Sporting purposes criteria

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CleverNickname

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18 USC 925(d) prohibits importing non-sporting firearms. However, I don't know exactly what process or criteria the BATFE uses to determine whether a gun is sporting or not. Does anyone know where they're published? I've already searched 27 CFR Part 178 and I couldn't find anything there. I'm guessing it might be somewhere in the federal register, but the online version only goes back to 1994 and even if it's available online I wouldn't know where to start looking.

Edit: I'm more interested in the criteria for long arms; I already know about the points test for pistols.
 
I don't know exactly what process or criteria the BATFE uses to determine whether a gun is sporting or not. Does anyone know where they're published?
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It's my understanding, that it is NOT published (or possibly even in writing anywhere), what defines "sporting purpose".The law says no "non-sporting purpose" importation, but NEVER defines "sporting purpose anywhere, so the BATFE was left to define it for themselves.However, the BATFE doesnt write laws, only policy and procedure for ITSELF, and I dont think theres another law anywhere that requires the BATFE to write down and/or publish it's policies and procedures, therefore......it's whatever the BATFE decides on any particular model of gun, at any given moment.I beleive after the VA gun show harrasment incident, when the BATFE was questioned in Congress, this issue (may not have been the sporting clause exactly, might have been machige gun testing procedures or something eles, but the circumstances are still the same) was brought up, and nothing ever really came of the BATFE's admission that a lot of what they decide isnt written down in law or even internal policy, and the issue it just faded away from there....

could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure, thats why you cant find it in writing.It doesn't exist.
 
Sporting purposes are defined on ATF's website, in a PDF file somewhere..I forget the location or title, but I believe it's something like "Procedure for importing a firearm". Basically there's a document with a set of criteria for handguns that must score a certain number of points to qualify, and then for long guns it has to meet all of a number of different criteria (not from certain countries, not with certain features, etc).
 
could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure, thats why you cant find it in writing.It doesn't exist.
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Nah, I'm pretty sure that it has to exist in writing somewhere. I don't think it's quite down to the level of the individual whims of whichever BATFE tech analyst happens to examine an import sample. And even if it was just some internal document that wasn't intended for public consumption, a FOIA request should be able to get a copy. I'm just surprised it's so difficult, considering finding the points test for pistols was pretty easy.
 
Yeah that's one of the things I found but it's not current and it only appears to apply to those specific rifles that are listed. I'm wondering if someone requested to import a brand new type of rifle, how the BATFE would make the determination.
 
CleverNickname wrote:

18 USC 925(d) prohibits importing non-sporting firearms. However, I don't know exactly what process or criteria the BATFE uses to determine whether a gun is sporting or not. Does anyone know where they're published? I've already searched 27 CFR Part 178 and I couldn't find anything there. I'm guessing it might be somewhere in the federal register, but the online version only goes back to 1994 and even if it's available online I wouldn't know where to start looking.

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Like the STUMP JUMPER, an undistinguished mamal that, having sniffed the wind, jumps from one stump to another, the BATF, re making such determinations attempts to guess which way the winds of political fashion or fancy are blowing, and rules accordingly, as they have done time and time again. This agency has prostituted itself so often that I doubt it could cross it's legs.

Edit: I'm more interested in the criteria for long arms; I already know about the points test for pistols.
 
In general, "sporting" = hunting and/or formal target shooting (generally bullseye competition).

If "sporting" actually meant "sporting" than no gun would be banned because every gun has some sort of sport its used in.
 
That "list" of what constitutes a sporting rifle made me cross eyed! "First, you kill all the lawyers ..." (thank you William Shakespeare!), then you revert to plain language, and dispense with 99% of the useless BS, then you "Shall Not Be Infringed". Works for me, and the U.S. Constitution! :)
sailortoo
Semper Paratus (also)
 
Well, it looks like I was wrong (it happens on rare occasion).Apparently my mind is slipping.I blame global warming....
 
To whomever might be interested:

Re the monstrosity that is the law, has "sport" been anywhere defined, or are the "Stump Jumpers" (BATFE) allowed to wing it all by themselves?

Additionally, has "readily adaptable thereto” (sport), anywhere been defined.

