November 5, 2010, 04:50 PM | #1 |
Staff
Join Date: July 28, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 8,821
|
Current laws about ARs
I'm not in the market for an AR, but I've become curious about the laws surrounding them. I've noticed that there are pistols, uppers, lowers, barrels, etc., and I know that all of that must be connected to the AWB of 1994-2004, right?. Can anyone point me to a decent source for the current status of federal laws on ARs? Yes, I could get on Westlaw and dig through the federal statutes, but I'm really just looking for an overview. The sources that I have found on the internet have not proven particularly helpful. (If I want the nitty-gritty, I will go read the statutes myself.) If I were in the market for an AR, could I just go down to my local gun shop and buy one (assuming that my state law permits it)?
|
November 5, 2010, 07:24 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 29, 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO area
Posts: 4,040
|
ARs are not treated any differently from any other firearms. The 1994 AWB is irrelevant unless you live in a state who based its own ban on it. Federally there are no distinctions still in force from that law.
A pistol AR has no shoulder stock. It is regulated as a handgun, no more. Barrel lengths have to do with the 1934 NFA. Go shorter than 16" on a rifle and you had better have the tax stamp for it. The stripped lower receiver is the serial numbered part, and as such is legally the firearm. Everything else is just parts. Same with any other firearm- if it isn't the serial numbered receiver, it is parts. The receiver is the firearm. Sent from my MB300 using Tapatalk |
November 6, 2010, 03:51 AM | #3 |
Staff
Join Date: July 28, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 8,821
|
Thank you, Technosavant. Somehow, I thought things were still more complicated than that.
|
November 7, 2010, 02:21 PM | #4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 26, 2010
Location: Anderson SC
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
This site can be helpful http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=3
__________________
I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff |
|
November 7, 2010, 02:57 PM | #5 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 195
|
Quote:
__________________
‘‘We, the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts — not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.’’ — Abraham Lincoln |
|
November 7, 2010, 08:37 PM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 26, 2010
Location: Anderson SC
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
In many cases some guns that are exactly the same but have a different stock or flash suppressor suddenly becomes "Assault Weapons". Many bolt action hunting guns are far more powerful than an AR sport utility rifle but the Brady bunch want's to outlaw them because they look scary
__________________
I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff |
|
November 7, 2010, 08:49 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 5, 2010
Location: Jackson County Florida
Posts: 207
|
Quote:
__________________
If something seems too good to be true it's best to shoot at it just to be sure |
|
November 7, 2010, 08:50 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 195
|
Quote:
I use the word "assault weapon" directly from a state statute's definition. If I don't use the proper term when discussing State or Federal firearms law, someone will always call me on it and say that is not what section XXX.99 says. Whenever you see the word assault rifle, just change it to black rifle.
__________________
‘‘We, the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts — not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.’’ — Abraham Lincoln |
|
November 7, 2010, 08:58 PM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 26, 2010
Location: Anderson SC
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
__________________
I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff |
|
November 7, 2010, 09:10 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 195
|
Quote:
__________________
‘‘We, the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts — not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.’’ — Abraham Lincoln |
|
November 7, 2010, 09:33 PM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 26, 2010
Location: Anderson SC
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
__________________
I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff |
|
November 7, 2010, 09:52 PM | #12 |
Staff In Memoriam
Join Date: October 31, 2007
Location: Western Florida panhandle
Posts: 11,069
|
My guns are "meat makers"...
Brent |
November 7, 2010, 11:36 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 26, 2010
Location: Anderson SC
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
EDIT non-polluting, non climate changing
__________________
I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff |
|
November 8, 2010, 12:34 PM | #14 |
Staff
Join Date: July 28, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 8,821
|
Thanks, everyone. That clears up what I wanted to know. It really does seem like a better term than "Assault Rifle" ought to be in place. Any rifle could be used for an assault.
|
November 8, 2010, 02:52 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2004
Posts: 3,351
|
A lot of confusion was created when BATFE noticed the rising volume of receivers in commerce.
Under federal law no one under 21 can purchase a gun from an FFL, but there is an exception made for long arms allowing the purchase at 18. A receiver (for many long arms) is NOT a long arm until assembled. Thus the 21 year old restriction on receivers, since they could (legally) be made into a handgun and do not meet the definition of a long gun for the exception to apply. There are also federal rules about making a long gun into a handgun ('short barreled rifle'). You can make a handgun into a long gun legally, just not a long gun into a handgun (special hoops not included here). Once a receiver is transferred as rifle it cannot be made into a handgun. Before that point it could be either, and an FFL may not treat it as a long gun for transfer. |
November 8, 2010, 03:01 PM | #16 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 29, 2000
Location: Rupert, Idaho
Posts: 9,660
|
Just to make a fine point:
"Assault weapon" is a coined term that is defined by some legislators (it was first used as part of a weapons ban by the Brady's and HCI). "Assault weapon" can literally be any firearm a legislature defines as too "evil" for public use. Almost all "assault weapons" (as defined) are EBR's (Evil Black Rifles), but also include some high caliber bolt action rifles and some handguns. "Assault Rifle" is a military term that means any gas operated rifle that has the "happy" switch (AKA, selector switch - Safe; Semi; Auto). |
November 8, 2010, 04:55 PM | #17 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 29, 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO area
Posts: 4,040
|
Quote:
If you're older than 21, then this is pretty much a moot point. If you're younger than 21, you can't get a stripped AR lower- you have to buy a complete lower, because the addition of the buttstock made the receiver a long gun. Likewise, addition of a bare receiver extension (no stock, no provision for one) would make that lower a handgun- while the handgun lower could take a barrel of less than 16" without becoming a short barreled rifle, the long gun receiver cannot. |
|
|
|