It wasn't actually an EO. It was part of the Firearms Owner Protection Act. Some Dildo Democrat stuck it in as an amendment during a committee hearing and the Dems refused to pass the bill without the Hughes Amendment. Reagan ultimately signed it because the NRA advised him the act was important to protect gun rights, which is partly true. What wasn't true was that the NRA told him the MG ban would be overturned by the court's in short order. That didn't happen and the NRA hasn't lifted a finger to make it so.Urban Ag said:
If we're being honest and as much as it pains me to say it, Reagan's EO banning new full autos post 87 (may have been 86) was much worse than Trump banning bump stocks. Probably my single biggest critique of his entire presidency and I consider him the GOAT of at least the 1960's to the present. In fact, in the wake of the Vegas shooting I thought the bump stock ban was kind of political genius because no one really gave a sh**, they're pretty much worthless, and it helped shut up the anti-gun left (and right) at least for a little while.
GHWB also EO banned several specific firearms which set another really bad precedent but history has soured me on the Bush's so I don't mind stating that at all.
That is my number one wish list item to be overturned. If you could at least buy a new MG under the NFA rules, it would make them a lot more accessible to law abiding citizens that aren't wealthy.
Even the NFA getting completely overturned it wouldn't necessarily end the ban and new machine gun sales for civilians. At least you can buy suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs for reasonable prices, even if the process is complete unconstitutional BS.
Both should be overturned immediately, but if I had my choice it would be the '86 ban.