Add Comment

FORMATTING HELP

All Comments Hide marked as read Mark all as read

  • Posted by gonzo309 11 years, 8 months ago
    Just got this in an email about 80% lowers from Conservative Daily:

    >Many law-abiding Americans prefer to avoid the background check process, not because they have something to hide, but because they would prefer that the government did not have a record of their purchases. However, a select few socialist states force their citizens to perform private gun sales through licensed firearm dealers as well, requiring background checks. In these states with universal background checks, it is nearly impossible to legally transfer a firearm without first acquiring government approval.

    This has led many to seek an alternative route: building their own firearms. It is legal under Federal law to build a firearm for personal use, as long as the type of firearm is not prohibited. If you already know the intricacies of these laws, bear with me… While a firearm’s lower receiver (the part containing the trigger mechanics) requires a background check to be purchased from a dealer, it is perfectly legal to buy and sell 80% partial receivers without any background check at all. An 80% lower receiver is just what the name implies. The firearm is 80% completed and the user must complete the final 20% of machining before it can become a functional weapon. Without that last bit of work, the item is nothing but a paper weight in the shape of a gun.

    As far as the law is concerned, these 80% receivers are not weapons. They are just pieces of metal or plastic. The government cannot regulate them because they are not legally firearms. However, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has begun going after individuals who sell and buy these legal, unregulated items anyway! On March 15, the ATF raided a manufacturer of these partial receivers and seized the company’s stock and client list. Once they are done destroying the business, they will go after the law abiding gun owners, even though they committed no crime!

    The intricacies of firearm laws are pretty convoluted, but the general rule of thumb is that in order for something to be a firearm, it must be capable of performing a firearm's function in its current state.

    If an object cannot function as a firearm, then it is nothing but a piece of metal or plastic. This difference is important because even the simplest of items can be transformed into a firearm. A Vermont man even famously made an AK-47 variant firearm out of a rusty shovel.

    If the government can ban and regulate the materials required to create a firearm from scratch, then they could regulate everything... And that is just what they are doing.


    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives originally tried to seize the inventory and client list of a manufacturer in California named Ares Armor. Even though the company was only manufacturing 80% lower receivers, the ATF claimed that it was illegally selling firearms. When they tried to seize the merchandise and client list, Ares Armor was able to get a temporary restraining order from a judge.

    The judge ordered the two parties to cease contact until a hearing on March 20th. While Ares Armor was confident they had bought themselves a little time, the ATF then went behind their back and received an ex parte order from the judge - an order obtained without notice to the other party - which authorized them to forcefully raid the store and seize merchandise and client lists.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives will not rest until it has complete control over the nation's firearm purchases. Now that they have raided this store and stolen the client list, there is nothing stopping them from coming after law abiding gun owners who committed no crimes.

    This is essentially a liberty issue. How long are we going to allow abusive agencies like the ATF to incrementally increase their power? The idea of individuals building their own firearms without first informing the government terrifies the Obama administration, so much so that they are trying to illegally change the definition of what constitutes a firearm!

    The ATF lied to the judge who lifted the restraining order. They stated that Ares Armor was illegally manufacturing firearms. This past August, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced H.R. 2910, the interestingly-titled ā€œGun Violence Prevention and Reduction Actā€ and if that bill had been signed into law, then these 80% lowers would be reclassified as firearms. But… the bill didn’t pass. It didn’t even make it out of committee.

    The Second Amendment wasn’t designed to protect hunters or sportsmen… the only things that the Second Amendment truly authorizes you to hunt are tyrannical politicians! And the Democrats and RINOs realize this. These career politicians realize that they are dangerously close to being forcibly removed from office. Universal background checks allow for the government to maintain a database of Americans’ gun sales/purchases and the idea that someone could manufacture a firearm on their own absolutely terrifies them!<
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by $ Susanne 11 years, 8 months ago
      I saw this as well when it hit the news, and reacted with absolute disgust.

      My first operational thought was were I Ares Arms, which I am not, there would be no record or customers list of my very cool paperweights. Oops, sorry, they must have gotten mixed up with that kindling newspaper, and guess that hard drive got thrown in the microwave... After all, they are just paperweights, so unless it has become BATFPwE it has no jurisdiction in the case, and no legal standing. Because you KNOW that once the baying curs have their tounges out and fnags showing they will not stop until they have drank the blood of their target.

      And when they play one judge off against another (like a kid playing off 2 parents) you understand the maturinty and mentality of those kinds of people.

      Of course its all moot... because even if the *do* say they did wrong and return the list and promise cross their hearts and stick a needle and all that they didn;'t make copies, no, not a one of our agents did.... do you believe them? That some yahoo employee wouldn't look at that and say "Hmmm, when Hillary gets elected, this is my ticket to an executive slot"?

