Pre ban Question

[Sirmikey22]

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A few of my friends have Pre ban AR-15's. They purchased these rifles with no bullet buttons installed. Do these rifles have to be equipped with the bullet buttons to be Cal legal? I was under the impression that if a rifle is bought pre ban they do not need to be altered. One friend has a AR-15 Bushmaster with no collapsable stock, no flash supressor and is registered as a long rifle.

Thanks

[Tragic Image]

if they were registered pre-ban, they don't need bullet buttons


you can't register them with the DOJ post ban, and if they are "On List" lower receivers that aren't registered, there are other complications.

[Alaric]

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A few of my friends have Pre ban AR-15's. They purchased these rifles with no bullet buttons installed. Do these rifles have to be equipped with the bullet buttons to be Cal legal? I was under the impression that if a rifle is bought pre ban they do not need to be altered. One friend has a AR-15 Bushmaster with no collapsable stock, no flash supressor and is registered as a long rifle.

Thanks

When you say "registered as a long rifle" do you actually mean registered as an assault rifle? Because there is no such thing as long rifle registration in California and the only way to legally keep a pre ban AR-15 without a bullet button, mag lock, or other feature that would render it legal would be to have it specifically registered in this way.

If they weren't registered before the cutoff date, then yes, they should immediately be modified to be in compliance with the law or taken out of state.

If they are "banned by name" then they are still banned, if not previously registered, despite any modifications to make them legal.

This is all hypothetical of course though, as we all know no one would actually have a gun like this and post about it on an internet forum.

[Sirmikey22]

It is not registered as a assault rifle from what I was told. It is a A2 stock with a 20" heavy barrel and no flash supressor.

My buddy is a bit paranoid about the gestapo coming and taking him away!

[Alaric]

What is the manufacturers name and model name on the rifle in question?

I ask so we can determine if it is "listed by name".

You might also want to check the AW flowchart for reference...

http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf

[Sirmikey22]

It is a Bushmaster Ar-15 556

[ke6guj]

If it isn't registered as an assualt weapon, your buddy must comply with CA's current AW regs. Have him follow the flowchart to make sure he is legal, http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf . But basically, he can either install a mag-lock like the bullet button and have all the evil features with a 10-round-max mag, or he can go with a detachable magazine, but have zero evil features.

The terms pre-ban and post-ban don't really apply in CA.

[ke6guj]

It is a Bushmaster Ar-15 556

Bushmaster doesn't make a "AR-15" model. your friend needs to look at the exact markings, probably "XM-15" or "Carbon-15". That model needs to cross referenced with the flowchart to see if it is legal. If it is an XM-15, then, unless he had registered it as an Assault Weapon, that receiver is illegal to own.

[Alaric]

It is a Bushmaster Ar-15 556

I do believe that all Bushmasters are listed by name (assuming it's an XM15 variant), so if not registered then it is in violation of PC 12276. Disassemble it immediately and sell it to someone out of state.

eta: ke6guj beat me to it.

[ke6guj]

I do believe that all Bushmasters are listed by name (assuming it's an XM15 variant), so if not registered then it is in violation of PC 12276. Disassemble it immediately and sell it to someone out of state.

channelling Bill Wiese for a moment.

Disassemble any unregistered Assault weapon ASAP. No not attempt to transport it, or sell it out of state. possession is a wobbler (felony, misdemeaonr, or simple nuisance), but transport of an AW is a straight up felony.

yup....

Simple *possession* of an unregistered AW is a "wobbler": it can be charged as a felony, misdemeanor, or a civil nuisance.

Transport, manufacture and transfer of an unregistered AW has no wobbler and is a felony.

This is why someone finding himself in possession of an illegal AW should NOT try to move it out of state - he'll jump from the frying pan into the fire. It should be immediately disassembled down to the receiver level and a lawyer should be contacted to arrange for a surrender to LEO agency in exchange for no charges.

[Alaric]

channelling Bill Wiese for a moment.

Disassemble any unregistered Assault weapon ASAP. No not attempt to transport it, or sell it out of state. possession is a wobbler (felony, misdemeaonr, or simple nuisance), but transport of an AW is a straight up felony.

yup....

Thanks for the clarification. I hesitate to question the wisdom of bwiese but it seems this isn't in keeping with the logic that a disassembled gun doesn't constitute a gun, but rather a collection of parts. Lowers are treated as the gun itself, so maybe this is why...

This is getting offtopic though, so for the OP, the advice stands - disassemble immediately and contact a lawyer to arrange for surrender.

[Sirmikey22]

Thanks fellas! I think I have my questions answered for my friend.

[Sirmikey22]

Get a lawyer? Surrender weapons??? All I wanted to know is if he should get a bullet button! HA! Thanks fellas. I will pass this on to my friend.

Thanks

[Dr Rockso]

Get a lawyer? Surrender weapons??? All I wanted to know is if he should get a bullet button! HA! Thanks fellas. I will pass this on to my friend.

Thanks

Don't surrender the firearm, just the stripped lower receiver. He can get a new off-list one with a bullet button for less than $200 out the door.

[bsim]

There's a few questions in your post, hence all the different answers.

A few of my friends have Pre ban AR-15's.

"Pre-ban" and "Post-ban" don't exist in California, so forget that terminology used to describe rifles. See the the AW flowchart to follow California's (current) ban.

They purchased these rifles with no bullet buttons installed.

When were they purchased? Recently, or before California's ban (which is still in place)? Through an FFL of course?

Do these rifles have to be equipped with the bullet buttons to be Cal legal?

Yes, all semi-fire, centerfire rifles with more than one evil feature need a bullet-button and < 10 round magazines.

I was under the impression that if a rifle is bought pre ban they do not need to be altered.

If it truly was purchased pre-1999, it must have been registered as an AW with California. If so, it does not need to be altered.

One friend has a AR-15 Bushmaster with no collapsable stock, no flash supressor and is registered as a long rifle.

1) As long as it has a pistol grip, it has an evil feature.
2) If it's an XM-15 Bushmaster, it is listed specifically as an AW. If it has not been registered as an AW (not just a long gun), do as bweise says, and contact a lawyer immediately to dispose of the lower.

If it's another Bushmaster (or any other OLL) purchased recently and not registered as an AW, then YES, it needs a BB.