The Hughes Amendment closed the machine gun registry to new civilian guns in 1986.
Machine guns made after May 19, 1986 cannot be transferred to or owned by civilians.
Machine guns lawfully registered before that date can still be transferred under the NFA.
EnactedMay 19, 1986
Law18 USC 922(o)
SponsorRep. William J. Hughes (D-NJ)
Part ofFOPA (PL 99-308)
Timeline
- 1934The National Firearms Act requires registration and a tax for machine guns.
- April 10, 1986The House adopts the Hughes Amendment by voice vote during final debate on the Firearm Owners Protection Act. Gun owners still dispute whether it should have received a recorded vote.
- May 19, 1986President Ronald Reagan signs the Firearm Owners Protection Act, Public Law 99-308, with the amendment included.
- After 1986The supply of transferable machine guns is frozen at the guns registered before the cutoff, and their prices climb.
- August 21, 2024A federal district judge in Kansas rules the ban unconstitutional in a criminal case, citing the Bruen decision.