      I am SO glad I did NOT get an Ares Arms commemorative paperweight...
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by superfluities 11 years, 8 months ago
    Nice chair but expensive. I see 15 different partial "gun kits" which are demilled complete guns legal to sell as a non-gun at $300-$400 each on todays market so a total of about $6000 of gun parts of course 10-15 years ago retail for same would be ~$1000
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
    • Posted by BambiB 11 years, 8 months ago
      Sorta depends on where you get 'em. If you hang around one of the "gun buy backs" and offer $5 each more than the cops, that chair might cost you all of $500. And if you bought them demilled, might only be the scrap cost of the steel.

      Never underestimate the ability of the Government to turn your hard-earned tax dollars into scrap metal.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 8 months ago
    Just purchased $250 worth of ammunition. No 22LR slugs available. WTF?
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 8 months ago
      Seriously??
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by $ stargeezer 11 years, 8 months ago
        That's just a typical weekends shooting NMA.

        A 500 bulk pak of 9mm, one 250rd of 5.56mm and some 45ACP or shotgun ammo. That would eat up $250 pretty fast.

        I just finished loading 3500 45ACP this week. Primers and powder cost almost that. Bullets were $125 per 1000.

        A ammo case full of 22LR - Priceless!
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Posted by gonzo309 11 years, 8 months ago
          I went to an Appleseed Project (http://appleseedinfo.org) event to qualify for marksman or rifleman level. Went through ~750 rounds of 22LR over two days. It's amazing that they can teach you to be accurate out to 400 yards with iron sites. I was the only one in my class to make the 250 yard headshot. I had to learn to shoot left-handed with an eye patch since my right arm is stupid from the stroke. It's a big confidence builder when you actually do it.

          I'm saving the rest of my 22LR for SHTF conditions since I can't readily find any more in the stores I frequent. I've got some 40 cal S&W hollowpoints to trade in SHTF since I don't have a 40 cal. I'm good on 9mm. Hope I never have to use it for defense but I now know that I can be deadly accurate when I have to be. Don't let the skills get stale. 8-)
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by $ Susanne 11 years, 8 months ago
        That, and most propellants that are safe to reload pistol and hunting/milspec hunting and shotgun rounds with. Red dot, green dot, unique, etc... haven't seen it on the shelves for months.

        Then again... according to the Feinsteinian-Obamist anti-gunners, even IF you have the right to keep and bear arms... it says nothing about the ammo for it.

        Personally, I'm thinking of investing in some black powder arms, pig lead, and a stash of sulfur and saltpeter...
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Posted by 11 years, 8 months ago
          point for saltpeter
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          • Posted by 11 years, 8 months ago
            Actually, eminent domain and salt peter are related. from wiki:
            The first case of eminent domain in English law is called the "Saltpeter Case" or the "King's Prerogative in Saltpeter Case." The English King needed saltpeter for munitions and took a saltpeter mine from a private individual. The private party sued the King and the court established the right of the sovereign to take "private property for public use" without liability for trespass but requiring payment of compensation for the taken saltpeter. When the Colonies became the United States and the English Common Law was adopted as the law of the new nation, this principle was recognized. Contrary to popular belief, the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution did not establish this right in the US, as it was already inherent in common law. The Fifth Amendment limited the right of eminent domain by requiring that takings be for "public use" and that "just compensation" be paid for the taken property. The term eminent domain is used primarily in the United States, where the term was derived in the mid-19th century from the legal treatise, De Jure Belli et Pacis, written by the Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius in 1625, who used the term dominium eminens and described the power as follows:
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
            • Posted by $ Susanne 11 years, 8 months ago
              Point for Cite.

              Of course, everyone knows the *other* use for saltpeter, and judging by the current government, there seems to be an excess of the substance in the capitol's drinking water supply...
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by $ winterwind 11 years, 8 months ago
      we're having a hard time finding 22LR - it's non reloadable. hmmmm.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
      • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 8 months ago
        correct. My bet is this is a backdoor effort to disarm the populace.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
        • Posted by BambiB 11 years, 8 months ago
          I don't doubt that this was the intention of the O-Bomb-Ya! administration, but an article I recently read indicates that the main cause for ammo shortages now is simply demand. The more people hear that they can't get something, the more they want to snap it up - whether they need it right then or not. When there's a hurricane coming in the SE, go into any supermarket a day or two ahead of the storm's arrival and you'll find shelves stripped bare. Always amused me that bread and bottled water are the first things to sell out. Bread won't keep and if you're worried about water, you're better off with a gallon of bleach! But the point is, people responding to the news about ammo shortages are causing and perpetuating ammo shortages. Even so, availability is up and prices are coming back down.
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
          • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 8 months ago
            Yet I still can't find 22LR. Other handgun ammo is available, but no small caliber.
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
            • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
            • Posted by BambiB 11 years, 8 months ago
              Yeah. Last I talked to the Wal Mart guy, he said they no longer were limiting quantities for anything EXCEPT .22LR. Thinking in terms of demand, it might have something to do with .22LR being the most popular caliber on the planet AND being relatively inexpensive.

