Magnetic BB tool at the Gun Show

[rimfire78]

So I was at the Costa Mesa gun show today and I saw the "magnetic bullet button tool" booth (again). They were demonstrating their tool on a gun with evil features.
In my estimation,each time they attached their magnetic button, they were creating an assault rifle.
I know people have thrown this around before, but now that I've seen these guys at the last 6 shows, and they haven't been arrested yet, is their tool within the law? What do you think?

[NiteQwill]

No, their "tool" is not within the law.

[Dead*Reckoned]

Illegal. Plain and simple. Its illegal to have the tool attached to the gun whether it is magnetic or string.

[bwiese]

This was discussed in a stickied post of mine from last year. The CA NRA attorneys also posted about grave concerns in somewhat more moderated language than my screeching.

You are most likely referring to the idiot selling the "MagMagnet" device. He has lower morals than a crack whore (who at least provides a useful nonfraudulent social service).

This device has very limited legal use in CA, and the people the booth sellers are targeting appear to be young OLL newbs.

The demo rifle they're using it on, last time I saw, was a 'featureless' gun (no flash hider, and with a MonsterMan grip) with a 10rd magazine. They don't have the balls to show it - for good reason - on a gun that has features and *requires* a BulletButton maglock.

The MagMagnet, due to attachment, would be regarded as becoming part of the actual mag catch. In other words, it turns a BulletButton back into a regular mag catch - which generally ain't kosher. It is NOT a 'tool' if it's attached or sticks on to a rifle (neither is a screwdriver hanging from a string).

This device has very very limited applicability (i.e, less than 5% of marketplace), which was not discussed by the sales staff (who were representing it as generally legal) or in the internal paperwork.

The only legit uses for the MagMagnet are:

• usage outside CA only for those too lazy to spend the ~2 min switching in (then back to a BB
  maglock, before returning to CA) a regular mag catch.
  .
• use on a featureless semiauto centerfire rifle with hicap mags. [WARNING: if the MagMagnet
  falls off, the gun could be regarded as having an over-10-rd fixed magazine, triggering AW status!
  So don't risk doing this!!]
  .
• use on a Category 3 registered AW AR clone (there are a few, I have two!) - ones equipped with
  a BulletButton maglock. The BB maglock allows the gun to be treated like a normal rifle for purposes
  of transport, use, repair, etc. - but the registered AW status allows the MagMagnet to legally turn
  the BulletButton into a tool-free mag catch.
  .
• use on a rifle lower with 22LR rimfire upper to allow detachable magazine usage on a rifle not
  subject to CA AW laws due to rimfire rifle exemption
  .

The above limitations on legal usefulness obviously limits the rational legal market size. Therefore to support booths at every gunshow in CA over the past year, they must be selling to a lot of noobs or people who think they won't get caught in the desert.

As one Calguns wag put it last year, the unscrupulous dealer is selling "$25 dollar refrigerator magnets to people who'd pay $25 for a refrigerator magnet."

I tried to get them kicked out of the gunshow early last year but Bob Templeton essentially said unless the device is illegal in & of itself, they'd not take action.


[I do note that Solar Tactical is selling a similar device, however it is sold ethically and with proper warnings about CA legal issues, and is generally sold to a more knowledgeable market. It's not promoted as a mainline item in their catalog.]

[rimfire78]

Yes, that is who I'm referring to, and no, today it had a flash hider, pistol grip and a collapsible stock. (I guess it could have been in .22 configuration as I didn't get close enough to handle it, but the 10/20 in the gun didn't look like any .22/AR mag that I've seen before)
I thought about questioning their knowledge of the law but figured they must be comfortable with their interpretation, as they've been at it for a while now.

[ke6guj]

He has lower morals than a crack whore (who at least provides a useful nonfraudulent social service).

Man Bill, you do have a way with words

[Dead*Reckoned]

I've seen both configurations of legal, illegal, also, but different gunshows and different dealers. I would have said something, but i figure if they are confident enough to have an assault weapon in public, they are probably confident to ignore my advice as well.

[outkast353]

I don't see a problem with this device it's self as long as it is marketed correctly(quick fix for going out of state), but if they are misleading people into breaking the law then they should be kicked from the show.

[bjl333]

Yes, that is who I'm referring to, and no, today it had a flash hider, pistol grip and a collapsible stock. (I guess it could have been in .22 configuration as I didn't get close enough to handle it, but the 10/20 in the gun didn't look like any .22/AR mag that I've seen before)
I thought about questioning their knowledge of the law but figured they must be comfortable with their interpretation, as they've been at it for a while now.

The could've ran a 22 upper with a regular mag. In which case they ARE scums.

If they are marketing it without the proper warning/instructions then "scum" is being too nice to them!!!

[Cali-Shooter]

Not these clowns again. They are almost as bad as DOJ or ATF plants or spies.

[killmime1234]

bwiese does have a detailed thread on this. I'm not a "search" nazi, but I'm not a big fan of dupes either. I suppose you could make the argument that this specific thread is talking about a different situation because the device in question is being demoed in an illegal configuration.

In any case, it is by no regard an illegal item. It is simply something that would be very easily misused in an illegal fashion. I think this tool is very useful, but it should be sold like the bullet button. Proper emphasis on the legal use needs to be emphasized.