Everything is a receiver
A few points on the ATF's latest letter
On May 10, the BATFE released a statement of redefinition regarding a few hot topics the current administration has wanted to address.
80% reciever kit complete with jig and drill bits
The proposal opens up with a new definition of a frame and receiver:
"Under the proposed rule, a "frame or receiver" is any externally visible housing or holding structure for one or more fire control components. A "fire control component" is one necessary for the firearm to initiate, complete, or continue the firing sequence, including, but not limited to, any of the following: hammer, bolt, bolt carrier, breechblock, cylinder, trigger mechanism, firing pin, striker, or slide rails."
This would make AR uppers and lowers receivers and require 4473 background checks to buy. The frame and slide of all modern pistols would now be considered a receiver and subject to a background check.
"This third supplement would define "frame or receiver" to include "in the case of a frame or receiver that is partially complete, disassembled, or inoperable, a frame or receiver that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled, converted, or restored to a functional state." To determine this status, "the Director may consider any available instructions, guides, templates, jigs, equipment, tools, or marketing materials." For clarification, "partially complete" for purposes of this definition "means a forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it is clearly identifiable as an unfinished component part of a weapon."
Here they are trying to kill polymer 80's, and 80% lowers, but the text isn't specifically limiting them to that. They go on to say that “readily completed” means that a full functioning machine shop could finish it in 8 hours.
Under this new rule, all nerf guns, airsoft guns, bb guns, and probably staple guns would be considered a firearm. This “gun” was made in a couple hours by a guy in his mom’s basement, imagine what a fully functioning machine shop could do in 8 hours.
"Under the proposed rule, all licensees must retain forms, including ATF Forms 4473, and acquisition and disposition records until the business or licensed activity is discontinued."
This is simple; dealerships are now required to maintain sales records indefinitely. I used to think it didn't matter if there were records of your firearm purchases. I was 100% in the "they'll never take our guns" camp, but after the last year and a half, I think it's a good idea to have one or two guns that don't have a paper trail.
"Under the proposed rule, a "frame or receiver" of a firearm muffler or silencer device is defined as a housing or holding structure for one or more essential internal components of the device, including, but not limited to, baffles, baffling material, or expansion chamber."
This section of the proposed rule change is designed to outlaw homemade suppressor kits, also known as solvent traps. All major suppressor parts will be considered suppressors, meaning a form 4 (the arduous, unconstitutional paperwork that includes fingerprints, a photo sent to the feds, and a 6-12 month wait) will have to be submitted and approved when buying the build kits.
Pictured is a form one suppressor kit from JK Armament
The main advantage of a form 1 suppressor (besides not needing the crown's permission to own one if you were to forgo the paperwork) is the paperwork for homemade NFA items process significantly faster than the standard way of buying an item through a dealer.
So what do we do?
We have to know the laws, so we know how to circumvent them. Since the inception of gun control, there have always been work arounds. The market will adjust, and we will continue to have avenues to subvert the state.
3d printer go brrrrrrrr. If you aren't familiar with 3D-printed guns, then you should be. The proliferation of 3d printed guns is the most significant advancement of gun rights, maybe ever. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to get you going. I've seen round counts on some of these guns getting as high as 5000. These are legitimate tools, and the rumors you've heard about them blowing up in people's hands are no longer a concern. Print guns.
These Hipowers were built with 3d printed frames
A less known route would be the Ghost Gunner. A desktop CNC machine with open source code, that is designed to complete 80% lowers. It is advertised to be a fully functional CNC machine, just in a scaled-down form. There are currently far fewer developed designs than its 3D printer counterpart. However, the potential seems just as high, and with the upcoming rule change, just as necessary. If it does as advertised, I do not see why you couldn't use the Ghost Gunner to make slides or receivers out of blocks of aluminum and steel, completely bypassing the ban of 80% receivers. Home CNC machining is an area that will grow with popularity as the federal government attempts to clamp down on the Second Amendment. Mill guns.
Peer-to-peer sales are still legal in most states, and any time you can take the state out of a transaction is a good thing. You will, of course, still have the fudds that want to meet and go through an FFL, but if you peruse Armslist or local forums long enough, you will find someone willing to meet you in a parking lot and take cash for their gun.
Stock up. I hate to encourage more volatility or hoarding within the market, but if you are even thinking about building a firearm any time soon, you should do what you can to get things like slides and uppers now. It will allow you to wait it out long enough until the market provides a solution.
Lastly, the comments section on the proposed definition change is officially open. I still think we should exercise this option while we have it. In the past, we have flooded the comments and swayed decisions in our favor(see pistol braces and green tip 556 ammo). Make sure you don’t curse, don’t copy and past another comment, and you have to leave your name and contact information or the comment will not be documented.
"In recent years, the number of PMFs (privately made firearms) recovered from crime scenes throughout the country has increased. 17 From January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2020, there were approximately 23,906 suspected PMFs reported to ATF as having been recovered by law enforcement from potential crime scenes, including 325 homicides or attempted homicides, and that were attempted to be traced by ATF, broken down by year as follows:
2016: 1,750
2017: 2,507
2018: 3,776
2019: 7,161
2020: 8,712"
This is it; this is how they are selling these new regulations. The fact that 325 "ghost guns" were recovered at scenes of homicides or attempted homicides over the last five years. 325 unregistered guns were involved in a violent crime, and the other 23,581 were most likely possession crimes. Possession in a ban state that handgun or rifle ownership is all but illegal, or a felon stripped of their rights circumvented the law to maintain their natural rights.
Gun control is always sold under the guise of public safety and served with layers of believable narratives that make it palatable for the uninitiated. The changes are technical and sound reasonable at face value. Those of us that see these changes for what they are, have to counter the narrative.
If these changes go into effect, they will destroy several small businesses. They will allow more government control within an already heavily regulated market. They will create unnecessary police interaction with peaceful citizens who only aim to protect themselves. They will not prevent any crime, and it leaves the definitions so unclear that it makes it nearly impossible to comply. These changes allow the state more room to rob people of their freedom, and ultimately destroy peoples lives.