              When .300-Win Mag is available, probably not too many people think, "I ought to buy 1000 rounds of that" (at a cost of over $1000). But for .22LR, that's just two bricks and around $25!

              If you think about it, .22LR should have been one of the calibers least affected by the O-Bomb-Ya! administrations mass ammo buys, since the government would rather shoot us with the OTHER .22s (.223). Now that all the raw materials are available (if you have material for other calibers, you've got what you need for rimfire) the only scenarios that make sense are:
              1) Manufacturers are making greater profit on other calibers, or,
              2) Demand for .22LR still outstrips manufacturing capabilities.
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              • Posted by $ stargeezer 11 years, 8 months ago
                CCI/Speer tell us that they are making 4.5 million 22LR on each of their 2 shifts. That is one type of 22LR they make and that is one manufacturer (albeit the biggest). I don't know where it all goes, but the pile you see on my bench in the pic I posted was 22's I purchased locally in a one week period last summer. It's out there, you must drive around to find it and in some cases you may pay more for it than we traditionally have.

                Go thou and do like wise.
                Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
                • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 8 months ago
                  OK, so here's my recent experience. I was at a client in the middle of Minnesota. I drove there from just north of Milwaukee so that I could conceivably purchase some ammo on the way home from someplace that might have some. On my way home I called every Walmart, Fleet/Farm, Farm&Fleet, and Dicks along a 450 mile path down I94. Not one had any!
                  I stopped in the Cabelas just west of the twin cities and the store mgr there said that the only 22LR that they had was for the "doorbuster" on Sat - and then only 96 bricks of 1000 rds.
                  I went to our local Cabelas this morning. I was there 45 mins prior to opening and was twice as far back as where they handed out coupons to purchase the 22LR's.
                  The mfr's might be making it, but I don't know where the heck it's going. The Fleet/Farm in St. Cloud said that they haven't had 22LR for over a month. Our local FF in West Bend says the same.
                  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                  • Posted by $ stargeezer 11 years, 8 months ago
                    There is a way to check Walmart inventory from their website - I'm no expert on them myself. I do know that in order to get any there you must be at our local store @ around 7:30, because at 8:30, it's all gone. Gander Mountain is where I got those white boxes, I found out that they get their onto the floor Thursday night, I visit them either 8:30pm on thrusday or be there when they open on friday. Our LGS posts on their facebook page when they have 22's (about every day) and there's always a line for the 22's every day.
                    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                • Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
                • Posted by BambiB 11 years, 8 months ago
                  Way ahead of you. I don't shoot much .22LR, so 3,000 rounds added to the basic stock was plenty. Just happen to have the receipt: 6 bricks of Winchester XpertHV 22 Rimfires at $12.97 per box purchased at Walmart on the Fourth of July, 2009.

                  And I thought the price was a little high at the time.
                  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                  • Posted by $ stargeezer 11 years, 8 months ago
                    The last brick of that round I saw was $45! No, I didn't buy it either. I'll pay $20, but that's as far as I'll stretch.

                    Last summer I had a regular black market going. Lots of my buddies still work for a living and just couldn't get to a gun shop in time to buy 22's, so I'd buy as much as I could through the week and peddle it to them at the range on Sat.

                    The only ammo I bought that I didn't care what it cost was the stuff I shoot in our 22 bullseye meets. My bullseye gun is very fussy about being fed good ammo. I paid $60 a brick for that and would have bough more than the two bricks they had if I could have. I've only got around 200 rounds left of that, so this year I guess I'll be shooting something else.
                    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                    • Posted by 11 years, 8 months ago
                      ah, that's my entrepreneur star. why is that black market?
                      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                      • Posted by $ stargeezer 11 years, 8 months ago
                        Only in that I'm not running a gun store. Of course I didn't sell the ammo, my friends just reimbursed me for the costs, but it might have looked funny
                        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                        • Posted by 11 years, 8 months ago
                          I'm just trying to understand-so you have to have a license to sell ammo? You can't just post something on Craigslist? IF 22 is in short supply, it may be an excellent trade or re-sell.
                          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                          • Posted by $ stargeezer 11 years, 8 months ago
                            Yes. In order to sell ammo, powder, primers, guns or even black powder and guns in Illinois you must hold a federal license that's controlled by the BATF. A FFL license. It's not hard to get requiring fingerprints, photo, $200 fee and a letter from the local police that you are a person of character. Then, after you get the license, you must maintain some extensive records and meet a lot of storage regulations. Every year the BATF will come by and inspect your records, inventory and storage arrangements.

                            They also have the right to drop in anytime and you must open up to them. You surrender your right to privacy. This is the biggest to me.

                            All in all, more trouble than I want and far too much federal interference. My buying a few boxes of 22's that my buddies pay me back for is not worth the hassle. I'm not doing it to make money, but a guy sure could if they wanted to.

                            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  

FORMATTING HELP

  • Comment hidden. Undo