How many gun control laws is this guy violating?

[rock jock]

I was at the range yesterday preparing to leave when I started talking to a group that were just setting up. I asked one guy what he was planning to shoot and he pulled out a HK MP5. Now, mind you, this was not a select fire MP5, but a civilian version produced in 1998 (I didn't even know these were made). I noticed that the barrel was only about 8" long and it had a folding butt stock. VERY cool-looking gun. I asked him if it was registered as a Class 3 weapon because of the barrel length, he said no, that it was orginally sold as a pistol and that he could very easily remove the buttstock. He also said that, yes, he realized that it was a violation of federal law to have the buttstock attached and that he was considering paying the tax stamp (I couldn't remember if it is $5 or $200 for a short-barreled weapon) to make it legal. After I left in a state of wonder that anyone would take that kind of risk for a piece of plastic, I began to think that a tax stamp would not help him because he would still be in violation of the 1994 assault-weapons ban because, by attaching the buttstock, he had manufactured an AW. Is this correct? Has he violated both the '68 GCA and the '94 AWB? What is the total term of possible imprisonment and fines that he could receive for these violations?

BTW, I didn't really care for a barrel that short on a rifle. There was no room to hold the forestock in front of the magazines, so you were forced to hold the mag to stabilize the weapon.

 

[seeker_two]

Aside from becoming an ATF-trooper's dream bust, I think he may have violated a few Texas gun laws for having a short-barreled rifle.

Strongly urge him to toss the buttstock as far as he can into the nearest large body of water & enjoy his pistol as a pistol. Either that or stock up on soap-on-a-rope...

 

[Jim March]

He can get and use a "shoulder strap" that holds the gun back and helps control recoil. Such things are used to control full-auto versions and are legally a strap, not a stock.

They look fairly ubertactical, too .

But ya, that folding stock should be float-tested in deep water.

 

[rock jock]

Jim,

Got a source for the shoulder strap you speak of?

 

[CleverNickname]

Sheesh, if the guy's going to break the law and put a stock on an SP89, he might as well go all the way and put a foregrip on it.

 

[rock jock]

Oh, I see. This was a SP89. I didn't know such a creature existed. I guess the AWB violation doesn't apply since it had to be a pre-ban. I thought the guy said that the gun was manufactured in '98, but maybe he said he bought it then. Oh well, I suppose he only was in violation of the GCA for a SBR. That's what, 10 years and $250K fine? Merely a flesh wound.