$200 suppressor tax stamp

[wrladner]

Has anyone heard any news on repeal of $200 tax stamp on suppressors ?
Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[Zephyr]

The law hasn't been repealed just yet.  A bill has been introduced to remove supressors from the jurisdiction of the 'National Firearms Act of 1934'.  More information is here:  http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2015/10/22/goodbye-200-tax-stamp-bill-introduced-to-remove-suppressors-from-nfa/

[Raggedyman]

Bills are introduced all the time. This doesn't have much chance of getting through. I believe that the federal government has no Constitutional authority to regulate silencers, but I don't think those laws are going to change any time soon. What would be nice is if they would at least fast track Form 1 and Form 4 applications from applicants who have already been previously vetted.

[Wolfie]

Sounds like something that can be negotiated for, you know a trade off for background checks.

[sqlbullet]

Seems like we are making ground without trade-offs at the moment.  I agree that politics is the art of compromise, but I don't know that now is the time.

Especially when I hear IC's stories about buying a gun.  I really like my state where I can get a bug at 10:00 AM and have the gun in my house by 11:00 AM.

[Pumpkinheaver]

I doubt the government will give up any source of income. I'm hopeful this will pass but doubt it will.

[sqlbullet]

I don't mind the tax.  The forms and the multi-week/month wait are a real pain though.

[Raggedyman]

It's also worth noting that if the tax were reduced, they might be able to collect a lot more revenue.

[DM1906]

The ONLY option is to have them stricken from the NFA list, as an independent amendment. If not, the only thing that may happen, if they mess with it all all, is the stamp fee will be adjusted to modern value. That means $3000+, for everything under the clause. Only a complete repeal of the NFA would work in our favor, but there's no way they'll touch that. It will have to be replaced with "something". There will be, at some period in our foreseeable future, a 3/3 liberal controlled government. Enter Feinstein (and/or clones), and Pandora's box. Be very careful what you wish for.

[Mr. AR50]

Sounds like something that can be negotiated for, you know a trade off for background checks.

Why in the world would we, as responsible gun owners, want to surrender any more of our rights than we already have?
'Universal Background Check' is liberal speak for 'national gun transfer ban', and 'universal firearms registration'. Without total registration, the 'private transfer' background check won't accomplish anything, because there's no way to know who owned the gun beforehand. The government would need a list of where all of the 300 million plus guns in America are TODAY in order for the background check system to work. Even then, it would only identify law abiding people who owned guns, with no connection to any crimes committed. Criminals  couldn't be part of this 'system', because they're already prohibited from owning firearms, and would have to self-incriminate in order to comply.
The only purpose of a universal background check is to allow for government control of all PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS.

[sqlbullet]

I don't disagree AR50.

But that doesn't mean we can't use their desire to have something named "Universal Background Checks" that actually works in our favor.

Here is what I would support:
    1.  Universal reciprocity without federal standards for training.  Basically if your home state permit becomes valid in all 50 states.  I would like to see some federal standards for where CCW holders can carry, and would suggest Utah be the pattern state, since it allows carry in all government buildings except federal buildings and secure areas.
    2.  Removal of special ATF checks for transfers of short barreled rifles/shotguns, suppressors and machine guns.  Background check, just like any gun, and pay the transfer tax and your are done. 
    3.  Open the machine gun registry up.  Lets get some tax revenue going.
    4.  Lower the age to buy a handgun from an FFL to coincide with age at which you can own a handgun, 18.
    5.  Creation of a national instant check system accessible to anyone.  All I need is a name, date of birth, place of birth and optionally a SSN, and a signed release from the person being checked for my files and I can run a background check.
    6.  Same requirements for destruction of the background check record as exist today.

In exchange I would be willing to include the following concessions:
    1.  All gun sales, commercial or private party, require a background check using the system created in item 5 above.
    2.  Requirement that I maintain a record of the sale and background check for a period not to exceed 1 year from the date of sale.  Records to be maintained by the seller.
    3. Demand to inspect sale records only on warrant, to be issued if the gun is used in the commission of a violent felony by the buyer within 1 year of the sale.  Probably cause of improper sale is NOT a reason to demand to see records.  You only become criminally implicated if, ex-post- facto the gun is used in a crime by the buyer.  Otherwise you can be tried, and if you can't produce the record or are unwilling to you face a basic infraction, with a minimal fine of say $100.  If prosecuted and I can produce a record background check in association with the sale, it constitutes a violation of my civil rights and I am entitled to counter sue for damages and legal costs.

I would want to work with a really sharp attorney or two to clean the basic ideas up, but there you go.  No national registry, no criminal prosecution if I improperly sell a gun to my son or brother-in-law, unless they use the same gun to commit a violent felony.

There you go.  A universal background check law I think we could all get behind. 

[Raggedyman]

Let me fine tune that:

Instant check system available online for anyone to use for any reason for a nominal fee (say $5?). System only reports pass or fail on prohibited possessor status. The person being checked receives notification by mail (based on DMV records), or email if they opt in, that they were checked and the full name of the person or corporation performing the check.

No one is required to keep any records or the transaction or check, but it is encouraged. If it can be proven that you sold a gun to a prohibited possessor and you do not have a record of the check, you can go to prison.

This system still allows transfers between strangers and a reasonable way to check their background. The fee and automatic disclosure deters abuse. A person can sell to a trusted friend of family without performing a check and not break the law.

[sqlbullet]

Agreed...

Altering this:

If it can be proven that you sold a gun to a prohibited possessor who used the gun to commit a violent crime and you do not have a record of the check, you can go to prison. (modification in bold red

I only want this burden to fall back on the seller if their action, or rather inaction, facilitated the commission of a violent felony.

[Wolfie]

I like what I am reading.

[Bullnettles]

This is the first that I've heard of this and that'd be nice (I'm selling a decent bit of my collection and the tax stamp turns off a lot of people who aren't used to them.) One thing to SQLBullet, no SSN, but rather a D/L number or something similar. Maybe a minimum amount of info to ID, then a D/L or ID picture pops up on their site to confirm? I would never give up my SSN to a stranger on the street.