ACK!  Let's go over this:

1. The AW Ban is going to sunset on 9/13/04.  Unless something drastic changes, there will not be a law that renews or replaces it.  Despite a few of the "usual suspects" like Feinswine and Schumer, Demos have been silent about gun control, because they fully realize that they've lost votes over it, and many would like to see the issue removed from their platform.  Of course, were they to gain a majority, they'd revert pack to pushing for more.

2. Given #1, this is not the best time to buy a pre-ban rifle, as many folks are trying to sell their rifles off at high prices before the ban goes away and drastically reduces the rifle's value.  Still, you may find a good deal, if you're willing to spend the extra $500 or so to get those banned features now instead of later.

3. In order for an AR to have been a "pre-ban", it had to have either been banned BY NAME (i.e., it must have been stamped "Colt" and "AR15" from the factory), or it must have been in AW configuration on 9/13/94, meaning it was banned BY FEATURES.  If it was a "banned by features" rifle, it must never have been transferred in anything other than complete AW form.  If the lower was transferred as anything but a "complete semi-automatic rifle with 2 or more banned features", it's no longer a preban.  Yes, there are a lot of rifles that could be proven to be illegal out there under this rule.  Hope those owners don't get into trouble between now and 9/13/04, or it could get ugly for them.

4. Despite what you may have heard or may assume, it will be the responsiblity of the OWNER/possessor to prove that his rifle is a legal, grandfathered AW.  The way the law is written, th prosecution's burden of proof is merely to prove that the gun is *currently* in AW configuration, and that the defendant knowingly possessed it.  It is then up to the [b]defense[/b] to present evidence that the gun qualifies for the grandfathering clause.  If you find a rifle that doesn't come with evidence that could be submitted in court and hold up, then paying any more than post-ban prices is a waste of money.  You're paying extra for the PROOF, not some shmoe's *assurance* that the gun is pre-ban.

5. Many true pre-ban rifles can't be proven to be pre-ban.  If you're gonna pay for one, find one that is either a "banned by name" Colt, or one that you can get a letter from the manufacturer stating that the gun shipped as a complete rifle in AW configuration before 9/13/94.  Anything less, and the risk is no less than if you bought a brand new lower and built it up as a pre-ban right now.

6. On 9/13/04, current "pre-bans" will just be used AR15s, and will be priced accordingly.  You'll be able to order brand new rifles in AW configuration from all the AR manufacturers at current post-ban prices.

7. Oh, and it looks like you can't legally buy one of the "banned by name" guns in CT.

-Troy

Move.

The PRK has banned by name all AR15/AR10 and AK-based guns, and required that existing guns be registered by 12/31/1999.  The only AR-related choices are the FAB-10 lower with the fixed 10-round mag, and the DPMS magwell-less single-shot AR lower.

-Troy