TItile II Firearms / Class 3 SOT

August 30, 2016

Iowa (IA) What NFA Firearms can I own? Updated 3/31/16

Iowa NFA Class 3 firearms
There are several type of Title II firearms which are sold by FFL dealers with a Class 3 SOT license. These items are restricted by the National Firearms Act as well as Iowa state law.

Each state can impose additional restrictions on the sale, purchase, and transfer of NFA firearms (Title II) in addition to the compliance that is required with the National Firearms Act.

In Iowa you can use a Gun Trust or NFA Trust to own the following items that are regulated the the National Firearms Act – (See the limitations below for NFA firearms except suppressors)

Suppressors / Silencers (legal for civilian and individual ownership including Gun Trusts on 3/31/2016)
Machine Guns*
Other Weapon (AOW)*
Destructive Devices (DD)*
Short Barreled Shotguns (SBS)*
Short Barreled Rifles (SBR)*

March 28, 2014

Michigan (MI) What NFA Firearms can I own? Updated 3/28/14

by David M. Goldman

Michigan NFA Class 3 firearms

There are several type of Title II firearms which are sold by Class 3 SOT dealers that are restricted by the National Firearms Act.

Each state can impose additional restrictions on the sale, purchase, and transfer of Title II firearms in addition to the compliance that is required with the National Firearms Act.

In Michigan you can own the following Title II Firearms that are regulated the the National Firearms Act:

Machine Guns
Suppressors
Any Other Weapon (AOW) (only some)
Destructive Devices (DD)
Short Barreled Shotguns (SBS) (See Below but Legal as of 3/28/14)
Short Barreled Rifles (SBR) (See Below but Legal as of 3/28/14)

In Michigan you cannot own the following NFA restricted items.

some AOW’s like Tasers or Stun Guns by private citizens whether or not they are class 3 items or the individual has a CCW permit

The Michigan State Police put together a legal update on SBR and SBS which describes the differences between those over 26 inches and those under 26 inches.
Continue reading

February 13, 2014

ATF Forms Processing Time

by David M. Goldman

Today the ATF released new processing times based upon December 2013. The are now reporting the the average times for processing an ATF Form 1 to make and register a firearms is 9 months and the average time on an ATF Form 4 to transfer and register a NFA firearm in 9 months. We have seen significantly reduced times when applying electronically. Below are the times for each type of transfer and or application as reported by the ATF. It is interesting to see that they are taking 3 months to approve / process a transfer on a Form 3 and 2 months on a form 2. That means, it is taking ATF 2 months to approve the manufacture and 3 months to approve the transfer to a dealer. More than 5 months are required just to make and send a suppressor to your dealer so that you can wait an additional 9 months to take it home. The ATF will update this information every 90 days so we can see the trend.

As more people file electronically, we could start to experience longer wait times but for now we are hearing that many electronic Form 4s and Form 1s are taking between 3-6 months instead of 9-12 months for the traditional forms.
ATF times1.jpg

August 8, 2013

California (CA) What NFA Firearms can I own? Updated

by David M. Goldman

California NFA Class 3 firearms
There are several type of Class 3 items that are restricted by the National Firearms Act.

Each state can impose additional restrictions on the sale, purchase, and transfer of class 3 firearms in addition to the compliance that is required with the national Firearms Act.

In California you can own the following items that are regulated the the National Firearms Act

July 22, 2013

ATF requests Public Comments on Form 5320.1

by David M. Goldman

The BATFE released a 60 day notice notice to make changes to the ATF Form 5320.1. This form is used to make or asemble a Title II Firearm under the National Firearms Act.

The changes would allow applicatnts to pay the transfer ta by credit card or debit card, and combine information currently captured on another form.

Here is a copy of what was published in the Federal Register Today under Notices

August 13, 2012

Legal Silencers in Illegal Locations

by David M. Goldman

While a Gun Trust or other forms of ownership can allow you to purchase Silencers or other Title II firearms in states where they are legal, it is important to realize that just because you or a trust own a Silencer or other Title II firearm, you do not have the ability to take those items to states where they are illegal to possess.

