Why are Machine Guns legal? What does anyone need with one?

Sgt Kelli Mays - It's neither necessary *OR* legal to sell a machine gun to an "ordinary" person. In certain instances, you can obtain the ability to own a fully automatic weapon for certain purposes (collectors, etc.) from the ATF, but it's a very intensive, lengthy, and expensive process. These are not the guns being used in the drive-by shootings that you're reading about, in spite of what the misinformed media tries to tell us. The weapons you are hearing about on the news are generally some crappy hack-job done with a hit off the 'ol crack pipe and a $2 file on the firing sear that keeps firing once the trigger is pulled even if you let go of it. Definitely NOT the same thing and most definitely NOT legal.

Sgt.Kelli Mays;I`m sure you have had your question answered and a whole lot more than you expected.Summed up,there are very few " machine guns" on the street.There is a big misunderstanding of Gun types.The anti gun folks think that the A in AR-16 means automatic,instead of it`s real meaning...ArmaLite.One topic that has been neglected is the money value in gun collections.So yes, some people have more than they can shoot.Being from Texas,I can`t say that I know anyone that doesn`t own a gun.I guess it never entered my mind to ask why anyone would need a certain type of gun.Anyway;A great and fun question.Thanks for asking!P.S. If Nancy Pelosi had had her way,I would have had my .22 taken away from me. The gun has a 17 round cylinder feed.

Good question, but a little off. Legal machine guns are extremely controlled in the US, and very, very expensive. Machine guns that you see used in street crimes are illegal. They are either illegally converted to full auto, or purchased on the black market from countries like Mexico. Since they are illegal to begin with, drafting additional laws banning various firearms is pointless. Criminals don't care, and so they ignore the fact that it is illegal.

Now, what about those legally owned machine guns? You know, the ones that us responsible American's can own for as little as $10,000. Plus a BAFTE background check. Plus an ATF Form 4. Plus a $200 SOT. Plus you can't live in certain states....you get the idea. Well, those people aren't out committing crimes, so who cares? There's not one single case where a legally owned machine gun was used in a murder.

Also, since you support the Second Amendment, you must know what it's for. The 2A protects all of our other rights enumerated in the Constitution. It says that civilians must maintain the ability to fight a tyrannical government should the worst come to pass. Machine guns are a part of that.

Sgt Kelli Mays
I think you've been pretty well educated on your misconceptions so I'll leave that one alone.

But to answer your question on why would I want to own a full auto rifle, because they're fun to shoot, plain and simple.

I'm saying anything bad against you because you are allowed to have your own opinions, but a machine gun is not a semi automatic gun. You have to have a special class 3 license to own a fully automatic weapon. Also myself do not use my weapons to go hunting. I take my AK and AR out to the range. It helps me relieve stress and I find nothing wrong with this. Both my weapons are semi automatic weapons. Thanks for reading.

Only collectors with special licenses are allowed to legally own a real machine gun. But your question, though well intentioned, IMO is off-based because in a FREE society of FREE citizens, no one should have to ever explain why they NEED a weapon, just the fact they WANT one should be enough reason. And if one should have to ask permission to own a weapon then we are no longer truly free. And THAT is why we have a 2nd Amendment.

They do not use machine guns in drive bys. a AK47 is not a machine gun. We hunt with them and use them for protection and the 2nd amendment means we have the right.

Sgt Kelli Mays Yes, you can own a machine gun after a pile of paper work and a very complete background check by the ATF. You need a class III fire arms lic. in order to buy one. Here is the catch, the guns have to have been made before they were banned, so they are old. Most of them will cost a small fortune, A gangster style tommy gun is only about $30,000. If a criminal wanted full auto they are not going to fork over the cash for a weapon that they likely do not have the money for. They will take a semi-auto and illegally modify it; being a criminal to begin with this should not be a problem for them, breaking the law that is.
Those of us who have fired light weapons on full auto know that it does not work like the movies. The recoil causes them to ride up rapidly and off target, thus the military now gives us 3 round burst.

All you have to have is no felony record, class III Lic., and ca$h, lots of it!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's a good question! And it isn't needed! For what? I don't think you can hunt with it! So what purpose does it serve?

Where are you at that machine guns are legal? My curiosity is piqued! Even sub-machine guns (SMGs) are typically banned (i.e., handheld automatic weapons such as the M-16A1 or Uzi). I don't recall being anywhere in the U.S. that anything more than semi-automatic (i.e., have to pull the trigger to fire each round) is legal for the average person. That's what's such a joke about most of the so-called assault weapon arguments in the media. With perhaps a few exceptions an AR-15 with laser sight and optical scope with a 30-round mag is no different than a .22 rifle with a 10-round magazine, or if someone's familiar with their weapon even a bolt-action rifle.
Some like the tactical-style semi-autos because it makes them feel big & bad, but many do just because they are now typically highly customizable so they can be made more comfortable, more accurate for hunting, whatever. Most civilians/non-gun folks just associate them as military-related because of how they look. But they're no more military than a civilian Hummer H1 rolling down the street painted black. The fundamental platform might be there, but overall it's not the same thing.
The main factor that could come into play is caliber of the round, but there are civilian rounds that are about the same level of effectiveness (or more in some cases).
But as mentioned in the article's blurb to actually own any kind of automatic weapon typically requires tons of red tape and proof of reason. Usually this is limited to proven law enforcement personnel (if that), and collectors who can prove their collectors and sometimes even have to prove the weapon is a collector-level item.
The FBI recently released their crime numbers for 2014. Once again shootings are down overall. The vast majority are criminals on criminals. Also, the very large majority of shootings involve handguns, not rifles. There were more people killed by hands and feet than all long guns combined (to include so-called assault weapons). So the large majority of the assault weapon issue is manufactured by the media and gun control advocates. The reason you primarily hear about 'assault weapon victims' is because that's what they want to report and what causes a stir, and more often than should be actually the case isn't even an assault weapon as they classify it.
There are also a large number of stories and instances where someone who is carrying a private firearm stops a situation that could be deadly, or greatly reduces the casualties (especially if the offender has a firearm). But these are rarely reported above the local level in the media, and sometimes only see the light of day through orgs that monitor police reports. Once both bad and good instances of firearm use are properly reported, and without sensationalizing a particular type that's far from the main issue, then I'll be able to take gun control advocates seriously.