Posted on 05/28/2009 4:29:45 AM PDT by marktwain
KVUE reported that on Tuesday, police found “assorted parts from assault rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition” in a dumpster in north Austin.
However, the Statesman reported that police found “eight upper receivers for an AR-15 rifle” and “about 2,000 rifle rounds.” KXAN reported that while “AR-15 receivers” were found, there were no parts with serial numbers.
The straight scoop
Mark Wilson, Acting Resident Agent in charge of the Austin branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said they found 8 upper receivers with barrels for AR-15 semi-automatic rifles. When an AR-15 is fired by pulling the trigger, a new round of ammunition is fed into the upper receiver, and on the next trigger pull the bullet is fired out through the barrel. Therefore, upper receivers are a passive component group, which is why the ATF does not classify them as firearm.
However, the firing and feed mechanisms are part of the lower receiver. John Kochan of KR Training–which provides advanced firearms training for civilians and police–says the lower receiver “contains the fire control group (trigger, hammer, etc.) and also has the grip, and rear stock, and recoil spring.” This contains the active components which the ATF classifies as a firearm.
Wilson said that since these recovered parts have no serial numbers, piecing together the story behind their origin and destination will be a challenge. However, it is possible that somebody could buy upper receivers in order to help somebody who has lower receivers build a complete firearm. These currently retail for $800-2,000, depending on manufacturer and components.
Wilson said the ATF also recovered about 1600 rounds of ammunition capable of being fired by an AR-15, plus about 1000 rounds of miscellaneous pistol ammunition. The ammunition’s total retail value is around $900-1,000 and Wilson values the AR-15 parts at $4,000.
Since true military assault weapons–firearms that fire multiple rounds for one trigger pull–have been severely restricted on the civilian market since 1934, reporting these gun parts as “parts of assault rifles” shows KVUE’s ignorance and/or bias.
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The stuff could have been stolen, then dumped because they didn’t have a complete gun.
The ATF is sure going to try and make a big deal out of it.
Wow! I wish I would have been there dumpster diving.
That would be like finding a treasure!
You wouldn’t throw away thousands of dollars of parts and ammo, unless you had a really good reason.
One man's trash is another one's treasure!
"All my ex's live in Texas"
Why is this even a story? It does not appear that any laws are broken unless someone reported this stuff stolen.
yep
Wilson said that since these recovered parts have no serial numbers, piecing together the story behind their origin and destination will be a challenge.
piecing together the story behind their origin and destination will be a challenge complete waste of taxpayer funded resources. (like we didn't know the ATF was a complete waste already)
I expect the city of Austin will now spend taxpayer money putting surveillance cameras at every dumpster location.
$%#* ... *%^$# ... &^%# msm idiots.
Good point.
Somehow this will be spun into a Mexico/drug gun story.
But I can buy a lower for $150, stripped.
An upper may be worth $300 to $800 for a standard configuration, depending on wether a bolt is included.
Somehow this will be spun into a Mexico/drug gun story.Oh 'sheesh'. You're prolly right. I just noticed this was in Austin, TX.
'Gun Runners discard rifle parts to make Machine Guns!'
Discarded small caliber ammunition Drug Cartels don't want
Which is 100% legal!
I assume they (the media) are trying to terrorize the public.
Sounds like some guy had an agrument with his wife, and when he was at work the b*tch tossed out his ammo and AR-15 parts and accessories. Grounds for divorce!
But I can buy a lower for $150, stripped.Wouldn't know, never shopped for one.
Don't have an AR-15. Don't like the 'little bullet'.
If I had the extra funds, it'd be an AR-10 (.308)
LOL My wife know better than to toss my ammo or firearms.
Reminds me of the classic joke. I got a .357 colt python for my wife the other day. Best trade I ever made.
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