For example silencers are not legal to purchase, own, transfer, or use in Illinois. Recently an individual was arrested for threatening police and possession of an illegal silencer. The silencer may have been legally purchased but its presence in Illinois is a crime and will make the silencer illegal.

While it sounds like Gali, the individual with the illegal silencer, is in a lot of trouble, the additional penalties for possession of a silencer could add up to more than 10 years in jail and a $250,000 penalty plus seizure of the vessel (his car) that the illegal silencer was found in.

July 25, 2012

Free NFA Gun Trust found to be invalid

by David M. Goldman

This week I have received two trusts from potential clients who sent them in for review that were invalid. Even if ATF approved a Form 1 or Form 4 transfer to these trusts, anyone in possession of the TItle II firearms would be illegally in possession of them. Once person already had 3 items in their possession and 2 more on the way.

Both trusts claimed to be gun trusts but were obviously not intended for firearms much less those subject to the NFA and contained many of the traditional language found in a trust designed for managing financial assets.

While in some ways the language seemed to be slightly better than a Quicken trust (except for the fatal flaws that made them defective) they only briefly mentioned the NFA or guns in the trust and gave no guidance based on state or federal restrictions of firearms based on the geography of the transfer or the legal status of the people involved with the trust or whether the beneficiary was legally able to be in possession of the firearms based on the unknown circumstances of the future. While all of this may sound complicated, a real Gun Trust like one provided by a Gun Trust Lawyer® will deal with all of these issues and more.

July 17, 2012

Sheriff will not sign Form 4’s: Recommends using NFA Gun Trust

by David M. Goldman

St.johns_sheriff.jpg Recently I was interviewed by Sheldon Gardner of the St. Augustine Record regarding an article about the sheriff deciding not to sign Form 4’s for TItle II transfers: Want to buy a silencer, sawed-off shotgun or explosives? Sheriff will no longer help.

While sheriffs all over the country are refusing to provide the CLEO sign off required for individual ownership of Title II firearms using ATF Form 4‘s and ATF Form 1‘s, the St. Johns Sheriff is one of the few who does not appear to be trying to stop ownership. The Sheriff’s office is recommending using a NFA Gun Trust. Sgt. Chuck Mulligan stated that “In no way shape or form is the sheriff stopping them or hindering them from buying these items.”

As Gun Trust Lawyers®, we have provided many residents of St. Johns count and residents of almost every state Gun Trusts to help them protect their privacy, avoid the CLEO and fingerprint requirements, and help manage their NFA and regular firearms during their life and upon their passing. Many police officers in these areas have also used our NFA Gun Trusts to acquire Title II firearms for personal and work related use.

July 14, 2012

Do I Need a Class 3 License to Buy a Silencer?

by David M. Goldman

A Class 3 license is a license that a dealer obtains to sell Title II Firearms. Many individuals incorrectly confuse the terms Class 3 and Title II. We even see some lawyers making the same mistake. Class 3 SOT is a license to sell. Title II is classification of firearm that a Class 3 SOT may sell.

Title II firearms include silencers, short barrel rifles or shotguns, machine guns, AOWs and destructive devices.

So the answer is no! You do not need a Class 3 license to buy a silencer or other Title II firearm unless you are a dealer and wanting to purchase them for resale. If your documents do not use the correct terms, the people who wrote them may not understand the NFA, ATF and issues relating to the purchase, possession, transfer, and use of Title II firearms.

June 1, 2012

Michigan (MI) What NFA Firearms can I own? Updated

by David M. Goldman

Michigan NFA Class 3 firearms There are several type of Class 3 items that are restricted by the National Firearms Act.

Each state can impose additional restrictions on the sale, purchase, and transfer of class 3 firearms in addition to the compliance that is required with the national Firearms Act.

Michigan has several laws dealing with the registration, ownership, and possession of firearms that are changing in January 2009. In Michigan you can own the following items that are regulated the the National Firearms Act: