Bushmaster/California/AWB

[steverjo]

I am considering buying a Bushmaster Carbon 15 in California. But i cant afford to purchase the entire rifle now. I am afraid that when I am able to buy it, that the next round of assualt weapon bans will prohibit sales of this rifle in california.

If I buy a complete lower now and register it, will I still be able to purchase uppers and turn it into a complete and working rifle after the next round of assault weapon bans take effect? Or, should i just "bite the bullet" and forgo other necessary expenditures (food, automobile, rent, etc.) and buy the complete rifle now.

 

[Librarian]

If I buy a complete lower now and register it,

You CANNOT 'register' anything California thinks is an 'assault weapon'. All registration periods have expired, and no more are expected.

However, depending on the exact markings on the lower you want, you may not have to. See this PDF file for the long and detailed explanation. Technicalities are the essence of the discussion; a mistake can result in "manufacturing an assault weapon", a very bad idea indeed.

will I still be able to purchase uppers and turn it into a complete and working rifle after the next round of assault weapon bans take effect? Or, should i just "bite the bullet" and forgo other necessary expenditures (food, automobile, rent, etc.) and buy the complete rifle now.

It's impossible to predict the future. (1) Currently no upper is regulated. (2) History suggests the Legislature does not feel strong enough to actually ban weapons and require current owners to get rid of existing weapons the Legislature thinks are the 'bad guns of the moment', so existing guns have been 'grandfathered' in some way. If both of those were to remain the case, then adding an upper to an existing in-state lower would be no problem.