Think about the 1933 gun control act. short rifles, shotguns and fully automatic firearms are legal, they just need a tax stamp.
alcohol is legal, but needs a tax stamp.
Americans are convinced that both are illegal, yet all they need is for uncle Sam to get his share.
Soprano’s with bigger toys.
It's the 86 law that makes full auto so expensive. It limited new arms and those made after 86 to military and police. That leaves a limited number of aging transferable select fire arms for the market. Which is why a legal, fully functional AK-47 costs thousands here, and only a couple hundred in the rest of the world.