Articles Posted in Firearms Articles

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have recently decided to re-classify parachute flares and 40mm chalk rounds as explosives and begun the confiscation process. Those in the gun industry feel this ruling could soon be expanded to include all ammunition bigger than ½ inch in diameter.

Many have recently reported being contacted by ATF to turn in any recently purchased flare rounds. Some of these inidivduals have gun trusts and others just own then individually. Previously, these rounds had been classified by the ATF as non-explosives, but the bureau has recently had a change of heart that coincides with the other recent declassifications. (Does this sound familiar?)

When questioned about these declassifications, ATF has responded the change was made because the 40mm rounds in question are not “small arms” ammunition, and have thus been classified as “low explosives.” In one response letter, the ATF stated that “devices or articles that contain small arms ammunition or components thereof, but are not small arms ammunition by themselves, are regulated explosives,” and thus are not exempt from the provisions in 27 CFR, Part 555. This language suggests firearms registered as a “destructive device” may also be given a similar classification by the ATF.

So the next questions is what should you do when the ATF asks you to surrender these firearms? Continue reading

Obama reported to sign UN Gun Treaty while Congress is on Vacation:

Obama.jpgJay Carney said Obama will sign the UN Arms Trade Treaty “before the end of August…We believe it’s in the interest of the United States.”

I have previously written on how the UN Arms Treaty can prohibit the future transfer of firearms for citizens of the United States. For the Treaty to become effective it must be ratified by the U.S. Senate. This requires 67 votes. You should contact your Senator and let them know you do not want them to approve the UN Arms Trade Treaty also known as the UN Gun Treaty.

The BATFE released a 60 day notice notice to make changes to the ATF Form 5320.1. This form is used to make or asemble a Title II Firearm under the National Firearms Act.

The changes would allow applicatnts to pay the transfer ta by credit card or debit card, and combine information currently captured on another form.

Here is a copy of what was published in the Federal Register Today under Notices

New Silencer – SWR: Specwar 762; Multi-caliber Sound Test.

A Gun Trust can be used to purchase suppressors in most states like the Specwar 762 from SWR. The multi-caiiber suppressor had sound suppression to the 135-131 db range when looking at 10 shot averages. Most suppressors try to obtain results less than 140 db to create a hearing safe level. Continue reading

magazine.jpgConnecticut about to enact one of the most restrictive Gun Laws in the United States.

Here is what is being reported to be in the bill. As of this morning the bill had not been published and it appears to be on a fast track as Emergency Legislation.

  1. The bill establishes a first in the nation statewide dangerous weapon offender registry.
  2. The bill requires “universal background checks” for the sale of all firearms immediately, upon passage.
  3. The bill significantly expands the Connecticut Assault Weapons Ban.
  4. The bill immediately bans the sale or purchase of large capacity magazines, and imposes extremely stringent restrictions on the use of those currently possessed. (LCMs that are currently possessed must be registered with DESPP by January 1,2014 to remain legal, and even when registered will be subject to extremely strict usage limitations:)
  5. The bill requires new state issued eligibility certificates for the purchase of any rifle, shotgun or ammunition.
  6. The bill expands the scope of Connecticut’s firearms safe storage law.
  7. The bill significantly increases penalties for many firearms trafficking and illegal possession offenses.
  8. The bill expands the membership of the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, and expands due process for local authorities in front of the board.
  9. The bill changes the status, with regard to the legal possession of firearms and permits therefore, of individuals who have been either involuntarily confined in or voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495 of the general statutes.
  10. The bill establishes the offense of illegal possession of ammunition, so that an individual
  11. who is ineligible to possess a firearm will also now be ineligible to possess any ammunition.
  12. The bill requires applicants for a temporary permit to carry a pistol or revolver to apply only in their town of residence (as opposed to also where they work), and further limits such applications to only one per twelve months.
  13. The bill establishes a new age limit for the purchase of centerfire semi-automatic rifles (other than banned assault weapons). Under the bill an individual will have to be at least 21 to purchase such a rifle, as opposed to the current federal age limit of 18.
  14. The bill bans the sale of armor-piercing ammunition, and makes it a class D felony to carry a firearm loaded with any such ammunition.

The Colorado lawyers we work with have informed us that there are several new laws about to be passed soon. To provide the maximum flexibility to manage your firearms and magazines they are suggesting that you form a Gun Trust and transfer all of your firearms and magazines into the trust ASAP. We have been overwhelmed with trust requests in the last few days from residents of Colorado seeking to protect their rights.

At this point in time the quickest way to form a Gun Trust is to purchase a Base Gun Trust Form and then transfer your firearms and magazines into it using the documents that come with the trust. Once the Gun Trust is formed you can upgrade to the Advanced or Professional Trust to have the additional legal support and features. You will receive a discount of the price paid for the Base trust towards the upgrade so you will not be penalized.

UPDATE FOX news is the first major network to confirm this story we began discussing over 8 hours ago.

