# Have republicans on the state or federal level tried to make it easier to own Class III firearms **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 17, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953 "2016-12-17T18:34:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/41 "2017-02-27T19:18:35Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Oh yeah, [Indiana’s trying to eliminate handgun permits.](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-indiana-bill-gun-permits-20161225-story.html) That is, eliminate the requirement for them, not eliminate being able to obtain them. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/42 "2017-02-28T16:26:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I’d say about 10% or more of GOP voters are single issue gun voters. Even tho they have nothing against abortion, think Trump is a clown, dont want taxes cut for the rich, and no issues with Gay marriage, etc, the thought that “Obama is going to take our guns away!!!”:rolleyes: and that "Trump may be a clown but he’ll put in proGun SCOTUS judges’ made them vote him in. I bet it’s more than 10%… ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/43 "2017-02-28T16:48:20Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Not so much at the federal level but there’s been a lot of action at the state level. The biggest push as mentioned already is to remove restrictions against suppressors- not only because there’s no rational reason to ban them but because allowing them would be a positive good. > > The next item on the gun owner’s wish list is removing restrictions on short-barreled rifles and shotguns. Right now there are truly bizarre rules on what exactly makes something a “pistol” and what makes it an SBR. Again, no rational reason to ban them and lifting those bans would free gun owners from fear of prosecution because of inane technicalities like adding a foregrip to a firearm or having it’s barrel be 1/4 inch too short. That’s probably a good order of operations for NFA items, but in a general sense national reciprocity I bet takes higher priority over all of those things. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/44 "2017-02-28T19:33:03Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > I bet it’s more than 10%… You may well be right. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/45 "2017-03-01T22:12:35Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > That is, eliminate the requirement for them, not eliminate being able to obtain them. 😛 Yes, that’s what I meant. Thanks for clarifying. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/46 "2017-03-03T11:41:36Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > [This AR-15 is classified as a pistol.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnnhxUIE0f8) Just thought I’d toss it out there. Is the less-than-12" barrel the determining element distinguishing this from a rifle? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/47 "2017-03-06T22:41:26Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Is the less-than-12" barrel the determining element distinguishing this from a rifle? That plus the lack of a shoulder stock. If you attached a shoulder stock it would be a short barreled rifle (SBR) and would be Class III. The thing that looks like a shoulder stock apparently is not considered a shoulder stock even though it obviously can be used as one. There is a buffer tube that sticks out the back of the receiver when you remove the stock from a standard AR style rifle. The thing in the video must be considered a “buffer tube cover.” ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/48 "2017-03-06T23:16:21Z")
^ which is probably why Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey instituted an “I know it when I see it” definition of assault weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/49 "2017-03-10T22:10:18Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > The thing in the video must be considered a “buffer tube cover.” It’s called a wrist brace if you want to look one up for purchase. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/50 "2017-03-12T22:08:21Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > Legalizing suppressors sounds like a bad idea. It would make it way too easy to get away with murder if you could just shoot someone and the neighbors don’t hear anything. There is also pending legislation to equip knives with “l[oudeners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDgYBe3vcZY)”. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/51 "2017-04-05T01:15:23Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > Since the Republicans took control of the House and Senate in 2016, they are now pushing a bill to allow short barrelled rifles and shotguns in Iowa. > > It should pass. It passed our Senate today. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/52 "2017-04-05T16:41:02Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > It passed our Senate today. Mostly useless due to Fed restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/53 "2017-04-05T17:22:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Mostly useless due to Fed restrictions. If I’m looking at the right bill, these are COMPLETELY illegal in Iowa, the law seeks to allow people to buy or make them per the NFA. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/54 "2017-04-05T21:12:00Z")
Yeah, Iowa’s isn’t a “thumb-your-nose-at-the-ATF” bill, it’s a let-Iowans-own-weapons-in-compliance-with-federal-law bill. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/55 "2017-04-06T19:37:01Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yeah, Iowa’s isn’t a “thumb-your-nose-at-the-ATF” bill, it’s a let-Iowans-own-weapons-in-compliance-with-federal-law bill. Unfortunately yes. We will still have to pay the tax and endure the background checks and long wait times. It’s nice to be a part of the larger club of states that allow such things. Suppressors last year, SBR and SBS this year and hopefully select fire/full auto next year. ---
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/56 "2017-04-13T15:20:09Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > Legalizing suppressors sounds like a bad idea. It would make it way too easy to get away with murder if you could just shoot someone and the neighbors don’t hear anything. I used to think this, too. Then I listened to what a suppressed firearm actually sounds like. It’s not silent. It’s not even quiet. I’m fairly anti-gun, politically, but if we’re going to have them, I’m all for having suppressors. Banning them is like banning car mufflers because we’re worried that people won’t know a car is coming up behind them. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953/57 "2017-04-13T19:12:01Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > Unfortunately yes. We will still have to pay the tax and endure the background checks and long wait times. It’s nice to be a part of the larger club of states that allow such things. Suppressors last year, SBR and SBS this year and hopefully select fire/full auto next year. Signed by the Governor today! Most of the new laws don’t go into effect until 7/1. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-republicans-on-the-state-or-federal-level-tried-to-make-it-easier-to-own-class-iii-firearms/774953.md?page=2)