Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968

[surreptitious]

ok, everybody that has either made or been interested in making a gun is familiar with the FAQ on the ATF's website.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/firearms-technology.html

Here is the link to the full GCA of 1968

My question is, does anybody now what page, section and subsection it states that an unlicensed individual may make a firearm?

I appreciate your assistance!!!

[zhyla]

I don't know, but I suspect it doesn't say that, it just doesn't say you can't. That's usually the way laws work; everything is presumed legal until written otherwise.

[surreptitious]

I don't know, but I suspect it doesn't say that, it just doesn't say you can't. That's usually the way laws work; everything is presumed legal until written otherwise.

interesting.

[welchy]

interesting.

Not really. That's how laws work. They say what is illegal not what is legal.

[surreptitious]

why did the ATF feel it necessary to put that question and answer it on their website?

[welchy]

Because people kept asking it would be my guess

[Librarian]

18 USC 921 (a)(10)

(10) The term “manufacturer” means any person engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms or ammunition for purposes of sale or distribution; and the term “licensed manufacturer” means any such person licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

If one is not "engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms or ammunition for purposes of sale or distribution" one is not bound by restrictions laid on manufacturers who ARE engaged in the business.

[surreptitious]

thank you all!

[sigstroker]

There is a Safe Handgun roster in California.

[TheDigitalPicasso]

Librarian,

Help me out here, I feel like a dummy in a room full of scholars.

I asked about manufacturing my own firearms a few days ago and seems that per Penal Code 32000, any semi-automatic handgun would be out.

If I understand your comment above, this would apply to rifles only? IOW, this same section wouldn't apply if you were making handguns for personal use, correct?

If you make it into a single shot yes but the. You can convert it to a semi-auto. Same way as you would do a Ar15 pistol lower.

[surreptitious]

good questions. Although, they may be answered some where else on here

[ArcherDog]

SSE is only a way for a licensed dealer to sell a gun that is otherwise not authorized to be sold in California. The Federal government doesn't care how many shots your handgun might be able to fire. If you could legally acquire or mill/manufacture the parts to assemble an off-roster gun, you wouldn't need to SSE the weapon first, you can build it as it was meant to be.

[Librarian]

This is the part I guess I don't understand. If you build a single shot it will fall under the SSE, and then convert it over to semi-auto. How would I prove I built it as an SSE once it's converted over to a semi-auto ?

JUst seems that as far as personal use, I should be able to make what I can buy. What I mean by that is I can go buy a semi-auto from an FFL as long as it's on the roster. I realize that the roster tosses a twist into it.

I just don't understand how one can sidestep this entire process by making a single shot and convert it to a semi-auto. That doesn't seem kosher per Cali laws.

Is there a way to file a Firearm Ownership Record when it's a single shot? How does that work?

So, you have to start with what is illegal.

PC 32000

(a) Commencing January 1, 2001, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state for sale, keeps for sale, offers or exposes for sale, gives, or lends any unsafe handgun shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year.

and then look at the exceptions - PC 32100

(a) Article 4 (commencing with Section 31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) shall not apply to a single-action revolver that has at least a five-cartridge capacity with a barrel length of not less than three inches, and meets any of the following specifications:

(1) Was originally manufactured prior to 1900 and is a curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) Has an overall length measured parallel to the barrel of at least seven and one-half inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled.

(3) Has an overall length measured parallel to the barrel of at least seven and one-half inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled and that is currently approved for importation into the United States pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of Section 925 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

The interesting part is 32100(b), which I have reformatted above.

If one follows 32100(b), one is exempt from the prohibition of 32000; that's what 32100(b) says. The Legislature put that in with the rest of that article. I have no idea what they had in mind, and I suspect neither did the writer of that part.

A very cautious person could photograph the steps of the build to document adherence to the law. AFAIK there is no way to file any 'official' documents.

[strongpoint]

Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968

How do they regulate that? IOW, what are the legal ramifications of enabling the SSE into a semi-automatic? That must be legal in regard to having the firearm in your possession, but it all seems like loopholes.

If the state came back down the road and said, "you manufactured a SSE" and the firearm was then semi-automatic, how does that work?

there's nothing preventing you, the owner of a firearm, from modifying it as you see fit (as long as you stay within the law).

once you've manufactured (or purchased) a firearm legally, you're free to alter its configuration. that's the heart of how SSE works.

[Merc1138]

How do they regulate that? IOW, what are the legal ramifications of enabling the SSE into a semi-automatic? That must be legal in regard to having the firearm in your possession, but it all seems like loopholes.

If the state came back down the road and said, "you manufactured a SSE" and the firearm was then semi-automatic, how does that work?

Works the same way any other SSE firearm does. Notice how you never see people with 12" barrels on gen 4 glocks feeding single rounds at a time through the ejection port at the range? You start with it single shot, then make it semi auto later. Regarding your question about how they regulate it, they don't. It's not something that is enforceable unless they catch someone manufacturing it without going through the SSE process, which would be incredibly stupid to skip since it takes all of 2 minutes to make it semi auto after the fact.