No one has really answered this question. I've gotten some interesting replys, however.
from
1911today (post 3) :
Would you really want to apply for an FFL every time you wanted to put a .22 conversion on a 1911 or AR, some model handguns even have interchangeable-caliber barrels, would you want to pay $5 and have 4 FFL entries for 1 handgun?
I've paid about 50 FFL fees in my lifetime ($250 total). I've only purchased 5 or 6 extra barrels so my total would have been $280. Certainly not a concideration for me but it might be for anyone who buys 2-5 barrels for most every gun they own.
I'd imagine the ATF would pay a visit.
P.S. The ATF wouldn't know because only the barrel would be registered and they'd have no idea that they were all for the same receiver.
from
esquare (post 4) :
I may be cynical but I think you're missing the idea that gun control has never been passed as an effective way to reduce violence and crime.
In a way, I was being very facetious. This rule, I believe, was made so the gov't knows who owns what and how many.
Almost everything that you own is known to someone and can be found out by those who know the system. Think about it.... Cars, hunting, fishing, houses, every add'n to your house, income, (& if you claim deductions on taxes) all medical expendatures, work expenses, car mileage, losses to anything that you own, day care, insurance costs, etc.
Unless you pay cash for most things then they know your whole life!
from
fiddletown (post 9) :
Why do you want to give the politicians ideas?
Hell NO !!
They get way too many on their own.
from
ClayinTx (post 10) :
I don't believe the OP was missing the point. I believe his question was rhetorical.
Thank you. Except, not rhetorical but maybe facetious. I really would like to know why the idiots in Washington, when trying to be able to trace a criminally-used weapon, chose to serial number the wrong part. There is nothing about the receiver that that is used (legally in court) to ID the bullets that were collected at the scene or from the body. Sure, the casings from a semi-auto will leave identifiable marks but semi-autos weren't very popular back when this law was written. Certainly not like they are now.