San Fransisco police officer arrested on suspicion of making prohibited assault rifle

[Speedo66]

Many unanswered questions about this PO. What had he done that would cause his fellow officers to turn him in? Generally, just possessing an illegal item would not be sufficient. I've seen several instances where a LEO possessed restricted items, i.e., drugs, weapons, etc. and nobody batted an eye.

For his colleagues to expose him to official scrutiny he must have been exceptional in some form or another, and not necessarily in a good way. Plenty of nutcases wearing a uniform. Perhaps not the best candidate for a test case.

 

[danez71]

The more I think about this.

There is a chance he was building (or built) a .510 DTC. (at least I hope he was, as he will get off if so.) It will take some expert examination of the chamber to determine if this is the case.
Probably not that unusual to have incorrect markings on the barrel, especially if he converted a previously made upper.

The .510 DTC is almost indistinguishable from the illegal .50 BMG. That is how shooters in California get the exact same performance from their big guns as the shooters in the free states do.

If he can prove that his rifle is chambered in a legal round, he should be good to go.

This is not something unheard of in California, that round was developed for California shooters after the law changes and is popular there. Going through the process of building that rifle the LEO should have had plenty of chances to build it legally. He should have know this.

The .510 DTC is about 1/10th inch shorter than a .50 BMG, so a regular .50 BMG round will not chamber in those rifles. The rounds are made from using all the components of a .50 BMG by shorting the case and the shoulder is a little different. But you use the same bullet, same powder charge, etc. So the performance is almost identical.


Also California does not see the .50 BMG as scary or dangerous enough to prohibit others living outside California from bringing in their .50 BMG rifles to compete in rifle matches, thats legal.






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Its possible that he was calling it a BMG to his 'buddies' but it actually wasn't. But that wouldn't get him out of the other charge under PC 30605 (Which isn't a major charge - Not exceeding 1 yr and not exceeding $500 fine. Where-as PC 30600 for the BMG is up to 8 yrs unless you have more than 2 and then you can be charged separately for each rifle.)


I don't know enough about it to say with any certainty other than it seems the .510 DTC is on the fringe of being legal in CA

CA PC's

30525. As used in this part, ".50 BMG cartridge" means a cartridge
that is designed and intended to be fired from a center fire rifle
and that meets all of the following criteria:
(a) It has an overall length of 5.54 inches from the base to the
tip of the bullet.
(b) The bullet diameter for the cartridge is from .510 to, and
including, .511 inch.
(c) The case base diameter for the cartridge is from .800 inch to,
and including, .804 inch.
(d) The cartridge case length is 3.91 inches.



30530. (a) As used in this part, ".50 BMG rifle" means a center
fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an
assault weapon or a machinegun.
(b) A ".50 BMG rifle" does not include any antique firearm, nor
any curio or relic as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the
Code of Federal Regulations.



ETA: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/regagunfaqs#3


What is considered a .50 BMG rifle under California law?

A .50 BMG rifle is defined as a centerfire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun as defined by Penal Code section 16880. A ".50 BMG cartridge" means a cartridge that is designed and intended to be fired from a centerfire rifle and that meets all of the following criteria:
a.It has an overall length of 5.54 inches from the base to the tip of the bullet.
b.The bullet diameter for the cartridge is from .510 to, and including, .511 inch.
c.The case base diameter for the cartridge is from .800 inch to, and including, .804 inch.
d.The cartridge case length is 3.91 inches. (Pen. Code, §§ 30525, 30530.)


4.Can assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles still be registered?

Generally, no. The public registration periods for assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles ended several years ago as follows:
Category 1 AW: must have been owned by 12/31/1991 and registered by 03/31/1992
Category 2 AW: must have been owned by 08/16/2000 and registered by 01/23/2001
Category 3 AW: must have been owned by 12/31/1999 and registered by 12/31/2000
.50 BMG: must have been owned by 12/31/2004 and registered by April 30, 2006


However, Penal Code sections 30625 and 30630 provide an exception for specified peace officers with written authorization from the head of their employing agency.

 

[Acera]

Its possible that he was calling it a BMG to his 'buddies' but it actually wasn't. But that wouldn't get him out of the other charge under PC 30605 (Which isn't a major charge - Not exceeding 1 yr and not exceeding $500 fine. Where-as PC 30600 for the BMG is up to 8 yrs unless you have more than 2 and then you can be charged separately for each rifle.)


I don't know enough about it to say with any certainty other than it seems the .510 DTC is on the fringe of being legal in CA

That is exactly what the .510 DTC is, it is legal. Look it up.

The rest of us that shoot the .50 BMG are on the fringe of being illegal also, as any bigger is a DD.




.

 

[Salmoneye]

I just read a half dozen articles on this and can find no reference to caliber at all...

The articles I read state he was charged with (and plead not guilty to):

"one felony count of manufacture of an assault weapon and one felony count of possession of an assault weapon."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/28/thomas-abrahamsen-san-francisco-cop-jailed-for-all/

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SF-police-veteran-pleads-not-guilty-on-weapons-8481381.php

Not sure why everyone believes he manufactured a .50 BMG...

 

[alsaqr]

Not sure why everyone believes he manufactured a .50 BMG...

This article from the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...rges-ar15-customized-20160727-snap-story.html

Abrahamsen, 50, is accused of violating a state law against assembling an assault rifle or weapon capable of firing a large .50-caliber BMG bullet.

