Something from the DOJ/AG that should get you thinking..
From the DOJ Attorney General today (27 CFR Part 479 [Docket No. ATF 41F; AG Order No. 3608-2016] RIN 1140-AA43)
Quote:
"The Department believes that the law provides that applicants do not have a property interest in the NFA firearm sought during the application period. Therefore, an NFA firearm is not the property of a transferee until the transferor receives a properly approved NFA Form 4.
A "protected property interest simply 'cannot arise in an area voluntarily entered into ... which, from the start, is subject to pervasive Government control."'"
Well - there you have it. That set of sentences completely idealizes the Govt's position on the matter. *You* have no property interests (therefore property rights) in something the Gov't says you have to have their permission to own (e.g. firearms).
The Gov't has just stated you have to have their permission to own firearms (granted NFA in this one context, but the concept is still applicable broadly). The Gov't has stated *explicitly* that firearms are "subject to pervasive Government control"
