O. SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES (SAWs and LCAFDs)
(O1) What was the semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) ban? [Back]
The SAW ban was enacted on September 13, 1994, by PL 103-322, Title IX, Subtitle A, section 110105. The ban made it unlawful to manufacture, transfer, or possess SAWs. The law defined SAWs as 19 named firearms, as well as semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns that have certain named features. The ban was codified at 18 U.S.C. § 922(v). SAWs lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994, were not covered by the ban. There also were certain exceptions, such as possession by law enforcement.
(O2) Was the SAW ban permanent? [Back]
No. The law enacting the ban provided that it would expire 10 years from the date of enactment, which was September 13, 1994. Therefore, effective 12:01 a.m. on September 13, 2004, the provisions of the law ceased to apply.
(O3) What was the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device (LCAFD) ban? [Back]
The LCAFD ban was enacted along with the SAW ban on September 13, 1994. The ban made it unlawful to transfer or possess LCAFDs. The law generally defined a LCAFD as a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device manufactured after September 13, 1994, that has the capacity of, or can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The ban was codified at 18 U.S.C. § 922(w). As with SAWs, there were certain exceptions to the ban, such as possession by law enforcement.
That seems fair (sarcasm).
(O4) Was the LCAFD ban permanent? [Back]
No. The LCAFD ban was enacted by the same law as the SAW ban. Therefore, like the SAW ban, it expired 10 years from the date of enactment. Therefore, effective 12:01 a.m. on September 13, 2004, the provisions of the law ceased to apply.
(O5) Does expiration of the ban affect records maintained by licensed manufacturers, importers and dealers? [Back]
Yes. Federal firearms licensees are no longer required to collect special records regarding the sale or transfer of SAWs and LCAFDs for law enforcement or government sales. However, existing records on SAWs and LCAFDs must still be maintained for a period of 5 years. Moreover, records of importation and manufacture must be maintained permanently, and licensees must maintain all other acquisition and disposition records for 20 years.
(O6) Are SAWs and LCAFDs marked “Restricted law enforcement/government use only” or “For export only” now legal to sell to civilians in the United States? [Back]
Yes. SAWs and LCAFDs are no longer prohibited. Therefore, firearms with the restrictive markings are legal to transfer to civilians in the United States, and it is legal for non-prohibited civilians to possess them. All civilians may possess LCAFDs.