logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Is Brie cheese made with unpasteurized milk illegal in the US, while a machine gun with six rotating barrels is legal?

By Dean Miller
NO

A social media post that attempts to make a point by comparing food and fire arms regulations leaves out important context.

Both Brie and machine guns are regulated.

Since 1986 federal law has forbidden importation of French Brie made with unpasteurized milk. But, a U.S. resident of any age can make any cheese they want, including Brie, with raw milk. Plus, most U.S. groceries stock domestic Brie made with pasteurized milk.

Meanwhile, automatic weapons can only be owned or made by U.S. adults who pass strict requirements for a Federal Firearms License, which can take months.

According to the most recent federal statistics, in 2019 there were 52,193 individuals (out of the 2019 U.S. population of 328.2 million) with the Federal Firearms License required to legally own a fully automatic firearm.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email