Need gun advice

5/13/12 | myself

[MistrX]

Is my gun legal?

[MacMattico]

Just make sure no laws have changed recently. When my father died here in NY, my brother went to get his hand guns as they were co-registered in my brothers name and not my mothers, as she never touched a gun. The authorities were quick to learn of my father's passing and contacted my mother. She was honest, my mother would never be anything but, and said my brother now had them as he was registered to own them as well. The State Trooper said there is no such thing as dual registration of hand guns in NY state and off to my brothers house he went. My brother met him at the door and as my brother works in a job related to investigation, they knew each other and my brothers best friend worked out of the sane barracks as this state trooper, so I think that's the only thing that made things go smoothly.

The state trooper showed my brother the law that stated only one registrant per hand gun. My brother explained no, they registered these guns in both their names in 1984 (my father knowing he was getting older) when no such law existed and the officer was not entitled to take the weapons. My brother even brought out his copy of the law in 1984 to show the guy. (My brother is always prepared!) Long story short, I believe after having to repay to register these guns in his name he was allowed to keep them. One was historical, but one was only a .22 for the love of God! I learned to shoot that at 8 and I'm just a girl! It was ridiculous any money had to pass hands and if my brother dies, they'll be confiscated.

[fish hawk]

Tomatoes, tomautos.

[Hugin]

The mag restrictions were passed back in the early 90s. It doesn’t matter when they were made, it’s when you owned them. If you owned them before they passed the law, they are grandfathered in. If you acquired them after that they are illegal. In this case it would be illegal.

[Cuttnhorse]

I had one in Nam.

[taxcontrol]

My Advice - move to a different state.

[Hugin]

BTw, all firearms transfers in CA, even between family members, must have the transfer done through a licensed gun dealer, and is reported to the state. Cost about $35 last time I bought one.

[fish hawk]

like your name, there is very few things more beautiful than a cutting horse doing his thing.

[2111USMC]

The fact that NY even knew your father had guns is criminal (or should be).

The fact that they came after them upon his death is even worse.

[calex59]

Excuse me but the M1 carbine did NOT have a full auto selector. When they added the full auto version they changed the designation to the M2 carbine. All M1 carbines are semi-auto only, even if they were refitted later they were re-stamped M2.

[OKSooner]

Save your empties and get into handloading.

For all centerfire cartridges and shotgun gauges, that is, not just your carbine.

Is FR the best place in the world for free advice or what?

[SampleMan]

FYI, the normal mag is 15 rounds.

[SampleMan]

The M1 Carbine ONLY came in semi-auto. The version with selectable full-auto is the M2 Carbine.

[Trod Upon]

The bigger question is, “Are any of the laws impacting my right to keep and bear arms legal?”

[Roccus]

Is the M2 the same as the M1A1 carbine I remember from my JROTC days in the late 50’s? IIRC, it had a selector and a banana mag.

[LouAvul]

Cost about $35 last time I bought one.

That's the DROS fee. The FFL doing the paperwork tacks on an extra fee.

[LouAvul]

I think the mag restriction only applies to weapons made after a certain date, other wise they would have had to grandfather the law and I believe that is illegal. It wouldn’t hurt for MistrX to check on line to see if this is the case or not.

That's incorrect. The only way a mag over 10 rounds can be in the state (barring purchase by a LEO, etc) is if the owner can prove he had it before they were outlawed. If a private citizen wants such a mag, he must disassemble it and classify it as parts. Kommiefornia won't allow 11+ round mags, but they'll allow all the parts for 11+ round mags. Go figure.

[calex59]

The M1A1 should NOT have had the selector. It is designated as semi-auto only. It should have had a folding stock, it was designed mainly for paratroops. It is entirely possible some local armorer disregarded protocol and converted some to select fire, however officially the M1 and M1A1 carbines were semi-auto, the M2 and M3 carbines were select fire.

[LouAvul]

In answer to your question, allow me to ask if your dad did any aftermarket modifications? Perchance, is there a pistol grip stock? Flash suppressor? These mods (which are frequently done around here), along with the detachable magazine, make the M-1 an EBR (evil black rifle).

[Usually_Disappointed]

I believe the select fire version of the M1 Carbine was designated as the M2 Carbine.

[calex59]

The only way a mag over 10 rounds can be in the state (barring purchase by a LEO, etc) is if the owner can prove he had it before they were outlawed.

Actually I said the same thing you did. I said the law couldn't be grandfathered and it wasn't. Any existing mags when the law went into effect were, and still are, legal for the owner to possess. If this guy gets the carbine from his dad he is within the law to have it. However, he had better check and see if local LEOs interpret the law the way it is written, some of them don't. Barring that, I believe you can find 5 round mags for the carbine, kind of a waste if you ask me but there is no arguing with CA liberal politicians.