Kalifornians get your .50 NOW!!!

[deej]

EDM has a deal where you can buy the receiver now, register it, and return it at a later date (funds permitting) to have the weapon finished. IIRC it's still about $2000 for the receiver, so that's not an option for me.

It might be worth contacting Serbu (drool...), LAR, State Arms, and some others to see if they are willing to work out the same kind of arrangement. Failing that, I'll be buying a few CA-legal AR-style lowers and registering them.

Of course, we should NOT be spending any time worrying about this right now. All of our current efforts should be devoted to lobbying Arnold to veto this piece of crap.

 

[uglygun]

goalie

Well I almost lost myself...


It depends on how the 50BMG rifles wind up being controlled/regulated by this law.

Think about the 50BMG upper assembly itself, is the DOJ going to consider this part itself the controlled item? If you put the 50BMG upper onto a single shot DPMS lower you've just created a 50BMG rifle that will fall to this potential state law/regulation, so when this law goes into effect you would be using the serial number off the single shot lower to say "this is my 50BMG rifle being registered in accordance with the law."

Well, okay that is pretty simple to follow. Here's where it gets interesting. Some of us own multiple AR15s and if we had one of these 50BMG upper assemblies we would have the capability to create multiple 50BMG rifles by simply switching the upper assembly between lower assemblies. Suddenly I have 3 AR15 lower receivers which can have this upper assembly attached making it a 50BMG rifle.

If I only registered one of the lowers with the upper attached what would happen if the upper were attached to another lower receiver? What if I no longer wanted to use my current AR15 lower receivers for fear of 50BMG placing excess wear and tear onto it so I order off a single shot DPMS lower receiver to use with it? New lower receiver, new firearm if we are going by the lower receiver serial number.

My 3 AR15s are already registered as "assault weapons", what I am wondering is if they would have to be double registered if I had a single 50BMG upper in my possession that theoretically gives me the ability to make 3 seperate 50BMG rifles. If that is how this law is interpreted.


OR there exists this possibility

Are the 50BMG rifles simply going to be added to the "assault weapon" status of controlled firearms under the 1989 Roberti/Roos law. If they become a firearm considered to be an "assault weapon" does that suddenly give every owner of a registered AR15 out there the freedom to mount 50BMG upper assemblies without the neccesity to register the gun that's where I almost lost myself? That would leave only the people with single shot or FAB10 type receivers to register their lower receivers that might have a 50BMG upper installed, or one day installed



I'm using a parallel similar to that of the registered conversion parts such as the Drop In Auto Sear and the Lightning Link parts that work in AR15s to make them full auto or select fire, these two items are considered a machine gun and are the registered/traced part by the BATF following the National Firearms Act of 1934.

With the DIAS and LL, they are considered the machine gun precisely for this reason because whatever firearm they are placed into suddenly becomes a full auto machine gun and the serial number on the actual lower can change in the drop of the hat depending on what it is installed on.

Also, the negative ninny in me forsees the potential for these upper assemblies to change the DOJ viewpoint of the Ca. DOJ approved single shot lower AR15 type receivers and FAB-10 receivers because now they can readily accept a part that easily converts them into a 50BMG rifle.



I don't doubt that owners of the 50BMG uppers will have something to register if this becomes an actual law but I'm wondering WHAT will be registered.



I have some other questions and concerns regarding this but I haven't thought them out as clearly yet or figured out quite how to word it.

I have however called the DOJ to find out just what in the hell they are going to do about this. The person who I spoke with on the phone didn't really know what to say as the potential impact of this law is only just now being considered. My questions were enough that my number is being passed onto higher ups with a synopsis of our discussion so that they can review the issue and possibly contact me later.

This is the second such LONG conversation I have had with the Ca DOJ and these folks actually seem about as opposed to this as we are. They don't want to enforce this crap much less have to decide how to rule on this crap.

I'm hoping they won't ban the 50BMG uppers from being able to be imported into the state. It's just that people would not be able to install one of these onto a single shot or FAB10 lower bought after the ban goes into effect, registration of lowers meant to be used with a 50BMG upper would need to be done during the grace period by the sounds of it.

By the sounds of it ammunition is unlikely to be controlled by the state, still available for sale and use. But who knows what can happen.



