Firearms Articles

October 14, 2009

Free NRA Freedom Membership

I just received an email from Wayne LaPierre asking that I let our readers know about a Free Membership in the NRA that they are offering.

This free introductory NRA membership comes with a subscription to our bi-weekly e-newsletter, The NRA Freedom Times, valuable member discounts and free admission to NRA’s Annual Show which features over five acres of guns, gear and outfitter displays all for free.

If you know any non NRA members have them sign up for a free membership so that we can all work together to protect our rights.

October 8, 2009

What is a NFA Firearms Trust?

by David M. Goldman

WHAT IS AN NFA FIREARMS TRUST

NFA Firearms (also called Title II Firearms) are guns and other items regulated by the National Firearms Act (the “NFA”). Many people mistakenly refer to them as “Class 3” firearms or weapons. The NFA regulates the sale, use, possession, and transfer of machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, silencers, destructive devices, and AOWs.

In most states, some or all of these items are LEGAL to own. In addition to state regulation, federal law regulates these items under the NFA. Individuals, business entities, and trusts are permitted to purchase NFA firearms if allowed by state law. To obtain permission to transfer or make these items, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (the “BATFE” or “ATF”) requires completion of a Form1 or Form 4 along with payment of $200 for a tax stamp.

October 6, 2009

Why Do I Need an NFA Firearms Trust?

by David M. Goldman

WHY DO I NEED AN NFA FIREARMS TRUST?

No CLEO Signature Required

The ATF requires that all individuals obtain approval from their Chief Law Enforcement Officer (the “CLEO”) as part of the application process to obtain a Title II firearm from another individual or Class 3 dealer. Many CLEOs around the country are refusing sign or even acknowledge the ATF Forms. There is no legal remedy in most states to force the review of these forms. If using an NFA Firearms Trust to purchase a weapon, the Form 4 does not require the CLEO’s signature.

October 4, 2009

Supreme Court to Hear 2A Case: McDonald v. Chicago

by David M. Goldman

The Supreme Court has recently decided to hear the landmark Second Amendment case of McDonald v. Chicago. This case will address the application of the Second Amendment to the states through either the Due Process clause or the Privileges or Immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case has major implications for the legality of restrictive gun laws not only in Chicago, but also in other cities across the United States. The decision to hear the case, which will be argued early next year, gives Second Amendment advocates across America hope that this fundamental freedom will not be infringed by unreasonable state and local laws.

Previously the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the Second Amendment does not apply to state and local governments. That opinion left in place the current ban on the possession of handguns in Chicago.

Many legal scholars believe that the Seventh Circuit should have followed the lead of the earlier Ninth Circuit panel decision in Nordyke v. Alameda County, which found that those cases don’t prevent the Second Amendment from applying to the states through the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. To the contrary, a proper incorporation analysis supports application of the Second Amendment to the States.

September 11, 2009

Mayors Against Illegal Gun – 50 Florida Mayors remain members

by David M. Goldman

From the NRA:
Despite its very misleading name, this national group of anti-gun mayors has lobbied Congress against national reciprocity of state Right-to-Carry permits, against much-needed reform of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), for regulating gun shows out of existence, and for repealing the Tiahrt Amendment that protects the privacy rights of law-abiding gun owners and limits disclosure of sensitive firearm trace data to protect law enforcement personnel and protect lawful gun manufacturers from bogus lawsuits.

You can contact them by using the information provided on this Map. Please call , email and write your mayor today and ask them to support law abiding gun owners by disassociating themselves with Bloomberg and “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” Continue reading

August 31, 2009

Florida Man Arrested for Constructive Possession of an SBR

by David M. Goldman

NFA firearms and Constructive Possession. Some said it would never happen, but it seem that just recently Jesus Amador was arrested for possession / Constructive possession of an SBR.

Florida law does not allow individuals to possess the pieces to readily build an SBR, SBS, or Machine Gun unless permitted to do so under Federal law. While he may have been enticed by the police to take an action that he would not have taken, he eventually showed up to unknowingly sell the items to a police officer. Upon doing so 7 police officers at gun point slammed him to the ground and arrested him (as reported by Joshua Prince on his gun blog and by Mr Amador on Florida Gun Trader)

While some may say that this is a possession issue and not constructive possession, the fact is that constructive or actual possession are only ways to prove possession and as such there may be little significance between the two.

August 30, 2009

NFA Trusts: Silencer Manufacture Provides Invalid Forms to Clients for Title II Purchases

by David M. Goldman

While many dealers provide Trusts and help clients fill our Trust Documents ( a violation of law in most states), this was the first time I had run across a Manufacture of Title II firearms who was providing trusts to clients. This Trust was not being completed by the Class 3 manufacture, but was a Fill in the blank form that was supplied by a silencer manufacture. It had a place to print your name, date, pick successor trustee’s and sign. There was no place to witness ( a requirement in many states). While the trust appeared to be better than some forms we have seen, it will missing some of the schedules. The main schedule that was missing was the Schedule of Beneficiaries. It was not evident that one was necessary and as such the trusts we were reviewing did not contain them.

As we have discussed before, a beneficiary is an essential element to a trust and in most cases the failure to include a beneficiary who is different from the creator will cause a trust to be invalid.

This trust, as with many Quicken or Legal Zoom trusts failed to address the firearms and the many unique issues that arise when dealing with Firearms. If a valid trust would have been created, it could have transferred a bank account, chair, picture on the wall, or most any item without problem, but would have not been a good idea to use for a firearm.

July 22, 2009

Birthplace Now Required for Background Check

by David M. Goldman

Keep your information private by purchasing firearms with a NFA Trust.

Beginning June 29, 2009, the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) section is requiring that place of birth be provided for all FBI-initiated transactions.

There are claims that this addition to the NICS will be valuable for the following reasons:

July 7, 2009

Free Gun Rights Bumper Sticker

by David M. Goldman

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is offering free bumper stickers nationwide by calling them at 425-454-4911 or visiting their website.

June 25, 2009

Florida Friends of NRA

by David M. Goldman

In an effort to support the NRA, the Law Office of David M. Goldman PLLC has donated a NFA Gun Trust to be auctioned off at each of the 13 remaining NRA Fund Raising Banquets in Florida. Please help support the NRA by attending one of these banquets. Contact Laura Watson with questions at 904-348-8020.