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Steps
for buying NFA (Class III) Weaponry
Including
but not limited to: machine guns, silencers, Destructive Devices,
All Other Weapons (AOW: cane guns, pen guns, etc.), short-barreled
rifles (SBR), short-barrel shotguns (SBS).
1.
You must be at least 21 old and legal buy a handgun (meaning no
felonies, violent misdemeanors, dishonorable discharges, etc.).
2.
Call your local CLEO (sheriff, police chief, etc.) and ask what
his procedure is for signing Form 4 (federal applications
for NFA transfer and ownership, supplied by your Class III dealer).
SEE STEP 5*
Make
sure that he will sign for you BEFORE you buy the firearm.
If he won't sign, you can't get the gun. Make
sure you can own it BEFORE you buy it, as payment must usually
be made in full before the weapon is ordered. (You have to have
the serial number before any paperwork can be processed to begin
the transfer.)
3.
Get two 2" X 2" passport photographs. Attach one to
the reverse side of each of the two copies of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) Form 4 given to you. These photos
typically cost $5 to $10.
4.
Complete a small section on the reverse side of the BATF Form
4 that declares why you wish to possess the item. Most folks say
"Collector of firearms".
5.
Take the two copies of the Form 4, with pictures attached and
your section completed, to your local law enforcement agency.
Also take the two FBI FD-258 fingerprint cards given to you by
your dealer. Ask the agency to officially take your fingerprints.
This will usually cost $10 to $15.
You
have to get a local to sign off and complete the section of the
reverse side of the Form 4. This merely attests that you are
not wanted locally and that the official knows of no law which
will be broken if you are approved by the government. The official
signing should be made aware that they are not held liable if
you do something stupid or break the law.
*Locals
that can be asked to sign off are:
police chiefs or local law enforcement officers of the same
rank, sheriffs, city or town police chiefs, state police commanders,
district attorneys, state attorney generals, and judges of state
courts that preside over felony trials.
If
you own a corporation: you can transfer the NFA firearm to
the corporation and no CLEO signature is necessary.
6.
Bring your dealer the two copies of the Form 4 and both completed
fingerprint cards with a money order or certified check made out
to the BATF ($5.00 for an "AOW" or $200.00 for silencer, machine-gun,
destructive device, SBR, SBS). This is a one time fee for life!!
The
dealer will complete the front of the forms, put the two
copies of the completed Form 4, the two completed fingerprint
cards and the money order (or certified check) in an envelope
and send it to the BATF.
7.
You also have to mail a form (supplied by your dealer) to the
Department of the Treasury. This form is called the Certification
of Compliance, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(B), ATF Form 5330.20, which
simply states that you are a United States citizen. You fill it
out, your dealer gives you the address, and you send it in.
8.
The BATF will first remove the money order and examine the
paperwork for completeness. It will be assigned to an agent, who
will have a nationwide FBI background check performed on you.
Once you pass this (all legal folks over 21 pass it), the BATF
will mail your dealer one certified copy of of the Form 4 sent
them. On this copy will be a stamp that looks like a postage stamp.
This is a Federal tax stamp indicating the transfer tax is paid
and the item is officially yours.
9.
When your dealer receives this Form 4 with the stamp on it (about
90-120 days after you originally mail it), your dealer will call
you to come in and complete a BATF Form 4473 (supplied by your
dealer) and give you the product along with the Form 4.
You
should immediately make several copies of the Form 4 and carry
one with you at all times when you have the NFA product with you.
Be sure to put the original in a safe place.
ALL
THIS SOUNDS COMPLICATED, BUT your dealer should WALK YOU THROUGH
EACH PHASE SO YOU CAN GET THE WEAPONRY YOU DESIRE.
Happiness
is a belt-fed warm weapon!
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