Zip guns and AK manufacture

[sanb909]

Are those who bend flats and build using AK parts (Romy's, AMDs, etc.) exposing themselves to zip gun or other charges?

I know the federal laws allow for gun manufacture for personal use, but do the CA laws have a narrower interpretation of what's kosher and what's not?

[JeffM]

No. It's been covered. There's a sticky about it in the gunsmithing forum.

[sanb909]

"A zip gun means a weapon or device made or altered to expel a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion which was not imported by a person licensed pursuant to federal law, not designed as a firearm by a manufacturer licensed pursuant to federal law and on which no federal tax was paid nor exemption from federal tax granted. (Penal Code § 12020(c)(10).)"

If charged with zip gun manufacture, do you need to prove that the original importer of the chopped-up receiver and parts was licensed to import them?

Do Romanian gun manufacturers have a federal (US) license to produce guns?

I don't mean to be argumentative but I am curious to see how the above don't prohibit bending a flat and attaching Romy parts to it.

[TheBundo]

So tampon guns are illegal?

[colossians323]

So tampon guns are illegal?

Only one week a month;)

[xxdabroxx]

i think a zip gun is more referring to a flashlight or other object that is transformed into a gun. Not something purpose built as a gun.

[GuyW]

i think a zip gun is more referring to a flashlight or other object that is transformed into a gun. Not something purpose built as a gun.

Only as a federal question. See above posts for CA law.
.

[DDT]

was not imported by a person licensed pursuant to federal law, not designed as a firearm by a manufacturer licensed pursuant to federal law and on which no federal tax was paid nor exemption from federal tax granted

To be a zip gun the firearm in question must meet all three criteria.
1)"not imported by a person licensed"
2)"not designed as a firearm by a manufacturer licensed"
3)"on which no federal tax was paid " (or exepmted)

It is the second point which people use to bend AK's do "80% builds" etc. If the gun you are building from scratch was "designed as a firearm by a manufacturer licensed" by feds you can build the gun yourself.

So, 1911 homebuild? AK bends? 80% AR's? All OK.

Gas pipe with a rubberband and a nail? Not OK

[ke6guj]

To be a zip gun the firearm in question must meet all three criteria.
1)"not imported by a person licensed"
2)"not designed as a firearm by a manufacturer licensed"
3)"on which no federal tax was paid " (or exepmted)

It is the second point which people use to bend AK's do "80% builds" etc. If the gun you are building from scratch was "designed as a firearm by a manufacturer licensed" by feds you can build the gun yourself.

So, 1911 homebuild? AK bends? 80% AR's? All OK.

Gas pipe with a rubberband and a nail? Not OK

And part 3 may exempt all home-builders from the zip gun regulations, since we are exempt from paying excise taxes on home-built firearms. There is a current case where that out may surface.