The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - US vs Olofson -misfire semi-auto = machine gun

HvyMtl · February 4, 2009, 12:00 AM

The critical issue here is the DEFINITION used.

The definition used for machine gun - which got the conviction, (summarizing) any firearm that fires more than one round per trigger pull, even if the firearm is malfunctioning, is a machine gun.

THAT IS THE CRITICAL issue - because, if the conviction is allowed to stand, anyone with a malfunctioning semi-auto firearm (say a Taurus 24/7, or a Glock, or a FAL, or M1a, or AR15, etc.) that shoots more than one round when the trigger is pulled once is in violation of the law and can be arrested... for a defective gun.

Gun shop owners, how would you like to have to report every defective gun that does this to the ATF?

Do any of you think for one moment innocent people will not be arrested under the new precedent? Anyone not think the ATF or Justice Dept are pro-gun ownership and wont use this?

True, the fellow may not be the hero Lou Dobbs makes him out to be. But the definition used will replace the present, more realistic one. Having the guy go down under a poor interpretation of the law does no law abiding citizen any good, even if he would be guilty under the older, more realistic view of what a machine gun is...

It is present news as his appeal process is presently going on. Arguments have recently been heard.

Side note: Who woulda thought CNN and Lou Dobbs would be so pro 2nd A???

February 4, 2009, 12:00 AM	#7
HvyMtl Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2009 Location: Nashvegas, TN Posts: 228	The critical issue here is the DEFINITION used. The definition used for machine gun - which got the conviction, (summarizing) any firearm that fires more than one round per trigger pull, even if the firearm is malfunctioning, is a machine gun. THAT IS THE CRITICAL issue - because, if the conviction is allowed to stand, anyone with a malfunctioning semi-auto firearm (say a Taurus 24/7, or a Glock, or a FAL, or M1a, or AR15, etc.) that shoots more than one round when the trigger is pulled once is in violation of the law and can be arrested... for a defective gun. Gun shop owners, how would you like to have to report every defective gun that does this to the ATF? Do any of you think for one moment innocent people will not be arrested under the new precedent? Anyone not think the ATF or Justice Dept are pro-gun ownership and wont use this? True, the fellow may not be the hero Lou Dobbs makes him out to be. But the definition used will replace the present, more realistic one. Having the guy go down under a poor interpretation of the law does no law abiding citizen any good, even if he would be guilty under the older, more realistic view of what a machine gun is... It is present news as his appeal process is presently going on. Arguments have recently been heard. Side note: Who woulda thought CNN and Lou Dobbs would be so pro 2nd A??? __________________ Μολὼν λάβε