After this pending legislation gets signed it sounds like it won't go into effect until Jan 1st 2005.


I swear, during the first post I made all of these issues were bouncing around inside my head like a piece of flubber.

I made a joke about applying for a job with the DOJ because somebody has gotta speak out for other gun owners.


-edit-

The person I spoke with from the DOJ called back and a preliminary review seems to indicate that the 50BMG uppers won't be effected as the law seems to be concerned with "50bmg rifles" as in actual firearms as bought and sold through a dealer.


And interestingly he pointed this out to me which seems to allow registered "assault weapon" AR15 owners the versatility of being able to slap on a 50BMG upper as well.

(a) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG rifle" means a
center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not
already an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276, 12276.1, or
12276.5 , or a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200

 

[FNFiveSeven]

OK, how about this.

You go out and buy an Kali-legal AR lower receiver, let's say it's legal because it doesn't have the mag well machined out. You attach a 50 BMG upper to it, and when Jan 1st rolls around, you register the gun as it has been suddenly turned into an "assault weapon". On Jan 2nd, you take the 50 BMG upper off the gun, machine out the mag well, and attach a bushmaster M4gery upper to the gun. You can't be convicted of "creating an assault weapon" because the gun already was classified as an assault weapon the day before and legally registered. Does this make sense? You could also do this with any other semi auto by leaving off the pistol grip and attaching the 50 BMG upper to get it classified as an "assualt weapon" on purpose, you follow? What this law does is create a temporary loophole allowing the construction of an unlimited number of AW's in california, if I understand it correctly.

 

[uglygun]

blackrazor, yes it is something that I thought of.


It wasn't something I was quite ready to put into words yet because the question of whether a DPMS single shot lower or FAB10 lower with a 50BMG upper installed seems to be in doubt as to whether it would be considered a "50BMG rifle" by this law and neccesary to be registered.


However while I was talking with the DOJ person on the phone I commented that something had better be registered inorder to allow somebody a defense if they are ever questioned as to the legality of their 50BMG rifle.

I'm sure an officer out in the field is going to be DAMN CERTAIN that he is looking at a 50BMG rifle and all kinds of alarms are going to go off if the rifle's serial number doesn't pop up when checked to see if it's registered in a vein similar to that of an "assault weapon" that he knows how to check up on.

Or for of us seasoned Ca. AR15 owners, we'd feel a LOT better knowing we can keep a copy of our registration in our buttstocks knowing if we are ever questioned we can whip it out and show them.

 

[artherd]

Wait a second, does this law then provide a new period for the manufactuar/sale/etc of CA 'AWs'?

Ban .50s, fine, I'll go get a .408CheyTac that has six times the accuracy and better ballistics anyway.

 

[uglygun]

I'm thinking 300RUM loaded with 163grn AP WWII pulls....

I already know what they do out of a 300WinMag at 3200fps and the results are sure purdy.... Think what a 300RUM could do when same said bullet suddenly squirts out at closer to 3500fps.


The 300RUM with a 190grn VLD is real close to being a 2k yard supersonic performer as well from what I hear.

 

[FNFiveSeven]

uglygun,

I think that, if this ban passes, it gives us a brief yet glorious opportunity. A 50 BMG upper can be adapted (crudlely yes, but that's hardly the point) to any semi auto lower, including say, a Bushmaster BAR-10. This may be the ONLY way to get a fully functional BAR-10 into Kali... ever.

I'm sure that, when it comes down to it, you will have to provide a serial number to add your 50 to the AW list. If you use a FAB-10 lower or whatever, the serial number resides on the receiver, and there's nothing the DOJ can do about that. So the receiver will become a Kali AW on the 1st. We need to look further into this if Arnold signs the law. I didn't buy enough AR's the first time, I'd like to get a few more if possible.


On another note, the law itself is totally worthless. As soon as it becomes law, I will create or try to have made for me a rifle chambered in my own wildcat, called the 50 KM (.50 California Magnum). Basically it will be a 20mm case necked down to the .510 bullet. You should be able to get velocities higher than 4000 fps with the 800 grain .510 bullets. You could even sell it outside of California as the new "most powerful rifle you can buy."

 

[uglygun]

LOL, just get the 30mm Vulcan round and neck down to 50c aliber.


