PSA Regarding Form 4473
I’d heard that the new Form 4473 now includes a category for “other,” no longer just differentiating between long guns and handguns. “Other” covers receivers and frames, apparently.
What I hadn’t heard until tonight is that the BATFE has also decided that while receivers and frames count as firearms, but are not rifles or shotguns, they are not legal to transfer to persons under 21 – even receivers that can only be made into rifles or shotguns.
The new form instructions, per FreeRepublic:
If a frame or receiver can only be made into a long gun (rifle or shotgun) it is still a frame or receiver not a handgun or long gun. However they are still firearms by definition and subject to the same GCA limitations as any other firearm. See section 921(a)(3)(b).
18 USC section 922(b)(1) makes it unlawful for a licensee to sell any firearm other than a shotgun of rifle to any person under 21.
Since a frame or receiver for a firearm to include one that can only be made into a long gun, is a “firearm other than a shotgun or a rifle” it cannot be transferred to anyone under the age of 21.
Also note that multiple sale forms are not required for frames or receivers of any firearms or pistol grip firearms, since they are not “pistols or revolvers” under section 923(g)(3)(a).
Apparently this is a case of the law being on the books, but the BATFE not deciding to do anything about it until now. The law needs to be changed, and it needs to give the receiver-buyer the benefit of the doubt, as the law is with ammo purchases – i.e. ammo that can be used in either a rifle or a handgun is legal to purchase at 18 if you say you’re buying it for a rifle.
I’ll be writing to Bill Sali to ask him to address the issue – but, in the meantime, if you’re 18-20 and want a stripped lower, you better hury up and find a FFL who hasn’t switched to the new form – which is mandatory as of 11/15.
At one point, making a pistol out of an AR was the hot thing to do. Instructions I had made it very clear to get all new parts that had never been on a rifle and to also get certification letter from the manufacture as such. Pins that held the upper and lower were drilled out to a larger size so it would be harder to claim that someone took the handgun AR barrel and installed it on a rifle AR to make a short barreled (unlicensed) rifle.
Apparently, reusing a part, even a simple screw, that had at one point been assembled as rifle was highly illegal (for the children….)
I remember buying 22 LR. I use to pick up a box every other week while shopping at wal-mart. When I got to the cashier, a scan on the barcode would always bring up that message to the cashier to ask if this was for a handgun or a rifle. I’d always tell her that the first 20 rounds would go in the rifle, and I’d plink off the remainder in my handgun.
The first time I got the “rifle or handgun?” question (also at Wal-Mart) I think I just kind of blinked at the cashier. I mean… really?
I actually always answered honestly because I never had any reason not to (I was of age to buy the types of ammo I was buying) but I can’t imagine being 18-20 and saying “Handgun… Oh snap, guess I better go put it back then, huh?”
Of course, I’d always shoot the .410 shotshells in Taurus Revolver, The 9mm however, I use in my AR rifle. (j/k)
[...] notes the new form 4473s and an ATF re-imagining of the law: I’d heard that the new Form 4473 now includes a category for “other,” no longer just [...]
all they hafta do is ask you?
man, i remember getting asked (upon purchasing some jameson) “you are 18, yeah?”
now, i was 19 at the time, but how many people 17 or maybe younger would’ve answered “no, sorry, back it goes”.
playing a bit on good faith there, methinks.
and i didn’t be killing anybody with that concealed jameson…….
well, until i got behind the wheel o’ me mates car………and so it goes.