Posted on 02/12/2014 7:51:16 AM PST by marktwain
On February 10th, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved the Sheriff's Department trade of two highly collectible and desirable 1928 Thompson submachine guns for 88 AR-15 type Bushmaster rifles. The vote was 6-1. The trade had engendered some lengthy debates at board meetings over the last month.
Because of restrictive gun bans passed in 1934, 1968, and 1986, only a limited number of these type of guns are available for sale to collectors. The peculiar market conditions created by federal law have driven up the price from about $1,000 to the range of $30,000 - $50,000.
Some questioned the trade, preferring that the guns be auctioned off to obtain the highest price. However, it was determined that the legal category that the guns are in does not allow for a practical auction. The guns were registered in 1968, but not in the type of federal category that would allow them to be sold to ordinary citizens, because of a controversial change in the law in 1986. Federal law, as interpreted by BATF regulations, does not allow guns in one category to be transferred to a less restrictive category. From journalnow.com:
Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt said afterward that she had been in favor of opening up the Tommy guns for public bid but decided to vote in favor of the trade after hearing from County Attorney Davida Martin that it appears the county couldnt do so.The guns are legal, but only Class III dealers and law enforcement agencies are allowed to purchase the guns that were registered in this particular category, restricting demand and reducing the guns value. Identical guns registered in a different category, that can be purchased by any citizen who is not a felon and is willing to pay the $200 tax, are worth as much as $20,000 more.
That says a great deal about what the "goal" of the gun banners is.
I kind of figured that they had never been registered with an NFA stamp. That makes them worth a lot less.
Eighty-eight AR-15s for two Thompsons! WOW!
NFA, GCA, and FOPA suck, and are unconstitutional. IMHO.
The father of a buddy of mine was a State Policeman out of the Columbia, KY barracks back in the mid 1980’s.
The dad took me into their walk in gun safe. Must have been 20 Thompsons racked up in there. Most with the Snail Drums.
I was surprised at how heavy the weapon was. Asked him what they use them for - and he said “To show off!”
I doubt they’ve been fired in years.
Wonder if they are still in one piece.
Yet another nasty piece of legislation from FDR’s time....the stench of his reign seems to last forever.
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