Shawn Dodson
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
- Messages
- 3,233
According to news reports the Bushmaster rifle was purchased in compliance with Connecticut state law by Nancy Lanza. If this is indeed true, and the rifle was purchased from a firearms retailer, then, by law, it wasn’t a “semiautomatic assault weapon”. It would have been configured as a “post-ban” rifle, without prohibited “military features”.
Connecticut law bans a semi-automatic firearm if it is capable of accepting a detachable magazine and has more than one of the following “military features”:
Pistol grip
Folding or collapsing buttstock
Bayonet lug
Threaded muzzle to accept a muzzle device
Ability to mount a grenade launcher
I’m unaware of any photos that have been released of the recovered weapon. However chances are high that the only “military feature” on it is a pistol grip, therefore, technically, it would NOT be an “assault weapon” under Connecticut law or the expired 1994 federal law because it doesn't meet the legal definition.
Connecticut law bans a semi-automatic firearm if it is capable of accepting a detachable magazine and has more than one of the following “military features”:
Pistol grip
Folding or collapsing buttstock
Bayonet lug
Threaded muzzle to accept a muzzle device
Ability to mount a grenade launcher
I’m unaware of any photos that have been released of the recovered weapon. However chances are high that the only “military feature” on it is a pistol grip, therefore, technically, it would NOT be an “assault weapon” under Connecticut law or the expired 1994 federal law because it doesn't meet the legal definition.