Call to action - mail the BATFE director to reverse the ruling on Akins Accelerator!

[Kael]

I find it ironic that people will complain about the ATF ad nauseum, but when it comes to skirting federal law, will quote the ATF verbatum.

The biggest reason I complain about the ATF is they make up their own rules as they go. Yes, this device was skirting the law, but by the letter of the GCA didn't break it. We let the ATF make up the law as they go along.

If the ATF enforced the federal laws fairly, I'd feel the same way about them as I do MD police: they have to enforce bad laws, but do so professionally and fairly. Instead, we have an organization that effectively makes up the law as they go with no legal recourse given to us. Thats the problem here, and it goes much deeper than a silly 10/22 stock.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat

 

[Prince Yamato]

Maybe the alterior motive for banning it was the ATF saw it as a legal headache. People in states that banned machineguns would buy it, the antis in the state would get upset, SHTF and in a swoop of senatorial pen, semi-autos start getting banned.

Honestly, the reason people are so upset about this is that they could own a machinegun without paying the tax. I don't really care what the federal definition of machinegun is- I know what it is- the fact is, that's what this device was. It was a machinegun that worked on a reliable, non-traditional mechanism. I'd like to see if these same people would come out ranting if ATF banned Hellfire Triggers. Probably not, because Hellfire Triggers aren't reliable and aren't as close to full auto as the Akins was.

The fact is, we should all legally be able to own machineguns (tax free, in all states), but we can't. Akins was a stop-gap measure, but one which could have cost all of us the legal right to own a semi-auto. Fight the '86 law, not this ruling.

 

[Lucky]

Jibraun you know the facts, and you can read English, and you have come to a reasonable conclusion. Unfortunately a large number of people on this forum range from apathy to Akin's plight, to barely-contained glee that he's getting his 'comeuppance'. Yea, it's sickening, but that's the way it is.

I feel that any time a manufacturer is targeted because their wares aren't 'civilian' enough that's a threat to gunowners everywhere. It's the classic free-rider dilemma, you will do the work of upholding liberty and other people who don't work, or work against you will reap the rewards just as you do. Obviously the solution is to ignore them, paying attention to them can only distract you and waste your time.

 

[Prince Yamato]

their wares aren't 'civilian' enough

Their wares are overpriced. I want a REAL machinegun, not a faux one.

 

[LAR-15]

So are you writing a letter?

 

[NukemJim]

This cause is hopeless.

The AA obeys the letter of the law IMHO. Not the intent of the law granted, but there have been laws that the courts have ruled have to be followed according to how the law was written not how it was meant.

I will write a letter.

IMHO BATAFE has proven on a number of occasions that A) When it suits them they go by the letter of the law. When it doesn't suit them they don't.
B) They (Like any bureacracy) change their minds when it suits them to. C) A Decision about this would have been made at a high level and as such politics entered into it.

IMHO all of the aboved occured.

IANAL and as always could be wrong.

NukemJim

PS. Kael, Uhmm... erhhh.. Mind if I "borrow" your line

If the ATF enforced the federal laws fairly, I'd feel the same way about them as I do MD police: they have to enforce bad laws, but do so professionally and fairly. Instead, we have an organization that effectively makes up the law as they go with no legal recourse given to us.

I like it a lot. Thank you NJ

 

[PromptCritical]

And here we go again.

I posted numerous threads about the Akins fiasco on ARFcom. Every one of them turned into a pissing match over whether or not the Akins constituted a machinegun. On the last one, I had to pretty much lay the smackdown on a poster to prevent another argument.

Since this is a similar thread, I will say what I said before: This is a call to action, not a discussion of the legality of the device from armchair lawyers. If you don't support Akins/Bowers, post somewhere else.

That said, Here are a couple other thoughts:

The ATF approved the design based on a correct understanding of an operating principle. Their analysis of the principle never changed. They changed their minds. In a country where we are supposed to trust the rulings of regulatory agencies, this changing of minds is very disturbing. When we can no longer trust anything they say, we will live in constant fear of them changing their minds and ruining our lives. What is the point of getting a ruling if there is no guarantee that they won't just decide by administrative fiat that what once was permitted, is no longer so? The rule of law falls apart.

Second: This goes out to all those folks who complain that devices such as the Akins will lead to us losing our semi-autos: Your point is? The anti's are pretty much on record saying they want to ban ALL guns. The Akins will not change their mind. The fact that they haven't discovered it still surprises me. All this whining, "oooh don't do that! You'll get us in trouble" is simply crap. If you don't make a fuss to defend your rights or call attention to government abuse, you imply agreement with the status quo, or worse, allow further abuse. You can continue to sit in the back of the bus. I'm riding in front.

ATF has my spring. I want it back.

 

[LAR-15]

If your not going to send a letter, why post?

 

[Sunray]

"...mail the BATFE director..." You should be mailing your elected representatives and asking them why a government agency is allowed to make law by regulation.

 

[jlbraun]

I've already mailed my reps and senator. The more letters the better.

 

[ctdonath]

I want a REAL machinegun, not a faux one.

So what are you doing to overturn 922(o)? wanna help me?

 

[Smurfslayer]

Congress empowered ATF

...to do exactly that - promulgate regulations so that Congress would not have to take up legal deliberations 24 hours / day. The regulations are supposed to abide by constitution and law.

The OP is asking for help, not a debate. How about we just help? Even if some of you might think it's hopeless?

OP is a respected THR and frequent poster. My bet is that a little good will here may just get YOU a little good will on the day YOU need it and OP will probably be among the first to step forward.