Fedex won't ship "ghost gunner" cnc mill

[buckhorn_cortez]

It is a private company, FedEx, and they have a right to decide what they're going to ship.

No, actually, they don't anymore than you can decline to bake a cake for a gay wedding - despite your "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" sign.

FedEx is a common carrier and regulated under both state and federal laws. In general, a common carrier is legally bound to carry all passengers or freight as long as there is enough space, the fee is paid, and no reasonable grounds to refuse to do so exist.

Unless FedEx can cite a state or federal law excluding this type of equipment - they are supposed to accept the item for shipment and transport it. If they refuse, the recourse is to sue them under state and federal laws.

If you read the FedEx statement carefully, what they are saying is that they are declining to ship the item until they have found out whether it is an item prohibited by a state or federal law.

If the company manufacturing the tool chooses to pursue this further, FedEx will end up shipping the tool unless it is a prohibited item federally or within the states it's being shipped from and to.

Once again the lawyers have the final say.

No they don't. If this is pursued in court, a federal judge will have the final say. Lawyers may interpret laws for their client - but, they don't get to make them up.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Unless FedEx can cite a state or federal law excluding this type of equipment - they are supposed to accept the item for shipment and transport it. If they refuse, the recourse is to sue them under state and federal laws.

Possibly, but that isn't what DD is doing, is it? DD is not actually trying to rectify the issue by bringing suit, but instead using it to draw attention to themselves and their product through press releases.

 

[Garrobo]

Hire a LTL truck.

Dude.

 

[MachIVshooter]

And it will actually take a real CNC machine to make these things.

"Modifying GG to mill raw bar stock into a lower?" That will require a true 3 axis CNC machine, and precision metrology and jigs for alignment. That is going to be beyond most hobbyists.

You most certainly do not need a CNC to make complex firearm parts.

I built this functional rimfire 1/2 scale AR using a 2-axis DRO'd Lugun FTV-2 knee mill with a Troyke DMT-12 compound cross slide rotary table, and a Hardinge HCT lathe. Every part but the magazine is 100% hand made; took about 240 hours:







I can knock out these 1/4 scale tool steel lowers in about 9 hours:





A full size 7075-T6 lower would take maybe 50% longer just because of the amount of material removal.

I'm not saying that elimination of the partially complete receivers wouldn't prevent many people from being able to do "home builds", but the statement that you need a 5-figure CNC machine to pull it off is patently untrue.

 

[Thermactor]

MachIVshooter
That's beautiful.

Most folks don't have the knowledge, skills or abilities to do machining anywhere near that level. You are a craftsman.

With even more time, I think someone could cut one up with a hand file and a drill. But that would really be a long, long time.

The ghost gunner mill might have been billed as a 'set it and forget it' ez-bake lower receiver oven.
edit: Set it and forget it! It really cuts the chips.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

Possibly, but that isn't what DD is doing, is it? DD is not actually trying to rectify the issue by bringing suit, but instead using it to draw attention to themselves and their product through press releases.

What DD is doing, trying to do, or drawing attention to themselves is immaterial. The idea and statement that FedEx can refuse to ship something because they are a private company, and basically, can do whatever they want is patently false.

FedEx is a common carrier and they have specific federal and state laws that govern what they can and can't do. DD's actions or inactions, seeking publicity, etc. - having absolutely no bearing on that fact.

DD is, in all probability, going the press release route because it is infinitely cheaper than a legal engagement with FedEx's lawyers - and choosing to spend a lot of money on legal services or not - is a real consideration for a small business.

And - so what if that's what they want to do? It offends your personal sense of etiquette?

 

[TRX]

> CNC

...or common hand tools:

http://mujahadeenar15a2.tripod.com/

 

[MachIVshooter]

> CNC

...or common hand tools:

http://mujahadeenar15a2.tripod.com/

That was the old "80%", which required only drilling a bunch of holes. ATF ruled that those were firearms.

The current crop have all but 3 holes drilled, but the FCG pocket is solid. They're actually easier for those who own a mill, but a bit more daunting if you don't.

 

[texasgun]

hey FedEx... i have same lab equipment for you to shop which MIGHT be used to cook meth with....

see how that goes over....

stating that a product you will ship might be used to do illegal stuff OR stuff where the legal status is not fully defined... raises all kinds of alarms with ANY corporation...

I call this a publicity stunt by the guy trying to ship it. "machine parts" and done. FedEx wouldn't have said a thing.

 

[jerkface11]

stuff where the legal status is not fully defined

The legal status of machine tools isn't fully defined?

 

[MachIVshooter]

The legal status of machine tools isn't fully defined?

Though it doesn't pertain to the FedEx situation, ATF has decided that regulating who is using machine tools for the purpose of manufacturing firearms is within their scope. It's horsehockey and a blatant overreach, but for the moment, it stands.

However, where GG is concerned, their 2015-1 ruling is inapplicable to purchasing, shipping, owning and use of the GG by it's owner. ATF does not have any authority to regulate the design, manufacture, sale, distribution, shipping and ownership of machine tools or CAD/CAM software. Only FTC would, and only under an extremely narrow scope.