Texas law generally prohibits intentionally or knowingly possessing, manufacturing, transporting, repairing, or selling a machine gun.1 However, it is a defense to prosecution if the machine gun was properly registered under federal law.2
Federal law requires machine guns to be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and generally prohibits the transfer or possession of machine guns manufactured after May 19, 1986.3 In December 2018, ATF finalized a rule to include bump stocks within the definition of a machine gun subject to this federal law, meaning that bump stocks will be generally banned as of March 26, 2019.4
See our Machine Guns policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.