The Legacy of Pre-1986 Machine Guns: Unregistered and Forgotten
How many machine guns were built before 1986? It’s a question that has sparked curiosity and debate within the firearms community. The truth is, there are likely hundreds of thousands, and not a single one of these has ever been used in a crime. But how did this come to be? Let's delve into the history and current state of pre-1986 machine guns in the United States.
Historical Background and the NFA
Machine guns have a long and storied history, dating back to the late 19th Century. From the time the first machine guns were developed, through the early to mid-20th Century, there were tens of millions of these weapons built by numerous nations. Many were imported legally by distributors, while others were smuggled back by US soldiers during wartime. The majority, however, were produced in the United States and sold domestically.
In 1934, the National Firearms Act (NFA) was created to track and regulate these weapons. The purpose was to ensure that these powerful firearms were responsibly handled and used. However, the illegal and unconstitutional nature of the NFA remains a contentious topic, with many questioning its necessity and effectiveness.
Current Registrations and Estimates
According to government agencies, there are over 635,000 registered full automatic weapons in the United States. These include machine guns and submachine guns in rifle and pistol calibers. However, private collectors, the National Shooting Sports Association, manufacturers, NRA, and military historians suggest that the true number of unregistered full automatic weapons is far higher, potentially ranging from two to three million more.
This estimate includes weapons that were imported back from wars, smuggled in by cartels and criminal organizations, and guns that were purchased before 1934 and never registered. Unfortunately, the exact number is unknown, as there is no comprehensive record of all pre-1934 weapons.
The 1968 Gun Control Act and Its Impact
The Gun Control Act of 1968 was a significant piece of legislation that required the registration of all unregistered full automatic weapons. It was designed to address the issue of illegal weapons, but the act came with one major flaw: a very short amnesty period of 30 days. This period was cut short to reduce the number of legally registered full auto weapons, rendering the rest illegal and subject to confiscation.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of previously legal full auto war bring-backs were left in the hands of veterans, their family members, and estates. This situation has led to countless stories and encounters, often leading to the demilitarization and sale of these weapons to collectors to avoid legal trouble.
Cases and Evidence
Over the years, I have encountered several cases involving full auto war bring-backs. One memorable case involved a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) owned by my great aunt, which was left by her late husband and kept in a closet. This weapon ended up being demilitarized and sold to a collector to keep her out of legal trouble. Similar stories from other gun owners, collectors, and museum curators reveal over three hundred full auto war bring-backs and illegally smuggled guns that have been found in the United States over the last four and a half decades.
The legacy of pre-1986 machine guns is a complex and often misunderstood one. While many of these weapons have never been used in crimes, their history and current state pose significant questions about regulation and the legal system. The true number of these unregistered and untracked weapons remains a mystery, but their existence is undeniable.