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Comment by ahakki | Hacker News Reader

It is actually possible to legally aquire a fully automatic machine gun without serial numbers. IIRC when the machine gun ban of 1986 was passed there was an amnesty period where anyone could register any firearm no questions asked, in hopes of getting everything registered. Some GIs who had stolen army equipment (mainly service rifles) registered that, but because they where scared of being cought they removed the serial numbers beforehand. These firearms are still legally transferable as Machine Guns registered before 1986.

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That's two events mixed together.

There was an amnesty similar to what you're talking about in 1968 with the Gun Control Act, and it's the only firearms amnesty that's been offered.

The "Firearms Owners Protection Act" of 1986 (why is it that these bills always do the opposite of their title) did not have amnesty provisions. The big thing it did was ban civilian ownership of fully automatic firearms with specific exceptions where stringent requirements are met.

Yes I mixed up the 1968 Gun Control Act and it's associated amnesty with the 1986 Machine Gun Ban. I was just going off the top of my head.

https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/item/52520-11-397...

Closing the registry was a poison pill added to FOPA after introduction. The bill passed, even with that amendment. Aside from the registry, it provided legal protection from the patchwork of state firearm laws for travelers who are just passing through a state.

No the OP is correct. The 1968 amnesty was very broad. Even felons were allowed to keep their guns.

How would you put a gun with no serial number on a registry? It would be impossible to prove its provenance or registration status.

If, in fact, what you're arguing is correct, then they must have added a serial number when registered.

The NFA requires all registered weapons to have a serial anyway, so I doubt what you're claiming happened.

Yes sorry I was mixing up some things. Here is an example of whazlt I was talking about, and yes you were right, it got a new serial number.

https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/item/52520-11-397...

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