Laws for owning rocket launchers??

[gbelleh]

Does anyone know (or know of a good link) about laws regarding the ownership of rocket launchers?
Are citizens allowed to have them at all? If so, are they in a special class of weapons, e.g., AOWs or destructive devices? Do they require federal paper work, tax stamp, etc?
Just curious.

 

[444]

What exactly do you mean by the term "rocket launcher" ?
If you are talking about something like a LAW or a AT4 check out this link and follow the links on that page.

http://www.subguns.com/laws/laws.htm

 

[tyme]

I gather they're DDs.

More importantly, will any companies sell a launcher to a private citizen, and would one have to pay a $200 DD tax for each rocket if the launcher were reusable?

 

[444]

I am no lawyer, and I am no expert on NFA weapons, but as I understand it tyme, the answer to your question is yes. I am basing this on some stuff I read about those who legally own M203 grenade launchers. The stuff I read said that each round of ammunition is considered a DD and must have a tax stamp complete with all the appropriate paperwork and fees. This of course refers to ammo like HE, and not flares. Just because I read it on the internet doesn't make it true, but I believed it.

 

[WonderNine]

But I thought once you've payed your $200 "Class III weapon tax" that you didn't have to pay it ever again.

 

[tyme]

wondernine, that's true with ordinary firearms, but when the ammunition itself is a DD, as 444 pointed out is the case with grenade launchers, you get to pay $200 per grenade. I see no reason to believe that rockets for a rocket launcher wouldn't be classified as DDs.

You're probably confusing the basic tax stamp scheme with the FFL+SOT scheme, where you can pay (State laws permitting, and if you have what could qualify as a storefront) a yearly fee for certain type(s) of FFLs and SOTs and can then receive as many evil weapons as you like from the classes covered by your FFL(s) and SOT(s). Technically you should be able to just get a FFL if you only want to buy personally, but as I recall the BATFE revokes non-C&R FFLs if the holders don't transfer a certain number of weapons to others.

 

[gbelleh]

Yes,
I meant either a LAW or AT4. Thanks for the link.

Does anyone here actually own one of these?

 

[SDC]

That Destructive Device tax also applies to things like grenades, so yes, I'm sure you COULD legally buy one (provided your local LEO approves it), but why would you want to pay the $200 tax PLUS the cost of the DD for 2-3 seconds of fun, when you could invest that money in a quality SMG? On a related note, the CHINESE of all people, are perfectly willing to let you fire anything up to and including a SCUD if you've got the hard currency to pay for it at their national test ranges.

 

[gbelleh]

If I ever got one, I would probably never fire it (ok, maybe I'd fire it once). It would be an interesting addition to the collection though. I just enjoy unusual weapons!