By 
The right to bear and bear arms is important in maintaining personal protection, but certain weapons have been deemed more dangerous than good. Since the passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934, the federal government and several states have been regulating the trade in firearms and the types of weapons that citizens may own, carry, or control. Each state has individual restrictions that serve to protect the public against weapons that have been deemed dangerous.
The government has deemed that certain types of weapons have simply been associated with illegality and are not necessary for recreational use or personal protection. Due to this status and in the name of legal behavior, certain weapons have been deemed illegal. The following list indicates some of the weapons and destructive devices that are not legal for the possession of ordinary citizens:
- short barreled rifles
- short barrel shotguns
- machine guns
- mortars
- destructive devices
- molotov cocktails
- cane guns
- H&R pistols
These guns, among others, are illegal unless they meet the standards for “antique” firearms, which includes any firearm made before 1918 in many states. This rating protects antique trades that are important sources of income and investment for many people.
The definition of short-barreled firearms generally includes any shotgun or rifle that has a barrel length of 18″ or less. These firearms are generally modified for the purpose of concealment and, for this reason, have been deemed unsafe for Public Possession Concealment is one of the most common features of weapons that have been deemed illegal for civilian possession and use.