Getting started in Class III

[MakeMineaP99]

What are the steps needed to get into Class III? Now I will be moving to free state, I might like to get involved in Class III. What tax stamp(s) do I need and what are all of these forms such as form 4? Do I need a special license to buy Class III? Any information about getting involved would be helpful. Thanks for helping the newbie.;a

Regards,
Dan

[toast]

Dan,
Depends on the state. Check with www.subguns.com to find a dealer in your new area. Dealers tend to know the ins and outs of class III; they have to know how to sell their wares. Good luck.




toast

[RenegadeGlocker]

Make your life easy and move to a jurisdiction where the CLEO signs. You can be sure of doing this by contacting an NFA dealer and asking him who signs and where.

[Ninja Monkey]

Originally posted by MakeMineaP99
What are the steps needed to get into Class III? Now I will be moving to free state, I might like to get involved in Class III. What tax stamp(s) do I need and what are all of these forms such as form 4? Do I need a special license to buy Class III? Any information about getting involved would be helpful. Thanks for helping the newbie.;a

Regards,
Dan

First of all, you need to be in a state that doesn't have any additional restrictions beyond what the feds have. IIRC, Indiana doesn't. Next, decide what you want to get (silencer, destructive device, machinegun, short-barrelled rifle or shotgun, or AOW). Machineguns have to have been registered before May 19, 1986, otherwise they're not legal for non-governmental agencies to own. If it's not a machinegun, it can be current manufacture. This means that machineguns can get real expensive (the old supply/demand thing), but prices on the other stuff are more reasonable.

If the item is in your state, you don't HAVE to have a dealer involved, you can transfer directly from one person to another once the ATF approves, but if it's your first time you probably should use a dealer anyway. If it's in another state, it has to be transferred to your dealer first, then to you. Each transfer takes a separate form, and the ATF will only appove one transfer after the other is done. IE, if you were going to buy a machinegun from me, I'd have to transfer it to my dealer (on a tax-paid form 4), then my dealer would transfer it to your dealer (on a tax-free form 3, because they're dealers), and then your dealer would transfer it to you (on another tax-paid form 4). If you found a dealer out of state that had what you want, it'd be two transfers (one form 3 dealer to dealer, and one form 4 from your dealer to you, and only one tax.) If your local dealer had it, it'd only be one form 4 transfer to you, and one tax.) The lower number of transfers means less times the ATF has to approve anything, which means less chances for them to drag their feet, which should mean less time between when you buy the item and when you actually can posess it.

To have an item transferred to you personally on a form 4 requires the chief law enforcement officer in your area to sign off on the form saying that there's no local law that they know of why you shouldn't have the item. The LEO can be your chief of police, sheriff, DA, a judge in a criminal court, etc. If you can't find anyone to that will sign (manu LEOs refuse), you can form a corporation and have the guns transferred to the corp's ownership. This doesn't require a LEO signoff or fingerprints or an FBI background check (which means the ATF generally processes the form faster.) However, depending on your states laws on corps, this can be a big pain. Also if you dissolve the corp, you have to sell the items.

Once you get the form signed, you send it with a check to the ATF (generally $200 for most items, $5 for AOWs,) and then wait 2-6 months for the ATF to process the forms. Then once the form is approved, you go pick up your item. So simple, isn't it? ;Q

I'm playing the waiting game right now, sent my first form 4 in a month and a half ago. Been buying accessories for my Uzi while waiting. And waiting. And waiting.