Government Cracks Down on 3 Types of Rapid-Fire Shotguns

On the same day that the Brady gun-control law took effect across the nation, the Clinton Administration Monday placed new restrictions on the purchase of three types of rapid-fire shotguns that Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen called “destructive devices, pure and simple.”

Bentsen announced the reclassification of the “street sweeper,” “striker” and USAS-12 during a press conference held at a District of Columbia police station. Buyers and current owners of the weapons will have to undergo extensive screenings and certification, and new taxes will be levied on manufacturers, dealers and purchasers.

“Effective tomorrow morning, these weapons will be classified just what they are: machine guns,” Bentsen said Monday.

Among the new taxes imposed on the guns are a $1,000 annual tax on manufacturers, a $500 annual license tax on dealers of the guns and a $200 transfer tax on future sales. The Treasury Department estimates that there are about 18,000 of the weapons in the United States.

Buyers and current owners will be required to register the guns with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in addition to undergoing full background checks that involve fingerprinting, photographs and certification from a law enforcement officer.

Bentsen also announced that the Brady law, requiring a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases, was in full effect.