Joe Biden says Americans aren’t allowed to own tanks… so the Wall Street Journal publishes an article about private tank owners. Turns out, not only are there private tank owners, there are private tank brokers. Next in line for the presidency – think about it.
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Maybe Joe saw this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnWgCzCR8Gc
I saw a tank on the side of a house the other day while out riding my bike. No effort was being made to conceal it, I should call Plugs and give him a heads up. Speaking of heads up.... Bidey gots his head up in his a**.
I was tentatively associated for a while with a British - side reenactment group, and one of their units was WW2 era. They had a big armored car with a Sten gun mounted on top, which had been modified to make an authentic look and sound with propane (hank Hill woulda been proud!). Oh my was that realistic! They took that in parades. And unless I'm mistaken, there are WW2 reenactors who have tanks for the battlefield -- not originals, of course, and I'm not sure how sturdy they are, but I've seen pictures that look impressive enough!
Hey, check these out!
http://youtu.be/iNL68hTHTFg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-UPjFON9KE
http://youtu.be/NhOKdJuNq0U
http://youtu.be/xp-92dWSqWQ
I know Joe 'physically' lives here in the USA, yet I wonder 'mentally' where the hell he is?
Mars,
Out back of the crapper.
Joe Biteme might not know crap about owning a tank, but he knows all about not taking ownership of his and "Dear Leader's actions.
Automatic weapons require a class 3 permit. It's a long process that involves more intense background checks and a $200 tax stamp per automatic firearm.
In 1986 Bill Clinton changed the laws regarding fully automatic firearms, for a civilian to own a full auto the firearm must have manufactured before 1986.
So because only a finite number of full autos were produced before 86 the price rose past the ability of most shooters to afford.
A pre 86 M16 for example run about $10-12 thousand dollars, a WW2 Thompson about $15 thousand and a MP5 will cost you about $17 thousand.
However some full autos cost much less, a WW2 M2 carbine is roughly $5 thousand, MAC 10s or Rising machine guns are all in the $5-7 thousand range.
Those firearms must be on whats called a form 4 or be "transferable", modern post 1986 automatic firearms are only available as "dealer samples" or law enforcement. I can't recall the form number for transferring dealer samples.
But basically a dealer may posses a post 1986 auto but is very limited to whom it can be sold or transferred to.
A mortar tube is legal to own but it requires a licence to posses a "destructive device", the same $200 tax stamp applies.
However if you can find live rounds, each round is also subject to the $200 tax stamp on top of the cost per round.
I''m not positive but I don't think possessing high explosive rounds are permitted under any conditions.
Some fully automatic firearms fall under whats called a "curio and relic" or "C&R" Licence, form 7 I believe.
Those firearms are considered antique so less paperwork is required.
For some reason a antique machine gun is considered less lethal than a modern version.
I'm not %100 positive about any of this information but I know I'm close, I have friends with full auto firearms so I hear about the process's but have never applied or have personal experience.
It's in the ball park however, you get the idea anyway :)
Unfortunately for all involved, the 1986 changes were during the Reagan administration. Then GHW Bush banned the import of 'assault rifles' and gave up his NRA life membership. I remember the big change when the ban of new manufacture select fire guns came in.
Of course Drunken Uncle Joe is a babbling fool, with no idea what he's talking about. Check out these guys, right near where I live.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/assignment_7&id=7356734
When I was working on the expansion of the airport in Mecca, CA, I used to hang out after work with a guy that owned a Mig-21. He said it cost him $1500 every time he took it up for a quick trip around the patch.
http://www.military-heat.com/27/military-jets-sale-civilian-market/
Tanks, grenade launchers and flame throwers don't require any special weapons permits! The big gun and any full auto require the special dispensations, but that's it. Tanks are tractors, basically. Exploding grenades for your launcher may be difficult to buy, and probably require some extra paper. Machine guns are still legal if one is willing to expose themselves to the federales and their licenses, but if you can afford it and really want to, why not? These progs are really pushing hard and God help us if they take congress in 2014.
How about mortars? :-)
This is actually almost a trick question. Launch tubes, yes, I'm pretty sure. The mortar is the projectile. Explosive destructive devices require special license.
Plugs stepped into it again. Tried to bull shit the people and got it thrown back in his face.
At one time I had an opportunity to own a Sherman. At the time the cost was $2600 from a yard in Indiana. The arrangements for transportation were all set up and everything was a go.
Until I measured my barn and realized the door was small, the structure would not support a hoist capable of handling the weight and I did not have the necessary tools for such a large piece of machinery.
As usual, Joe is wrong.
What year was that opportunity in Paden?
Seems to me it was 1990. we were just married and the wife was pregnant with our first girl.
At the time I was a mechanic for Chrysler and was still collecting WW2 memorabilia and firearms.
The kids ended that...
I had a Vette then that I would have sold for that Sherman. Thanks Paden.
Get the right hoist, and build a pole barn around it!