Home built forbidden on BLM?

[mike_the_wino]

Hate to post this up but my brother who doesn't haz internetz always poses these weird, mostly FUD, issues. I am supposed to respond with sage wisdom.

Apparently the LGS near my bro told him that shooting a home build w/out being registered on BLM will result in a seizure of said firearm. Now he is pooping hisself and thinks he needs to register this thing. He even wants to send paperwork to the DOJ.

I tried to tell him its okay. Hell, if he wants to slap numbers on it, fine. But send in paperwork? Wha? Is that even necessary?

If he does put a number on it, what does he need? I think its just a unique number, manufacturer, and place of manufacture...yes?

Thanks in advance,
mike

[sigstroker]

Who's he going to send it to? The state DOJ? The BLM is Federal.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Registration is not currently required. Registration of newly purchased long guns will begin next year.

Even if they do eventually require currently owned long guns to be registered, I believe that home built firearms are usually exempt. IANAL, and if I am wrong, someone will be along to correct me I'm sure.

[Rusty Scabbard]

some good info on this thread , http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ad.php?t=86627
Owning and shooting an 80 % is not illegal. There currently is no registration requirements for long guns, or even handguns for that matter, except when transferred. But an encounter with authorities may involve an LEO that is not familiar with 80% guns, doesn't know the laws, or thinks it's a gun with a defaced or removed s/n. They also will probably not face any negative repercussions for taking your gun even though you did absolutely nothing wrong or illegal. The end result is they may very well take it. And if it was a homebuild 'evil' series gun with no s/n engraved, you're chances of ever getting back are zero.

[johnny1290]

some good info on this thread , http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ad.php?t=86627
Owning and shooting an 80 % is not illegal. There currently is no registration requirements for long guns, or even handguns for that matter, except when transferred. But an encounter with authorities may involve an LEO that is not familiar with 80% guns, doesn't know the laws, or thinks it's a gun with a defaced or removed s/n. They also will probably not face any negative repercussions for taking your gun even though you did absolutely nothing wrong or illegal. The end result is they may very well take it. And if it was a homebuild 'evil' series gun with no s/n engraved, you're chances of ever getting back are zero.

Wow, I'm shocked at seeing an accurate answer so quickly in the thread! Usually it's a lot of "your legal rights...say nothing....blah blah blah" that will get you thrown in the clink, laws be damned.

Rusty Scabbard nailed it. If you want to keep your homebuild, don't take it somewhere it's likely to be scrutinized. Not because you're doing anything wrong, it's just this is California. Like the soviet union, you get arrested because they think it's in the State's interest and they'll decide what law you broke later. The DA will find something to charge you with, and you're going to be out money and time. Count yourself lucky only to have your rifle confiscated.

No serial numbers is perfectly legal, but you're asking for trouble if you don't do it.

[Dead*Reckoned]

some good info on this thread , http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ad.php?t=86627
Owning and shooting an 80 % is not illegal. There currently is no registration requirements for long guns, or even handguns for that matter, except when transferred. But an encounter with authorities may involve an LEO that is not familiar with 80% guns, doesn't know the laws, or thinks it's a gun with a defaced or removed s/n. They also will probably not face any negative repercussions for taking your gun even though you did absolutely nothing wrong or illegal. The end result is they may very well take it. And if it was a homebuild 'evil' series gun with no s/n engraved, you're chances of ever getting back are zero.

Wow, I'm shocked at seeing an accurate answer so quickly in the thread! Usually it's a lot of "your legal rights...say nothing....blah blah blah" that will get you thrown in the clink, laws be damned.

Rusty Scabbard nailed it. If you want to keep your homebuild, don't take it somewhere it's likely to be scrutinized. Not because you're doing anything wrong, it's just this is California. Like the soviet union, you get arrested because they think it's in the State's interest and they'll decide what law you broke later. The DA will find something to charge you with, and you're going to be out money and time. Count yourself lucky only to have your rifle confiscated.

No serial numbers is perfectly legal, but you're asking for trouble if you don't do it.

and you two are basing this off of what, experience? Can you actually cite any cases/ arrests where someone had their rifle confiscated? Or did they just feel so lucky that they only had their rifle confiscated that they never made a post about it.

[MQUnlimited]

Good info here. I have question, is there "legally" speaking, a time frame (before or after machining) when a S/N can be applied? I ask this because I've been told that I can't have my 80% receiver engraved because it has been machined.

[nick]

Good info here. I have question, is there "legally" speaking, a time frame (before or after machining) when a S/N can be applied? I ask this because I've been told that I can't have my 80% receiver engraved because it has been machined.

There's no timefframe, you can apply it at any time. The reason they didn't want to engrave it is because prior to machining it it wasn't a firearm, so the shop could hold it for some time. After machining, it's a firearm, so in order to hold it (other than in your presence), the shop needs to be an FFL, and it likely wasn't one.

[golfrj]

Your title is Really Funny, As a youngster I lived in a home Built on the BLM in Alturas, Ca.. Native Americans can get permission to live on the BLM in some areas.. Brought back Memorys..

[MigNoche]

From what I was told by the BLM ranger you can camp on BLM land but must move locations every 20 days. So I guess you can get a motor / mobile home.

[covingtonhouse]

and you two are basing this off of what, experience? Can you actually cite any cases/ arrests where someone had their rifle confiscated? Or did they just feel so lucky that they only had their rifle confiscated that they never made a post about it.

I think the moral of their stories are "don't take a chance" .
While it's admirable of people to want to stand up for their rights, standing up for them in the face of an LEO who might not know all of the ins and outs of the 80% laws or even care that much about them for that matter, what good would be served to lose your possessions to test it out?? If you can find a compelling answer to that, I invite you to be the first to volunteer. Other than that, discretion is sometimes the best path.

[Ford8N]

Apparently the LGS near my bro told him that shooting a home build w/out being registered on BLM will result in a seizure of said firearm. Now he is pooping hisself and thinks he needs to register this thing. He even wants to send paperwork to the DOJ.

WHAT WAS THE STORE THAT TOLD HIM THIS ???????????????????????

[Dead*Reckoned]

I think the moral of their stories are "don't take a chance" .
While it's admirable of people to want to stand up for their rights, standing up for them in the face of an LEO who might not know all of the ins and outs of the 80% laws or even care that much about them for that matter, what good would be served to lose your possessions to test it out?? If you can find a compelling answer to that, I invite you to be the first to volunteer. Other than that, discretion is sometimes the best path.

Yeah, I am testing it out. Every time i transport my homebuilds to wherever i am going. Discretion is what by your definition? Being so scared to take it to the range that you might as well not own one? There's a couple threads on here of people's experience with being out shooting and a ranger or sheriff checking out there 80% build. You should check them out, not all cops are out to get you, majority aren't, and if you do run into a bad one call out a supervisor.

[AGGRO]

From what I was told by the BLM ranger you can camp on BLM land but must move locations every 20 days. So I guess you can get a motor / mobile home.

There is a limit and you have to get a "free" permit from the Rangers. This is so they know where you are if there is a fire. No big deal really.

[klewan]

I'm not impressed that the cop can be ignorant about the law. But ignorance of the law for the rest of us is no defense....