I received numerous emails about the UN Treaty not being approved. The Examiner and TheGunMag.com have also reported that It was announced this morning that the US will not sign the UN Arms Treaty in its current form. While it is possible that a modified treaty could be singed at a later time it appears that the intense public awareness of the restrictions on our Second Amendment rights has cause such outreach by firearms rights supporters that the Treaty will not be signed in its present form.

As of this afternoon, I am seeing no major media outlets reporting this fact and some even alluding that it will still be passed. Will it be passed or not? We will know if a few days. Below I have complied a few sources on the story and even read through the proposed treaty which I found to be very circular and while supporting gun rights of states, would appear to require states (countries) to pass laws that would not permit misdirection or misuse of firearms by others. How else can you do this other than to ban certain small arms.

Even if this issue fails to pass this week, I am certain that we will see this issue again.

Update GunMag.com is also reporting that Alan Gotlieb who is at the United Nations in NY said the government will not sign the document.

The Seattle Times is reporting that the U.N. Treaty is unlikely to curb U.S. gun Rights. If passed this article appears to be an effort to distract from the true nature of the Bill. A misleading article at best.

The UN has a history of pursuing disarmament including firearms owned by individuals. While the text appears to talk about gun rights, it talks about them in terms of the states rights or collective self-defense rights and not at the individual level as we have under the Second Amendment. The UN has described its efforts on their own website as wanting to advance the restrictions and availability of ownership of small arms by the individual and destruction of surplus state (government-owned) weapons.

The Preamble states “Underlining the need to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade of conventional arms and to prevent their diversion to illegal and unauthorized end use, such as terrorism and organized crime.”

The Principles The inherent rights of all States to individual or collective self-defense;
(NOTE these are rights of the state and not the individual)

Goals and objectives include avoiding international trade in arms. While this treaty would apply to larger arms like ships, tanks, aircraft, it would also apply to small arms and light weapons.

Each country would be required to create a national control system (registry) and would prohibit the transfers what would violate the treaty, would be a violation if they the arms were eventually transferred to an inappropriate personal or country, or were used for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes…

The UN document is similar to many UN treaties and appears to be so circular in nature that while allowing legal uses and each state to make their own rules, seem to restrict the rules that can be made by agreeing that no states (country) rules would possibly allow for an illegal or improper use of the arms to be regulated.

Basically you can’t own an AR15 because someone might sell one to a drug cartel that might do something wrong with the firearm. As such those firearms would not longer be permitted to be sold. This type of circular logic would have no end and surly end up eliminating all or most future firearms transactions.

If the treaty is signed what will happen? The treaty would go into force until the Senate voted to approve or deny the treaty. It would take 66% of the senators (67 Votes to Approve it). While this may be a problem, a Signed treat would be enforced until it was brought up for a vote. Some questions whether there would be enough senators to bring the treaty up on a vote.

Does anyone really think that laws keep criminals and terrorist from obtaining firearms?
To read a copy of the UN Treaty read the rest of this article.
Continue reading

atf-logo.jpgThis week I have received two trusts from potential clients who sent them in for review that were invalid. Even if ATF approved a Form 1 or Form 4 transfer to these trusts, anyone in possession of the TItle II firearms would be illegally in possession of them. Once person already had 3 items in their possession and 2 more on the way.

Both trusts claimed to be gun trusts but were obviously not intended for firearms much less those subject to the NFA and contained many of the traditional language found in a trust designed for managing financial assets.

While in some ways the language seemed to be slightly better than a Quicken trust (except for the fatal flaws that made them defective) they only briefly mentioned the NFA or guns in the trust and gave no guidance based on state or federal restrictions of firearms based on the geography of the transfer or the legal status of the people involved with the trust or whether the beneficiary was legally able to be in possession of the firearms based on the unknown circumstances of the future. While all of this may sound complicated, a real Gun Trust like one provided by a Gun Trust Lawyer® will deal with all of these issues and more.

St.johns_sheriff.jpgRecently I was interviewed by Sheldon Gardner of the St. Augustine Record regarding an article about the sheriff deciding not to sign Form 4’s for TItle II transfers: Want to buy a silencer, sawed-off shotgun or explosives? Sheriff will no longer help.

While sheriffs all over the country are refusing to provide the CLEO sign off required for individual ownership of Title II firearms using ATF Form 4‘s and ATF Form 1‘s, the St. Johns Sheriff is one of the few who does not appear to be trying to stop ownership. The Sheriff’s office is recommending using a NFA Gun Trust. Sgt. Chuck Mulligan stated that “In no way shape or form is the sheriff stopping them or hindering them from buying these items.”

As Gun Trust Lawyers®, we have provided many residents of St. Johns count and residents of almost every state Gun Trusts to help them protect their privacy, avoid the CLEO and fingerprint requirements, and help manage their NFA and regular firearms during their life and upon their passing. Many police officers in these areas have also used our NFA Gun Trusts to acquire Title II firearms for personal and work related use.

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