Posted on 11/13/2016 5:17:07 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee
Companies that make kits which allow buyers to assemble military-style, semi-automatic rifles at home have sprung up in recent years in at least one central Florida county, alarming some in law enforcement.
These so-called "ghost gun" kits have become popular with firearms rights activists because the parts have no serial number or other markings, making them untraceable.
Ghost guns can be purchased online from thousands of different websites without a background check.
It's legal because of the way the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives defines a firearm. Under the law, no manufacturer-stamped serial number is needed if you make a gun for personal use.
At least six of these gun-kit makers are operating in Volusia County, which has worried law enforcement, who say the unregistered guns can make it easy for criminals to arm themselves with untraceable weapons. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
So how strong does an AR15 style lower receiver have to be. Couldn’t it be made of plastic or even wood, so long as the holes all line up?
[>Under the law, no manufacturer-stamped serial number is needed if you >make a gun for personal use. ]
>
>That doesn’t sound right.
It is the law. But, if you decide to sell it, it needs a serial number.
I have built several of these over the years both 1911s and AR-15s. All for my use.
The regulation of sound suppressors should be ended. It’s a health issue ...
What doesn't sound right is that ANY firearm would have to have a serial number on it. The Founders certainly never intended this or they would have said so in the Second Amendment.
If we shoot armed criminals in the head, it won't matter where they obtained their weapons.
If Kalifornia continues on its present path, we will have to have serial numbers on knives, clubs, pointy sticks, and soda straws.
People have printed lowers out of plastic with 3D printers but they are for demonstration purposes and not considered strong or durable enough for actual use with standard cartridges. You can use an inexpensive cnc milling machine to save a lot of effort when machining. https://ghostgunner.net
Ah yes. A criminal with a machine shop smart enough to machi e a lower is too dumb to make a stole $100 gun untraceable by filing off the serial number.
Ghost Guns,
Roll yer Own.
“[Under the law, no manufacturer-stamped serial number is needed if you make a gun for personal use. ]
That doesn’t sound right.”
It is.
That is correct, you order an 80% finished receiver, do the work yourself, no SN. Selling it would then be a no-no. Believe it or not, I know several people who have done it, not speaking personally of course!
For an AR-15 platform the 300 Blackout looks interesting.
Ghost Guns by the fast and furious gun give away ... serial numbers huh what are they good for.. absolutely nothing
There have been a number of polymer lower receivers sold. The early ones had an integral buttstock, because the weak point is the rear, where the buffer tube threads in. Newer ones have metal inserts in the polymer to strengthen that area.
I haven't seen one made of wood, but it might just work.
It’s the law.
80%. A 90% lower requires a SN.
Serial numbers can still be obtained from a weapon even if they are filed off. The stamp deforms the metal below the actual indention of the numbers which can be revealed using some kind of technology. (can’t recall specifically what it is)
“...I always thought the receiver had to have a serial number.”
True only if made by a federally licensed gun manufacturer, to be sold in general commerce, or under contract to DoD, recognized law enforcement agencies, or other approved entities.
Firearms made for personal use must comply with current limits under the National Firearms Act and subsequent legislation. They cannot be legally transferred.
All NFA-registerable devices (machine guns, sound suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, smoothbore handguns, destructive devices, and “any other weapon” regulatory agencies feel like placing on the list) must be on BATFE’s list; they may be transferred only after prior approval is granted by the agency, and payment made to the US Treasury of the applicable tax ($200.00 for machine guns, suppressors, short-barrel stuff; others have different tax rates) and the issuance of the proper tax stamp.
Violators are treated as guilty until proven innocent.
Yeah that’s what I meant...the ones that come with the dies and instructions to finish it on a press.
So used to being right this week, I just assume it now. ;)
They do make polymer lowers
Done it myself. Legally you can make one, just one. My wife has to make her own, I can’t do it for her. Once made it cannot be sold or transferred it has to be destroyed to get rid of it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.