Dolf Goldsmith discusses two key events in the US that significantly raised public awareness and regulatory scrutiny of destructive devices: a bazooka round fired at the UN and a bank robbery involving a 20mm anti-tank gun. These incidents, occurring before 1968, prompted increased focus on controlling such weapons.
Two pivotal events in the US before 1968 significantly boosted public awareness and regulatory focus on destructive devices: a bazooka round fired at the UN building and a bank robbery where a 20mm anti-tank gun was used to blast open a vault.
The Supreme Court denied review in US v. Peterson, a case challenging the National Firearms Act (NFA) as applied to suppressors. The Fifth Circuit's ruling, which upheld the NFA by likening it to a 'shall issue' licensing scheme, now stands as precedent in that circuit. This decision has significant implications for future Second Amendment challenges to firearms regulations, potentially allowing broader government control over protected arms under the guise of objective licensing.
A federal court ruling by the 11th Circuit in United States v. Maxim Alsenat determined that machine guns are not protected by the Second Amendment. The court's reasoning, based on the 'common use for lawful purposes' standard established in Heller, could have broader implications for other firearm categories. The ruling emphasizes historical regulation and the classification of machine guns as dangerous and unusual weapons.
