If you want to purchase a silencer, short barreled riffle, or machine gun the typical process involves filling out a form 4 and submitting the applicaiton to your local Chief Law Enforcement Officer.  They take your finger prints and do a background check to determine if you are a threat to society.  If the sheriff approves your application it will be submitted to the ATF.

The problems is that most of us live in an area where the local Sheriff will not approve any applications.  There are several ways to bypass the local approval process.  One of these is by the use of a NFA Firemars or Gun Trust. Many people attempt to use Quicken or a generic revocable trust, and although these will allow for the purcahse of the items, the can cause many cival and criminal liabilities for the purchaser and their family.

A typical trust is designed for the distribution and managment of furniture, cash, stocks, or other traditional assets.  These assets do not have the criminal penalties associated with the improper transfer, possession, or use that an item restricted by the National Firearms Act does.

Some of the issues a NFA trust addresses are:

1) Access to the items by your spouse or a friend;

2) Ability for additional people to use or be in possession of the items;

3) Ability for someone to review the transfer to your children, wait until they reach a mature age, and then determine if it is a good idea;

4) Look at the laws in effect at the time of your incapaicty or death prior to making a transfer;

5) Determine if your heir or family lives in the right location prior to giving them the items;

6) Give the successor trustss, who you can name cannot actually determine until your death, instructions on how to transfer, who they can transfer, and the ability to use the items.

To find our more about your state and the issues involved in the purchase of weapon or firearm restricted by the NFA click on your state link on the Gun Trust Lawyer website.