Topeka — There has been an increase in the number of gun shops that have a license to sell automatic weapons. But the shop owners say residents should not expect to see more heavy weapons on the street.
The new law took effect in July to allow the sale of more types of weapons, including those typically used by the military or law enforcement. The law brought Kansas in line with surrounding states.
Since then, 13 more gun shops have acquired a license, going from 32 to 45, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Nebraska has 17 licensees, Iowa has 21 and Missouri has 91.
The change was prompted by a December 2007 attorney general's opinion that said the previous state law didn't allow for the sale of certain automatic weapons.
Jerry Aday, owners of Holsters and More in Topeka, watched the law work its way through the Legislature and filed his application and $500 fee shortly after the law went into effect. He plans to use his permit to buy automatic weapons from outside Kansas and transfer them to law enforcement agencies, some of whom had trouble getting the weapons while the old state law was in question.
But Aday said residents won't be lining up for more firepower. "There's no market for them," he said.
Cost is the big factor, he said. Aday said a cheap automatic weapon could run $6,000, while a cheap M16 rifle, a common military weapon, could cost $16,000.
Requirements for residents to own the weapons could be another factor. The process requires a background check, local law enforcement approval, fingerprints, photographs, a $200 fee, a dictionary-sized book of regulations to follow and restrictions on where you can take the gun.
"If you have one of these, you've opened your house to 24-hour-a-day inspection," Aday said.
As of Dec. 31, there are 2,166 licensed automatic guns, including those owned by law enforcement agencies.
Comments
Flap Doodle 8 years, 7 months ago
IIRC, the federal registration of full-auto firearms for civilian ownership has been closed for decades. The market is chasing a limited number of registered guns. That is driving the prices up and up.
oldvet 8 years, 7 months ago
Not a high price for a full-auto weapon, once you have the proper papers and permits... but you can purchase a legal semi-auto and a kit/instructions to do it yourself for less... just a warning, though, it is illegal (Federal gun law violation) to own any semi-auto weapon (such as an M-16 knock-off) along with the necessary parts to convert it to full auto unless you have the full auto papers and permits. That is important to know... you must have a full auto permit to even own the capability, it doesn't have to be installed...
Janet Lowther 8 years, 7 months ago
Invictus, yes that is high. A new M-16 costs the government (or a law enforcement agency) something like $1200. If I remember correctly, no new full-auto weapons have been added to the registry since the '80s for public purchase. Since there are only a limited number of full-auto weapons legally available for the public to purchase (and no new ones being made available) therefore they bring a nearly insane premium.
George_Braziller 8 years, 7 months ago
Why are there ANY of them on the street? Automatic weapons aren't used for sport game hunting, they are designed to kill humans -- to kill lots of them and to do it very quickly. There is absolutely no need for them to be legal for anyone including anyone in law enforcement.---------------------------------------------------"But the shop owners say residents should not expect to see more heavy weapons on the street."
zzgoeb 8 years, 7 months ago
The continent was secured and the Natives exterminated with single-shot muzzleloaders...so much for fire power!!! If we all had on of these, there would still be mayhem. Cry-babies that fear they will "lose their guns" have been telling us this for, oh, 50-60 years!Ese, it's called a "jody" not a limerick...
timetospeakup 8 years, 7 months ago
beobachter - which part of the 2nd amendment "Shall not be infringed" do you not understand? We clearly have a rigt to arms.
beatrice 8 years, 7 months ago
The sky is falling!!!! The sky is falling!!!! Obama!!!! Obama!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!Since only righties have guns, yep indeedy, I wonder if suicides will go up if and when Obama is elected. Or do you think they will go up only after he is sworn in -- on a Koran, no less!!!!The sky is falling!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!
George_Braziller 8 years, 7 months ago
Oh please, give me a break. Your argument is more than lame. With your logic Great Grandma Jones could theoretically use her flour sifter to kill someone. Her "weapon" wasn't SPECIFICALLY designed to kill a lot of people really fast."People who can afford the automatic weapons look at them as you might see your custom golf clubs, your "Basstracker" fishing boat, your stamp collection, if any of those things interest you, or whatever your personal tastes are for collecting things. Many of what we look at as hobbies could be turned on someone else as a weapon, (well maybe not stamp collecting) but that would make the person dangerous, not the tool. "
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