I'm not sure they "mandated changes", as pretty much any AR receiver can be converted. Some manufacturers chose to machine their lowers to not allow installation of certain conversion parts.....but it wasn't ATF mandating such. (Colt for example)When did the ATF mandate changes to semi auto AR-15 receivers so they could no longer be easily converted to selective fire?
Was it before or after the passage of the Hughes Amendment?
I'm not sure they "mandated changes", as pretty much any AR receiver can be converted. Some manufacturers chose to machine their lowers to not allow installation of certain conversion parts.....but it wasn't ATF mandating such. (Colt for example)
@AlexanderA has the right of it.Was it before or after the passage of the Hughes Amendment?
My personal opinion is that this was always wasted effort. I own both fully-automatic M16s and semi AR-15s, and there is little difference, in terms of effectiveness, between them.
Okay, I'll be a bit more specific.
I've been looking into if the ongoing supplying of AR-15s, M60s and other arms to the IRA in the 70s and 80s by American sympathizers had any bearing on the Hughes Amendment being passed. Reagan and Thatcher had a uniquely close relationship. US arms going to the IRA was a contentious issue.
Trying to see if the arms were going over as selective fire or modified over there. If that played a part in the passage of the Hughes Amendment.
No, the anti's were mad that any restrictions were being rolled back, and wanted to try and "poison pill" the legislation.Trying to see if the arms were going over as selective fire or modified over there. If that played a part in the passage of the Hughes Amendment.
This was the greatest mistake the NRA ever made.
That’s debatable. The only part of FOPA that I really benefited from was allowing brass and bullets to be shipped. “Safe transport” is routinely ignored by overzealous cops, so pretty much the list of states I’m comfortable taking a gun into wouldn’t be much different. The only factory ammo I buy is defensive handgun and 22 so having to have it logged by the seller wouldn’t really be much of a hassle.I disagree. While we all lament the Hughes Amendment, consider where we'd be without FOPA. Passing it was the right call.
Well, being that "selective fire" firearms are NFA and require registration and a $200 tax...........its not just unlikely, but improbable that any were exported to Northern Ireland......Trying to see if the arms were going over as selective fire or modified over there. If that played a part in the passage of the Hughes Amendment.
You have to be kidding.That’s debatable. The only part of FOPA that I really benefited from was allowing brass and bullets to be shipped. “
You have to be kidding.
Benefits of FOPA extend far beyond shipping "brass and bullets"......among them:
- Forbids the government from keeping a registry of Title I (non NFA) firearms linking them to the owner. OK, but doing so would have required either legislation or so much administrative regulation change it could have been fought as a separate issue.
- "Safe passage" while traveling. I mentioned this. NY and NJ seem perfectly happy to ignore this as they please. It’s more a theoretical win than an actual one in the states where it is needed most.
- Limited ATF to no more than one compliance inspection per year for those holding an FFL. NA to me.
- Restricted ATF access to dealer records to prevent harassment or abuse. NA to me.
- Expanded FFL's rights to appeal license revocations. NA to me.
- Required proof of a "willful" violation for a criminal conviction. That’s a plus I was unaware of.
- Allowed awarding of attorney fees against the United States for unsuccessful criminal prosecutions. Thankfully NA to me so far.
- Eliminated the "contiguous state" restriction on sales of rifles and shotguns. Nice, but not a big deal to me. I’ve never purchased a gun from a non-contiguous state.
- Removed the recordkeeping requirements on ammunition sales (except for armor piercing). I mentioned this.
- Provided a clear definition of what "engaged in the business" means. I will have to push back on this. I’ve seen too many discussions here and seen the ATF FAQ about this, and about the lack of a “ bright line.”
- Allowed those who received a pardon or had their conviction set aside to again possess firearms. NA
- Allowed FFL's to sell at gun shows. (prior to FOPA dealers could only do business from their premises) There’s a case made by some old timers that gun shows were not made better by this change. My first gun show was in 1990 so I have no opinion on the matter.
- ATF "rulemaking" was now required to have ninety days notice. No way of knowing if this has made a real difference. There’s no objective data to suggest the longer comment period has made any difference in final rulings.
A good read for anyone who thinks FOPA and the NRA screwed gun owners: https://guncite.com/journals/hardfopa.html
Well, in that sense it's been a windfall for me, but I'm still not a fan of the Hughes Amendment.I’ll certainly agree that those guys who saw their $1K matchine guns skyrocket to $25K in a few years are big fans of FOPA.
Not kidding. I didn’t say it was a hill worth dying on but there is a case to be made, especially since I’m not seeing it thru the lens of an FFL holder. Rather than snip and paste a million times I added comments in red to the quoted text above.
It probably was a plus when you consider the positives for FFLs, if only because making life easier for dealers makes it easier for consumers to find the guns they want at competitive prices, but it didn’t exactly rock my world either. The final decision comes down to how much you value being able to own affordable machine guns. I’ll certainly agree that those guys who saw their $1K matchine guns skyrocket to $25K in a few years are big fans of FOPA.
True, but its nice to know that because of FOPA.....it can't happen without a change to federal law.Forbids the government from keeping a registry of Title I (non NFA) firearms linking them to the owner. OK, but doing so would have required either legislation or so much administrative regulation change it could have been fought as a separate issue.
It's part of the law that the courts have so far failed to give much credence. They haven't been inclined to slap down those states or cities that choose to ignore safe passage.- "Safe passage" while traveling. I mentioned this. NY and NJ seem perfectly happy to ignore this as they please. It’s more a theoretical win than an actual one in the states where it is needed most.
You wouldn't push back if you knew what it like before FOPA.....there being no definition at all. That meant ATF was free to prosecute collectors and other nonlicensees simply for selling their own collections at gun shows.- Provided a clear definition of what "engaged in the business" means. I will have to push back on this. I’ve seen too many discussions here and seen the ATF FAQ about this, and about the lack of a “ bright line.”
And those old timers were by and large ignorant of why. Nothing prevented those old timers from selling what they sold prior to FOPA. But FOPA defining "engaged in the business" which meant quite a few of those old timers needed to get an FFL. FOPA didn't affect gun shows nearly as much as the GCA '68.- Allowed FFL's to sell at gun shows. (prior to FOPA dealers could only do business from their premises) There’s a case made by some old timers that gun shows were not made better by this change. My first gun show was in 1990 so I have no opinion on the matter.
Of course its made a difference! Remember 2015? Remember the proposed ban on M855 "green tip"? Remember how that ninety day comment period riled Congress?- ATF "rulemaking" was now required to have ninety days notice. No way of knowing if this has made a real difference. There’s no objective data to suggest the longer comment period has made any difference in final rulings.
As I said, there’s no way to objectively determine whether the outcome would have been any different with a different commentary period. Assigning a degree of impact of a 90 day commentary period is speculative, even if it seems reasonable.Of course its made a difference! Remember 2015? Remember the proposed ban on M855 "green tip"? Remember how that ninety day comment period riled Congress?
I do.
While the comment period may not completely stop the implementation of a new regulation, it most definitely can delay such implementation.
The final decision comes down to how much you value being able to own affordable machine guns.