Let's gloss right over the National Firearms Act of 1934.
The Democrats have been screaming for gun registration and bans since 1962. 1962-Call for Handgun registration ONLY! “Rifles will not be affected.”
The reason why the NFA of 1934 effectively banned short barreled rifles and short barreled shotguns by imposing a then outrageous $200 tax was because originally handguns were also supposed to be part of the $200 tax. Handguns were removed from the law at the last minute, but the SBS and SBR provisions remained.
The gun grabbers have always wanted to grab handguns.
***Let’s gloss right over the National Firearms Act of 1934.***
The only reason the Miller Decision passed muster is Miller never showed up to contest the SCOTUS case on the 1934 firearms act. It seems he was by then dead.
He had tried to go from Oklahoma to Arkansas to rob a local bank, using a sawed off shotgun. The shotgun was what the case was over.
https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/307us174
The record shows that no arguments were made and no evidence presented on behalf of Jack Miller or the Second Amendment. The Justice Department attorneys were able to present their case without any opposition.
http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0801/0801usvmiller.htm
Jack Miller, a bank robber and moonshiner with many enemies, felt the need to carry a sawed off shotgun without paying the tax.
He and his associate, Frank Layton, had the misfortune to be caught transporting it from Oklahoma to Arkansas and were arrested in June of 1938 by federal agents on charges of violating the Firearms Act.
Miller had no resources to finance his argument against the government’s appeal and it is doubtful that he had any interest in defending Constitutional rights. In fact, he died before the decision was rendered.
His body was discovered in April of 1939, with multiple .38 caliber bullet wounds. His own .45 pistol lay by his side with four rounds expended. Perhaps he had a legitimate need for that shotgun after all.