Call it the "New York Gun", a 50 caliber projectile being capable of achieving near orbital altitudes and hit targets in New York fired from Sacramento.

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG rifle" means a
center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not
already an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276, 12276.1, or
12276.5 , or a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does this mean the few .50 BMG handguns will remain legal in CA?

 

[JOE MACK]

Hmm... looks like J.D. Jone's .500 Peacekeeper may come into it's own. He advertises that it's 88% of the .50BMG.

 

[Drjones]

BUMP.


CALL AND WRITE!!!!!!

 

[jason10mm]

Out of curiosity, can nonKali residents register a weapon so that if we ever move INTO Kali, we can bring in our registered weapon?

My current GF absolutely LOVES San Diego, so I can foresee us moving there at some point in the distant future. Naturally I'd like to be able to bring in as many EBRs as possible, which currently is impossible. But If I can just register some AR lowers like ya'll are saying, then 20 years from now I'll be able to bring it in (assuming nothing even more restrictive comes down the pipe).

Make sense? What do ya'll think?

 

[redhead]

Jason - the text of the bill indicates that importation of a .50 into the state would be illegal should Arnold sign the bill and the effective date is passed.

Text of SB50

 

[jason10mm]

I read it, but the importation prohibition seems to apply to unregistered .50s after Jan 1. It states that you have to give your address to register a .50, but does not state that you have to BE a Kali resident to register.

Surely Kali residents who registered thir assault weapons can move out of state for a few years, then move back and still retain their registered firearms, correct?

I don't see any reason why all of us non-Kali guys can pay our $25, get registered, then be covered should we move into the state at a later date.

It also mentioned that folks moving into Kali with assault weapons can get a DOJ permit for their firearms. I take it that those permits are NEVER issued except to movie folk or VIPs, right?

 

[uglygun]

It also mentioned that folks moving into Kali with assault weapons can get a DOJ permit for their firearms. I take it that those permits are NEVER issued except to movie folk or VIPs, right?

That would be a correct assumption. Move to Ca. and kiss them goodbye, unless you are in the military and are okay with the notion of keeping your firearms on base never being able to enjoy them off base.

 

[redhead]

I went cross-eyed looking for the permit process "as provided for" in the codes and legislation. Everything I've read on the forums and heard from other gun owners (yeah, I know, how accurate is that?) indicates that moving into California with an "assault" weapon can't be done legally. There are exceptions, as mentioned, such as members of the armed services and for movie making purposes, but other than that, I don't know what the references are.

It does appear to be the case that if you are a resident with registered "assault" weapons and move out of state, you can move back with said registered weapons. As to an out-of-stater registering a .50, who knows? The bill hasn't been signed, and the implementing regulations haven't been written.

If Arnold signs the bill, I just might buy a .50 before the window closes.

 

[Drjones]

BUMP.

 

[TheOtherOne]

and for movie making purposes

I wonder what the law on that is exactly? What if you take a camcorder to your range session each time because you are constantly gathering footage for a documentary movie that you are making but can never quite finish because you are waiting for the right shots.

 

[redhead]

What if you take a camcorder to your range session each time because you are constantly gathering footage for a documentary movie that you are making but can never quite finish because you are waiting for the right shots.

Worth a try, right? Or maybe not.

 

[Subliminal One]

The Brady Bunch is saying on their website that Arnold supported a 50 cal ban during his election run. Is this correct? I know he supports AW bans, and if the 50 Cal is lumped into the AW category then I can see him signing the bill into law.

It'll be interesting to see what the registration terms are. All 50 cal rifles will have to be registered. BUT, they would have to be LAWFULLY owned in order to be registered. If you have an unregistered AR receiver right now, it's illegal for you to have owned it after SB23 therefore I'd assume not legal to register as a 50 Cal. In other words, you'd have to purchase a 50 Cal receiver that is in compliance with the current state laws. Or they can reopen the registration period for ALL AWs, which will now include 50 Cals (if AB50 is signed) to avoid such complexities.

Besides, registration is done by mail if I'm correct. The CA DOJ isn't going to check your lower receiver to see if it's allowed to be registered, right? Once you get the 50 Cal AW permit you may be in the clear to convert it to whatever caliber you wish.