1934 National Firearms Act

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What is the 1934 National Firearms Act ?

  • June 26, 1934
  • strict government regulation and tax of machine guns, short-barreled rifles, and silencers
  •  imposed a tax on the manufacturing, selling, and transporting of firearms listed in the law

Why:

The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 is a federal law that regulates certain firearms and accessories, including machine guns, silencers, and short-barreled rifles and shotguns. The NFA was introduced by the United States Congress in response to the rise of organized crime during the Prohibition era.

At the time, gangsters and criminals used automatic weapons and other firearms to commit violent crimes. The federal government believed that regulating the sale and possession of certain firearms would help to combat the spread of crime.

What:

The NFA required individuals and companies to register their firearms with the federal government and pay a tax. The law also required manufacturers, importers, and dealers to obtain a license from the government to engage in the firearms business.

Despite the controversy, the NFA was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 26, 1934. The law has been amended several times over the years, but it remains in effect today.

Eventually:

  • 1968 Haynes v. United States  effectively gutted the National Act of 1934

The NFA was met with opposition from gun enthusiasts and manufacturers who saw it as an infringement on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Some argued that the law unfairly targeted law-abiding citizens and would do little to deter criminals.

transformed crime

  • response to gangster culture
  • Prohibition-era violence
  • attempted assassination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933
  • advent of the “getaway car”

Another federal law soon followed in the National Firearms Act of 1938, which required the licensing of interstate gun dealers.

Overall, the NFA represents an early attempt by the federal government to regulate firearms in the United States. It was born out of a desire to combat organized crime and violence, but it has also been a source of controversy and debate for decades.

Short Barreled Rifle (SBR)

  • 2010 = 74,727
  • 2012 = 93,486
  • 2013 = 119,025
  • 2014 = 137,951
  • 2015 = 181,314
  • 2016 = 213,594
  • 2017 = 297,626
  • 2018 = 345,323
  • 2019 = 413,167
  • 2020 = 460,544

Any Other Weapon (AOW)

  • 2010 = 52,676
  • 2012 = 54,649
  • 2013 = 56,050
  • 2014 = 56,215
  • 2015 = 57,523
  • 2016 = 57,777
  • 2017 = 60,019
  • 2018 = 60,706
  • 2019 = 62,162
  • 2020 = 65,398

Short Barreled Shotgun (SBS)

  • 2010 = 116,462
  • 2012 = 124,079
  • 2013 = 130,105
  • 2014 = 131,951
  • 2015 = 138,393
  • 2016 = 140,474
  • 2017 = 146,098
  • 2018 = 149,866
  • 2019 = 155,021
  • 2020 = 158,059

Machine Gun

  • 2010 = 456,930
  • 2012 = 488,065
  • 2013 = 505,861
  • 2014 = 512,790
  • 2015 = 543,073
  • 2016 = 575,602
  • 2017 = 630,019
  • 2018 = 638,260
  • 2019 = 699,977
  • 2020 = 726,951

Suppressor

  • 2010 = 285,930
  • 2012 = 360,534
  • 2013 = 494,452
  • 2014 = 571,750
  • 2015 = 792,282
  • 2016 = 902,805
  • 2017 = 1,360,023
  • 2018 = 1,489,791
  • 2019 = 1,750,433
  • 2020 = 2,042,719

Destructive Devices

  • 2010 = 1,864,522
  • 2012 = 2,064,09
  • 2013 = 2,205,487
  • 2014 = 2,246,742
  • 2015 = 2,446,984
  • 2016 = 2,545,844
  • 2017 = 2,709,704
  • 2018 = 2,818,528
  • 2019 = 2,977,630
  • 2020 = 3,180,393

Total NFA

  • 2010 = 2,850,406
  • 2012 = 3,184,80
  • 2013 = 3,510,980
  • 2014 = 3,656,649
  • 2015 = 4,159,569
  • 2016 = 4,436,096
  • 2017 = 5,203,489
  • 2018 = 5,502,474
  • 2019 = 6,058,390
  • 2020 = 6,634,064

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