I have a question. Don't know if it has been discussed before but I was wondering what the law/policy is on LEO's owning fully automatic weapons such as AR15's or M16's and the like. If you are a LEO can you legally own, as a personal, non department issued firearm, a full auto weapon?
Automatic Weapons and LEO's
- Thread starter fireworksman3
- Start date
The Best online firearms community in Louisiana.
Member Benefits:
Fewer Ads! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
hdfinder47
Ed
Our SWAT team practices with them but I've never heard of them firing full auto on scene. Has anybody done so on any other dept? What were the circumstances?
Bladerunner
*Banned*
Love this forum. I learn something every day. I never knew that "AR-15s and the like" were automatic weapons. Guess I'd better run to the post office and get a stamp, huh?
FYI, prior to the M16, the original select fire rifles sold and used by the Airforce were AR 15s.
There are 2 types of ownership we are talking about. Ownership by the agency in which the gun belongs to the agency (no matter who pays for them, post and pre samples) and personal weapons that are papered and purchased by the individual officer (transferrable, unless officer is a class III dealer then he can have pre and post samples) which are his/her personal gun.
My agency has utilized full auto (2-3 round burst was the norm with MP-5s) in SWAT operations. There were no issues in court. Depends on how much documented training and whether lethal force was necessary.
There are 2 types of ownership we are talking about. Ownership by the agency in which the gun belongs to the agency (no matter who pays for them, post and pre samples) and personal weapons that are papered and purchased by the individual officer (transferrable, unless officer is a class III dealer then he can have pre and post samples) which are his/her personal gun.
My agency has utilized full auto (2-3 round burst was the norm with MP-5s) in SWAT operations. There were no issues in court. Depends on how much documented training and whether lethal force was necessary.
Last edited:
I know you're being sarcastic, but what are you getting at?
Not everyone knows that AR-15's are semi-automatic firearms. Many times, especially in the media, the term "automatic" is substituted for the correct term of "semi-automatic".
Some AR's ARE fully automatic. Some M-16's ARE semi-auto. If someone isn't clear, I would certainly rather they ask and get correct information than remain ignorant to the facts.
Ignorance by the general public is HUGE problem facing gun owner's today. Many people don't know anything more about guns than they see in the movies or hear on the news. Don't assume because YOU know the difference that EVERYONE MUST know the difference.
I just assumed the OP knew the difference since full auto ARs are used as well as M16s, depending on the department, and that this was a question about police, whose department can own/use post-86 machine guns. Full auto / semi auto, like Leadfoot mentioned, is not cut and dry based on model name.
Last edited:
To answer the OP's original question, which I should have been more specific earlier:
Any person who can pass the ATF background check process, which is much more thorough than the NICS check you go through at a gun store, and pays for a $200 tax stamp, be they law enforcement or not can legally own fully automatic firearms (IN SOME STATES).
Any person who can pass the ATF background check process, which is much more thorough than the NICS check you go through at a gun store, and pays for a $200 tax stamp, be they law enforcement or not can legally own fully automatic firearms (IN SOME STATES).
Ok, I meant to say AR-15 types that are fully automatic... smh
Staff online
-
340six-Global Mod-
Members online
- 10milly
- bryanbag
- dantheman
- davidd
- jimmyjc11
- Sainte70
- numberonedad72
- Brballistics
- Renegade
- 340six
- Geauxfish
- Easyt
- Bigchillin83
- Leafbloer
- 356tsw
- cbecnel
- larryp44
- Daspy
- WilsonCombatant
- lashooter68
- Hopiedog
- mikelee
- deerhunter1120
- Scrape
- Gator 45/70
- UncleBiff
- hotbiggun
- Target Sports USA
- 230gr
- pdugas
- Markrobichaux
- mbuzha
- Tonyaav
- Musicmasterd12
- N4sir
- Bill
- k0k0m0
- sg1911
- 70mikenike70
- Gary504504!
- stinkysix
- jimdanos
- CantThinkPastGo
- HogHunter1203
- hokie74
- Dill
- Radar55
- DWT
- DH80-Z28
- SaltyDawg77
