I guess this guy is lucky

[FeebMaster]

considering he was facing a 10 year sentence.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040312/APN/403120988

A $10,000 fine and 9 months of home detention over a $200 tax violation on a gun that probably cost under $20, even today, to build. What's the world coming to?

Here's my favorite part:

<snip>

"U.S. Attorney Alice Martin said the sentence would be reviewed and that federal law "clearly prohibits the private possession of a machine gun.""

<snip>

I know I sleep more soundly at night knowing U.S. Attorneys know the law so well.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

1. Really lucky

Of course, he'll likely never own another firearm, but he did violate NFA of 1934.

[FeebMaster]

2. There's nothing stopping him

from owning another firearm. Sure it will be illegal, but that hardly stopped him from owning the sten.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

3. True enough

I should have said 'legally' owning another firearm.

[achtung_circus]

4. What "recreational purposes"? Or am I naive? nt

[FeebMaster]

5. I would imagine

he means shooting at targets and general plinking. Although you'd have to be awfully ballsy, or stupid, to go out plinking with an unregistered machine gun.

Gunning someone down in a drive by is one thing, the cops will probably never even catch you unless one of the people you're with rats you out. But to sit in one spot and shoot at targets? Soon as someone hears you they're going to call the cops.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

6. I would agree

going out plinking with an unregistered burp gun is beyond foolish.

[DoNotRefill]

8. I shoot machineguns recreationally.

it's a lot of fun.

[DoNotRefill]

7. The section she's talking about is no longer good law in the 9th Circuit..

It was struck down as unconstitutional in U.S. v. Stewart, just a short while ago.

[Young Socialist]

10. the 9th only ruled that it was OK for criminals

to make their own machine guns provided they are not for resale.

[slackmaster]

11. To be exempt an MG would have to be completely home-built

So that not a single part would have been involved in interstate commerce.

[Young Socialist]

9. a victimless crime poor guy,

still he shouldn't have done it and knew it was against the law but he probably didn't have the $3500 that a registered Sten goes for these days.