BREAKING: ATF Raids Ares Armor In Direct Violation of Court Issued Restraining Order

Gunssavelives.net ^ | MARCH 15 2014 | Dan Cannon

[marktwain]

Here is a blog that details an EP Armory build. It is not as you describe.

http://www.thebangswitch.com/building-an-ep-armory-80-ar-lower/

[Fee]

Problem is the receiver was built in two steps, first the plug and molding the rest of the lower around it. Most 80 percent receivers are cast in one step. ATF is contending that the second molding is not a 80 percent complete receiver (the trigger/safety void is complete) thus violate the regs or spirit of the regs. If the EP process is acceptable what is to prevent someone to mold a 90 percent finished receiver (which is illegal) and fill in the trigger/safety void with wax. All the user has to do is heat the receiver and pour out the wax and drill out the pin holes. This needs to be resolved in court to determine technically if the second mold around the plug violates the 80 percent rule or is the product judged on final and not in the middle of the process. ATF does have one black eye, EP Armory cannot sell the product without ATF approval. The ATF approved the design for sale and now are having second thoughts on the approval. In the past courts have backed the ATF if the agency can show the original approval was an error in assessment by the agency.

[Bogey78O]

Again, at no point is there a void in the firearm till the manufacturer puts it there.

The plug itself is not a firearm anymore than a cast is a firearm.

Anyway, here’s video of the raid.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/03/robert-farago/breaking-more-video-of-atf-ares-armor-raid/#more-304389

[Yo-Yo]

I think the ATF will contend that the receiver is more then 80 percent complete because the void space for the trigger/safety was already complete and filled with another polymer plastic. It is no different then someone completing most of an aluminum receiver and filling the void space with wax and claim the receiver is 80 percent complete.

But EP Armory claims that they start with the plug, then mold the rest of the lower around the plug, so a lower with a cavity never existed. If you machined an aluminum lower then filled the void with wax, the lower with a void did exist at one time.

Semantics? Maybe. But the BAFTE did issue a letter confirming that the EP Armory lower was compliant with the 80% rule. Problem is that BAFTE changed their minds.

[lowbridge]

Bump

[RC one]

Oh, but registration isn’t a precursor to confiscation and persecution or anything.

[marktwain]

If you look at the link showing the completion of the EP lower, it is not a simple plug that is the correct shape of the void. There appear to be grooves and a complex shape to insure that the white plastic cannot be easily separated from the black plastic. The plastic is all one piece in the end, all welded to gether, and intermingled, but arranged so that the white plastic serves as a marker. It has to be machined away for the lower to work.

[marktwain]

BATFE did not violate the restraining order. They legally got clarification that they could proceed before they served the search warrant.

The big question that they never inform the judge about is whether the items in question are legally defined as guns or not.

BATFE simply says that they are, when it is *the* major point of contention.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/212487675/DOJ-Response-Ares-Armor

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks