So, if I separate the upper from the lower with my AR, it’s no longer a firearm if I have to use a part or tool to reassemble?
Each part isn’t considered a firearm. Put them together and you have a firearm.
For example you couldn’t be charged with possession of a firearm if you had the barrel of a 1911 in your pocket.
It appears it’s designed to take away some of the power of the state to charge someone with being in possession of a firearm when they are not.
Care need to be taken with this so criminals don’t start using fake guns to commit crimes then claim it wasn’t an armed robbery for example.
I had an idiot tried to rob me one night with an unloaded .38 snubby.
There was a rumor going around you couldn’t be charged with armed robbery if you used an unloaded gun.
My gun wasn’t unloaded, and I probably would have shot him except I was laughing so hard when he crapped his pants.