Denton Criminal Lawyer

Machine Gun Ownership in Texas

Texas is one of the more permissive states when it comes to gun ownership, but that freedom can mean that specific permissions and firearm bans can lead to some confusion. Unlike other states, Texas state laws allow the ownership of handguns, rifles, shotguns, assault rifles, and even machine guns.

However, while the state government may not have many limitations placed on their citizens, the federal government has restricted ownership of machine guns, and has previously limited the ownership of assault rifles. Many of these bans disallow the manufacture of that type of gun, limiting the number of guns by those acquired prior to the ban. In the case of machine gun regulations, strict laws oversee the transfer and registration of machine guns.

If you have been charged in connection to a firearm violation, knowing about your rights and legal options can help you set up a solid defense. Contact the Denton criminal defense lawyers of Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560 to learn more about local, state, and federal gun law overlaps.

What Constitutes a Machine Gun?

The federal standards for a machine gun state that the firearm fires, in a single pull of the trigger, multiple rounds of ammunition without requiring manual reloading. Under this definition, machine guns can possibly include:

• sub-machine guns
• machine pistols
• fully-automatic shotguns
• modified assault rifles
• light machine guns

Although common parlance equates a machine gun to a large, action movie-styled automatic rifle, the standards set by the federal government include a wider number of weapons, some of which are legally available under civilian specifications.

Contact Us

If you have questions concerning machine gun laws, an experienced legal adviser can help you today. Contact the Denton criminal defense attorneys of Alexander & Associates by calling 972-420-6560 to learn more about firearm laws in Texas.