A Pistol, a SBR, And a State Line

[WeedWacker]

So I live in Washington state (currently) whose laws do not permit the manufacture and registration of new, non-grandfathered SBR's. But we changed suppressor law so maybe we have a chance to change the NFA rejection. Henceforth my questions deal in the theoretical for me currently but have real world application if laws were different.

I understand that transporting a NFA item to another state requires notice to the ATF of pertinent information - such as dates of travel - and ability to legally possess said NFA items in the state of destination. I live in Clarkston, WA, which is directly across a river from Lewiston, ID. If an Idaho resident were to possess a registered SBR lower and wished to transport it over to the Washington side, could the addition of a pistol buffer tube make the pistol legal to possess in Washington, and would the ATF need to be notified? I'm leaning "yes" on the first but am unsure of the second.

This is mostly out of curiosity and my ineptitude of scouring legal databases....

 

[ChaoSS]

A Rifle is a Rifle, and doesn't become a pistol just because you changed the stock, if that's what you are asking.

 

[Telekinesis]

Maybe. If the SBR was on a form 1 (meaning the owner built it himself) and the gun was originally built as a pistol, then had the stock added when the paperwork came back, he may be able to turn it back into a pistol. The general rule is if a gun starts as a pistol, it can be made into a rifle and back into a pistol. If it started out as a rifle, it can only be a rifle. Yes, it's odd, but that's the ATF for ya.

An easier way to cross state lines with the SBR would be to just buy a 16" barreled upper and put that on the gun for the trip. Once a SBR has a standard length barrel, it is treated as a Title 1 weapon until it becomes a SBR again.

Also, you do not have to notify the ATF when moving suppressors across state lines. But all other NFA weapons require approval (not just notification) before they are transported out of state.

 

[WeedWacker]

A Rifle is a Rifle, and doesn't become a pistol just because you changed the stock,

I remember (now ).

An easier way to cross state lines with the SBR would be to just buy a 16" barreled upper and put that on the gun for the trip. Once a SBR has a standard length barrel, it is treated as a Title 1 weapon until it becomes a SBR again.

Not sure why this didn't cross my mind. I suppose I was too fixated on the pistol aspect (local state law).

Thanks to both, questions answered!

 

[ChaoSS]

Keep in mind that Telekinesis is right, i believe that they changed that recently. But yeah, longer barrel would be easiest.

 

[W.E.G.]