Armory Sponsor
Posted: 11/12/2008 1:42:28 PM EDT
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Listen, I know there has probably been a lot of this lately, so I'll try to keep my question simple so the thread can just die. I've been a member here for a little while so I know these things get old.
Here's my problem: I anticipate that a permanent AWB nearly identical to the 94 ban will come sooner rather than later. However, I'm not here to debate predictions. I just want to know a couple things assuming my prediction is true. First, I have always been under the impression that the lower of an AR15 is technically the rifle. If I purchase a stripped lower or two today (because I cannot afford a rifle), will it be considered grandfathered and thus be able to be legally paired with an upper with all of the "evil" things like flash suppressors and bayonet lugs? Also, during the first ban, were uppers with the aforementioned goodies still being legally manufactured since an upper is not a rifle? What I'm hoping for is that I can buy a stripped lower today and purchase an upper later during a potential ban and still be able to legally assemble myself a rifle that is effectively "no-ban". Keep in mind this is with the assumption that the new ban would be identical to the 94 ban. Once again, my apologies for what is probably getting old for some of you. There is just so much confusion regarding this stuff lately that I wouldn't know whether or not to trust certain older posts. Thanks ahead of time for your help! 
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It is going to depend upon how the new law, IF THERE IS ONE, gets written and passed.
Yes, the lower is technically the "firearm", but the last AWB required that the "Firearm" be complete as a functioning weapon at the time the law took effect. That's why many stripped lowers were in what was called a "questionable status" as the factory could not/would not verify, nor could they, that the lower was in fact assembled into a full weapon at the time the law took effect. I would guess that "replacement parts" such as upper, barrels, LPK's, and BCG's will continue to be made. You just don't know what will take place... ETA: And yes, all the Pre ban stuff was still being made and sold during the ban as "replacement parts". |
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Hard to say what a new bill would say, but Im basically in agreement with you. I lived thru the last several bans (89 and 94) so...
1. The lower is technically the weapon and has to be transferred like a firearm. Under BATFE rules during the last ban, the receiver had to at least be assembled into a complete lower on the date of effect of the bill. This wasnt specified in the bill, just the way BATFE implemented enforcement of it. 2. Production of pre ban style uppers and accessories continued unabated during the last ban. |
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Quoted:
Hard to say what a new bill would say, but Im basically in agreement with you. I lived thru the last several bans (89 and 94) so... 1. The lower is technically the weapon and has to be transferred like a firearm. Under BATFE rules during the last ban, the receiver had to at least be assembled into a complete lower on the date of effect of the bill. This wasnt specified in the bill, just the way BATFE implemented enforcement of it. 2. Production of pre ban style uppers and accessories continued unabated during the last ban. I may be mistaken in my post above, I thought it was in the law. But that being an ATF ruling makes perfect sense...  Are you sure the lower was not required to be a full weapon? I'm not 100% sure but thought it was that way as well.
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