Stripped AR lowers and the TC SBR case

[atblis]

Is this correct?
You can make a pistol into a rifle (SBR it, or extend barrel to 16")
You cannot make a rifle into a pistol. Once a rifle, always a rifle.

Everything I read about United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Co. suggests that the court's decision was that the Contender can be converted back and forth between rifle and pistol configuration without running afoul of NFA stuff.

What gives?

I am curious about this in the context of virgin stripped lowers, and the whole making a pistol or rifle.

 

[N003k]

I believe the ATF's stance is that it applies ONLY to the Thompson Contender...and only to the sets that came with all the parts.

Their position has yet to be challenged however (probably because it's so hard to prove anyone did it, that they've yet to prosecute for it, though don't take that as advise to ignore the law!) so it stands.

IANAL, and this is only to the best of my recollection.

 

[atblis]

So somebody needs to sell an AR pistol/carbine kit.

And why can't I assemble a "kit" on my own?

 

[N003k]

Except their standing is it ONLY applies to the one very specific kit series. And as for why you can't? Because the ATF says so.

As someone reminded me the other day...you're talking about the ATF here and assuming they make sense.

 

[atblis]

Apparently, the ATF has stated in letters that their criteria was that the kit be from a "single source" not just the T.C. kit. But yeah, ATF letters are pretty much worthless.

 

[alsaqr]

ATF letter on the TC Encore:

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=239

 

[brickeyee]

A stripped lower is neither a pistol nor rifle.

It can be made into either if you transfer it as an 'other' on a 4473.

Since it is NOT a long arm, it cannot be sold by an FFL to anyone under 21.
The federal law says no one under 21 can purchase ANY firearm form an FFL, then makes an exception for long arms ONLY.

 

[NavyLCDR]

The federal law says no one under 21 can purchase ANY firearm form an FFL, then makes an exception for long arms ONLY.

A minor (no pun intended) technical correction...

Federal law prohibts an FFL from transferring any firearm to a person under 21, then makes an exception for long arms only. There is no Federal law that prohibits the 18 year old person from purchasing.

FFL knowingly sells a handgun to an 18 year old person, the FFL violated the law, not the purchaser, assuming the purchaser did not make any false oral or written statements or misrepresent their age.