you get your approved form 1 back, you manufacture the short barreled shotgun by simply installing the short barrel on the shotgun.
Back in 1934, the US Govt. passed legislation called the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). It regulated the possession, and sale of certain types of firearms and firearm related stuff. Prior to 1934 you could pretty much own anything you wanted to and you could buy it at your local hardware store. One famous advertisment marketed the Thompson submachine guns to farmers as a good tool for keeping foxes out of the hen house. If you wanted a Thompson, you went to anyone that sold guns and bought one. It was the same as buying a bolt action .22 from a legal standpoint. The NFA began our present system of having to buy that same Thompson submachine gun through a specially licenced dealer and required you to pay a $200 transfer tax on the purchase. Back then of course, $200 was a huge sum of money and most people agree that it was intended to basically discourage anyone from owning one. Today however, $200 is chump change.
Short barreled shotguns are regulated by the NFA. You don't have to buy one from an NFA dealer, but you do have to pay the $200 tax.
From a literal standpoint, a tax stamp is exactly what the name implies. It looks just like a postage stamp and shows the value of the stamp to be $200. When you get back your approved form 1, the ATF signs the form you sent in as being approved, and they stick the stamp in the upper right hand corner.
You will notice on this board, there are people who will do anything to discourage people from exercising their right to own NFA weapons.
Some will tell you it is illegal.
Some will tell you that it is legal but a huge hassle.
Some will tell you that if you buy an NFA weapon that you give up your rights and the ATF can search your house at any time without a warrant.
There is no end to the internet BS bandied about regarding this topic.
When you are reading this stuff, one question should be foremost in your mind: has the person telling you this ever actually done it ? Does he really know what he is talking about because he did it, or is he repeating something he read on-line from someone else that has never done it ? Some people of course just have to be negative for some reason: they enjoy it.
Then there are the small minority of people who do instead of talk. They ignore all the internet chatter and simply follow the proceedure to own and enjoy this stuff. While others are talking about it, they are shooting it.
One more definition: Form 1.
The Form 1 is an application to manufacture a firearm. In this case, when you get your approved form 1 back, you manufacture the short barreled shotgun by simply installing the short barrel on the shotgun.
