1939

Upheld a federal ban on sawed-off shotguns

• March 30, 1939 United States v Miller – Argued
• May 15, 1939 United States v Miller – Decided

• Ruling on the National Firearms Act of 1934
• Supreme Court upholds a federal ban on sawed-off shotguns
• Supreme court ruled that when called for militia duty,
  “these men were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves
  and of the kind in common use at the time.”
• (U.S. v Miller, 307 US 174)

District Court Western District Arkansas, charged that Jack Miller and Frank Layton ‘did unlawfully, knowingly, wilfully, and feloniously transport in interstate commerce from the town of Claremore in the State of Oklahoma to the town of Siloam Springs in the State of Arkansas a certain firearm, to-wit, a double barrel 12-gauge Stevens shotgun having a barrel less than 18 inches in length