Purty auto-rifles, but they were restricted in 1934.
Thompson tried to sell it as a "varmit" gun after WW I sales dried up. then came
The NFA was originally enacted in 1934. Similar to the current NFA, the original Act imposed a tax on the making and transfer of firearms defined by the Act, as well as a special (occupational) tax on persons and entities engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing, and dealing in NFA firearms. The law also required the registration of all NFA firearms with the Secretary of the Treasury. Firearms subject to the 1934 Act included shotguns and rifles having barrels less than 18 inches in length, certain firearms described as “any other weapons,” machine guns, and firearm mufflers and silencers.
The NFA was originally enacted in 1934.
www.atf.gov
General John T. Thompson, a graduate of West Point, began his research in 1915 for an automatic weapon to supply the American military. World War I was dragging on and casualties were mounting. Having served in the Army's ordnance supplies and logistics, General Thompson understood that greater firepower was needed to end the war.
Thompson was driven to create a lightweight, fully automatic firearm that would be effective against the contemporary machine gun. His idea was "a one-man, hand held machine gun. A trench broom!" The first shipment of Thompson prototypes arrived on the dock in New York for shipment to Europe on November 11, 1918, the day that the War ended.
In 1919, Thompson directed Auto Ordnance to modify the gun for nonmilitary use. The gun, classified a "submachine gun" to denote a small, hand-held, fully automatic firearm chambered for pistol ammunition, was officially named the "Thompson submachine gun" to honor the man most responsible for its creation.
With military and police sales low, Auto Ordnance sold its submachine guns through every legal outlet it could. A Thompson submachine gun could be purchased either by mail order, or from the local hardware or sporting goods store.
While Auto Ordnance was selling the Thompson submachine gun on the open market in the '20s, Gen. Thompson was uncomfortably aware of what the guns could do if in the wrong hands. To his distress, the submachine gun turned out to be the weapon chosen by gangsters.
The "Tommy Gun" gun, literally, made the '20s roar. Possessing tremendous firepower, the Thompson submachine gun was an effective weapon. The Thompson was used by gangsters, such as Al Capone, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson.
QUALITY GUNS Thompson Submachine Gun General John T. Thompson, a graduate of West Point, began his research in 1915 for an automatic weapon to supply the American military. World War I was dragging on and casualties were mounting. Having served in the Army’s ordnance supplies and logistics...
www.auto-ordnance.com
Been to his home.
Julia Parker was the mother of the famous firearm inventor. John T. Thompson (1860-1940). Thompson’s father was a colonel in the Union army during the Civil War, having graduated from West Point in New York in 1851. Much like his father, Thompson would go on to attend West Point as well, graduating in 1882. After being promoted to 2nd lieutenant, Thompson would be assigned to the army Ordinance department in 1890.
(See the NKyTribune story on John T. Thompson here)
Part 52 of our series, “Resilience and Renaissance: Newport, Kentucky, 1795-2020.” By Jacob Koch Special to NKyTribune For the last 44 years, the Thompson House at 24 East Third Street in Newport has been a place that has garnered much attention for musical acts. It has drawn many national acts...
www.nkytribune.com
It is time to update the rules.
www.armscontrol.org