 

[Salmoneye]

Quote:
Abrahamsen, 50, is accused of violating a state law against assembling an assault rifle or weapon capable of firing a large .50-caliber BMG bullet.

You can be charged under the same statute for either an assault weapon, OR a .50 BMG (the entire statute is posted earlier in this thread)...

The articles I linked clearly state he was charged and plead not guilty to one count of manufacture and one count of possession of an 'Assault Weapon'...

Nothing about a .50 BMG...

 

[danez71]

That is exactly what the .510 DTC is, it is legal. Look it up.

The rest of us that shoot the .50 BMG are on the fringe of being illegal also, as any bigger is a DD.




.

I believe you. I should have said "on the fringe of being illegal" as you did.

I mean it as 'its legal in CA... but not by much'.

 

[danez71]

You can be charged under the same statute for either an assault weapon, OR a .50 BMG (the entire statute is posted earlier in this thread)...

The articles I linked clearly state he was charged and plead not guilty to one count of manufacture and one count of possession of an 'Assault Weapon'...

Nothing about a .50 BMG...

And this is a good example of how things get reported by the press and later gets changed.


This link http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...rges-ar15-customized-20160727-snap-story.html used to say:

Abrahamsen, 50, is accused of manufacturing an AR-15-style rifle that can fire a caliber bullet larger than it was originally designed for. The gun was allegedly altered to fire a .50 BMG cartridge. Weapons that fire that type of cartridge have been outlawed in the state for several years, unless the gun was registered with the state before the law was passed.

Now it says

Abrahamsen, 50, is accused of violating a state law against assembling an assault rifle or weapon capable of firing a large .50-caliber BMG bullet.

And if you scroll down far enough, it also now says:

UPDATES:

This article was updated with details of the accusations against Abrahamsen.

This site also noted the '50BMG' factor and quoted the LATIMES article.

You can still see the LATIMES artile in its original form. http://mugshots.com/Current-Events/THOMAS-ABRAHAMSEN.140413709.html

THOMAS ABRAHAMSEN: LATIMES.COM REPORTS SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ASSEMBLING HIS OWN ILLEGAL AR-15-STYLE ASSAULT RIFLE — 7/27/2016



San Francisco, CA - A San Francisco police officer has been arrested on suspicion of assembling his own illegal AR-15-style assault rifle, officials announced Wednesday.

Officer Thomas Abrahamsen, an 18-year veteran of the department, surrendered to authorities Tuesday and was booked and will face two felony weapons charges, San Francisco police said in a statement.

Abrahamsen, 50, is accused of manufacturing an AR-15-style rifle that can fire a caliber bullet larger than it was originally designed for. The gun was allegedly altered to fire a .50 BMG cartridge. Weapons that fire that type of cartridge have been outlawed in the state for several years, unless the gun was registered with the state before the law was passed.

The department’s Internal Affairs division had been investigating Abrahamsen since last summer, officials said.

“In the spirit of the Not on My Watch initiative, Department members will continue to hold each other accountable and will act swiftly to report any behavior that might bring dishonor to the Police Department,” acting Police Chief Toney Chaplin said.

The Not on My Watch initiative was launched by the previous police chief after the department was rocked by a series of scandals, including revelations that dozens of officers had exchanged text messages loaded with homophobic and racist language discussing the communities they served.

Several officers have been fired or resigned over the last 18 months because of the discoveries.

Abrahamsen is on unpaid leave and being held on $150,000 bail. Jail records show his arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Salmoneye may be right in the sense that this may have nothing to do with a 50 BMG. The reports have changed and we just cant be sure.


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[barnbwt]

Again, perfect test case. It's big, but not even a semi-auto. The DTC cartridge is indistinguishable from BMG. He's an otherwise clean cop.

You Kalis ever want BMGs again? Do you want to nip progressive nibbles at the max cartridge power you're allowed by your masters in the bud? Possibly even positive precedent restraining AWBs in general? This is how you do that. Maybe your whole state can rally more than $500 for this guy's defense, assuming the case isn't dropped it's so patently unwinnable in the higher courts (and possibly even juries)

TCB

 

[Salmoneye]

Thank you for the clarification, danez71!

Now I indeed see how this (BMG) all started...

 

[HetchHetchy]

That is exactly what the .510 DTC is, it is legal. Look it up.

The rest of us that shoot the .50 BMG are on the fringe of being illegal also, as any bigger is a DD.

.

That's not true I don't believe. A double or single shot .505 Gibbs or a .600 Nitro Express are not DDs. Much has to do if it's an actual crew-served weapon.

 

[hso]

Much has to do if it's an actual crew-served weapon.

Wellll, the folks with USAS 12s or Street Sweepers might disagree since they were redefined as DDs in 1994 because they had "no sporting purpose".

 

[Librarian]

You can be charged under the same statute for either an assault weapon, OR a .50 BMG (the entire statute is posted earlier in this thread)...

The articles I linked clearly state he was charged and plead not guilty to one count of manufacture and one count of possession of an 'Assault Weapon'...

Nothing about a .50 BMG...

CA LEOs advise the charge filed sometimes is 'named' from the short title of the section. This leads to such oddities as a reported charge for the crime of possession of a large-capacity magazine - not illegal until Jan 1 2017.

Reporters seldom ask such detailed questions as 'what are the elements of the crime with which Mr X is charged, and how did investigation show he had met them?'