I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine concerning the availability of certain firearms. He was under the impression that it was illegal to purchase and own something like a .50 caliber BMG sniper rifle or a firearm (long gun or shotgun) under a certain length. Both of which are false and are a testament to the effectiveness of mass media and their agendas (but that's a topic for a different forum).
Let me first address .50 caliber sniper rifles.
It is completely legal to own one (in most states in the US) – though it is likely cost prohibitive for most people. All one needs do is locate a vendor that is selling one and complete a standard background check (as they would have to do to purchase any firearm). This standard background check for a long gun (read; not handgun – handgun laws are different and often include the aforementioned background check in addition to a 'cooling off' period of a few days) takes about 10 minutes and is done while you wait. Once complete, the purchase is made and you go about your day with your new firearm. Now in the case of a .50 caliber sniper rifle the firearm itself often cost a minimum of $3,000.00 for the low quality varieties to around $6,000.00 for a higher quality firearm. Ammunition often goes for around $5.00 per cartridge and of course, you'll want a scope for that new behemoth and high quality scopes range around $2,500.00 - $5,000 +/-.
Now let us consider the minimum length of a long gun allowed by law.
That figure is 26 inches – at least 16 inches of which must be the barrel length. But, there is a caveat to this. Just as with fully automatic, military-grade weapons, 'short-barreled rifles' and 'shotguns' can still be purchased and owned by a private individual like you or me, it's just that they must also have the appropriate paperwork filed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE).
Here is an example of an extremely effective long gun design that comes in at only 26.0 inches in overall length, 18 inches of which is the barrel:
Kel-Tec RFB: Bullpup configuration in .308 caliber (a cartridge commonly used in sniper rifles). Even though this rifle is only 26 inches in length, the compact bullpup configuration allows for a much shorter length without a reduction in accuracy. This firearm therefore, has an effective range of 600 yards – even though it is only 26 inches! If you increase the barrel length to 24 inches (which you can do for this firearm), you will increase the overall length to 32 inches and you will also increase the effective range to 1,000 yards.
And while we're at it, might as well provide an example of an extremely effective shotgun design that comes in at only 26.1 inches in overall length, 18.5 inches of which is the barrel:
Kel-Tec KSG: Pump action bullpup configuration in 12ga. Barrel length is as important to shotguns as it is to long guns. Often people seem to think that a 'sawed off' shotgun is particularly deadly. This can be the case at extremely short range because the shot will spread rapidly due to the shortened barrel. But what you've sacrificed in range you think you've made up for in effectiveness because of the larger spread. The thing is, the actual pressure (or power) behind each pellet is also diminished such that projectile penetration is not nearly as good and, if the target is wearing even a heavy leather coat, might not penetrate enough to stop the target. This is certainly the case with those .410 shotgun derringers – those things are effectively worthless at ranges greater than 5 feet.
Another interesting feature of note concerning the KSG, it has two magazines. This allows this shotgun to hold 14+1 rounds of 2 ¾ inch shotshells. Pretty impressive for such a small package!
So, in game terms (assuming the GM is playing in a realistic setting and not a homemade setting), here's what is to be learned from this post (aside from the realities of firearm ownership in the United States):
1) It is perfectly legal to purchase and own fully automatic, military-grade firearms in the majority of the US as long as you have the necessary paperwork on file with the BATFE. Even though it is legal, it will take months to file the paper work. A GM should not allow a PC to simply buy such a weapon from a vendor somewhere in a matter of moments (realistically and legally speaking – the black market and theft is of course, a completely different thing).
2) It is perfectly legal to purchase and own a .50 caliber sniper rifle in the majority of the US as long as you have the money to buy one and pass the standard background check. If a PC wanted to, they could walk into a gun store that is selling one and walk back out with the weapon in hand in less than a half hour.
3) And, many people think that a firearm (long gun or shotgun) that is only 26 inches in length is illegal to own. Not so. I know this for a fact since I own both of the examples I've listed above.
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Depends upon what period in U.S. history you are referring to and what state. Many people simply don't know that the Brady Bill that restricted those weapons for a time was repealed.
Also, various states have recently enacted their own gun regulations in response to the recent tragedies, each one different than the next. Some have loosened their laws and others have tightened them. So even if they're not a certain way in your area doesn't mean they're not that way in another.
Of course, it was my intention to provide a currently relevant post. So the period in US history is now.
As far as the content, I was sure to mention "...most states..." and indeed, my information is factual for most states. For a bit more clarity however, I'll add that the 50 caliber BMG sniper rifle detailed in the OP is illegal in California as of 2005 (though there is a version of the 50 caliber sniper rifle produced in 2010 that is now California legal - the older versions are not legal however). As well, to get around the California 'ban' the manufactures of the 50 caliber BMG simply created a different cartridge that was very similar - but not the same (the 408 Cheytac, the 416 Barrett, the 460 Steyr and the 50 DTC-EDM/510 DTC Europ). There are heavy restrictions on ownership in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois and Hawaii. It is legal to purchase and own as described in the OP everywhere else as of the time of this posting. It is also illegal to own in Washington DC (firearms are universally restricted in DC), but since DC is not a state I did not include it in any lists.
Similarly, the other firearms detailed in the OP are 100% legal to purchase and own in every state in the US as of the time of this posting.
Ascent is correct in intimating that in the near-future some of the states may change their laws and the details of the OP may therefore be out of date. As I am unable to see the future however, I am unable to write a useful post containing such future content. My intention was simply to aid GMs and players alike with current, factual information so that they could make their gaming experience(s) more realistic. That was all. :)