By "defined" I mean so written down on paper so that any literate citizen, having read what was written down, could discern exactly what was said, intended, allowed, disallowed and or required.

Seems that the answer is NO, but I could be wrong in this conclusion.
 
BATFE has the discretionary oversight of what constitutes the "sporting purposes" mentioned in the Gun Control Act of 1968. Essentially, whether or not a weapon can be imported is determined by a point system. Points are awarded based on particular features of a firearm, including adjustable sights, overall length, weight, caliber, target grips and the like.

These specs apply mostly to handguns. Autoloaders must have at least 75 points, and revolvers at least 45.

You can view a copy of ATF Form 4590 at the ATF's webpage. This form is basically a checklist of all of the things that the ATF considers to be usable for sporting purposes.

FWIW, the ATF only defines sporting purposes to include hunting and what could loosely be called "traditional" forms of competitive shooting, e.g. bullseye style pistol competition or international-style rifle matches. Fans of run 'n' gun shooting sports are out of luck, as the ATF defines these not as sports, but as competitive combat training. You can read the three page PDF document outlining the above at this link.
 
In Unintended Consequences, I believe the main character references the "ATF rule of the day."

Unfortunately, that's basically what's going on. While Justin is correct about the point scoring system, the ATF is very often crooked about long guns, and Class III stuff.
 
DoubleTapDrew,mordechaianiliewicz and Justin:

Having viewed the referenced documents, I do not recall ever seeing or reading through any such arrant balony or "horse pucky" readers choice, as this form 4590 and or the PDF document found at the provided link.

As I said earlier, the STUMP JUMPERS at BATFE, are allowed, with the blessings of our elected things, to "wing it". As to which is worse, the antics of the BATFE or the fact that the employees of The People, our above referenced elected things, allow such antics, your guess would be as good as mine, perhaps better.

mordechaianiliewicz:

I've read Unintended Consequences, and I do not recall the particular observation you reference, though it most certainly could be there. In any case, I submit that reference to "ATF's rule of the day", would be more correct stated as ATF’s rule of the moment".
 
I realize this is not an 'official' interpretation but from an anti-gun organization that I wrote to a couple days ago I asked "what do you consider sport?". The response was "We generally think of skeet shooting and other Olympic competitions as shooting sports.". So given that you can tell what kind of firearms that encompasses.
 
All of this came about from the Gun Control Act of 1968 (yes, I am going to go on a brief mouth off) Congress fault, not ATF's. I hope Parker's case TKOs a few pieces out of this most likely with be:

This sporting purpose nonsense.

The MG ban and the Import MG ban (from 86 and 68 respectively).

True, the ATF can shift these requirements around based on whoever examines the guns, Hey, If I was in charge of imports we would have Tavor's, FAMAS, and that .410 AR over here. (minus a few for testing purposes ;) ) The best proof stupid laws start headaches.
 
seriously. If he needs the in the line of duty, let his department buy them. If he just wants them because hicaps are cool... tell him to move to nevada

atek3
 
The whole sporting clause is ridiculous.. you cannot get a G25, however you can buy a Kalashnikov variant that looks like a hunting rifle... {/ rolling my eyes at the "sporting clauses"
 
Gunnerpalace writes:

All of this came about from the Gun Control Act of 1968 (yes, I am going to go on a brief mouth off) Congress fault, not ATF's. I hope Parker's case TKOs a few pieces out of this most likely with be:

This sporting purpose nonsense.

The MG ban and the Import MG ban (from 86 and 68 respectively).

True, the ATF can shift these requirements around based on whoever examines the guns, Hey, If I was in charge of imports we would have Tavor's, FAMAS, and that .410 AR over here. (minus a few for testing purposes ) The best proof stupid laws start headaches.

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You point out that GCA'68 was An Act of Congress, rather than the creation of BATF is of course correct, this legislative POS was another example of congressional "wet dreams/wet dreaming".
\
What BATF, the ATF, F Troop or whatever one chooses to call it has done is as follows. They took a bad thing and via their continuously prostituting themselves, and otherwise questionable antics, made it a great deal worse. It is such actions that many, myself included, find unforgiveable.
 
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