Ban Of Device By ATF Triggers Inventor's Ire (NRA Alert)

TBO.com ^ | 12/26/2007 | CHRISTIAN M. WADE

[Restore]

In college in 1978, I invented a geared cam device that fit onto and a bit into the trigger guard of a 10/22. It was actuated by a long throw trigger-lever below the guard that would "pull the trigger" up to eight times. The advantage was the the user could keep a normal shooting stance / grip, and would, in essence, have both single-shot and selectively, a legal "burst".

The product developer estimated that it would cost $100,000 to bring it to market. As I said, I was in college so that wasn't gonna work.

[Redbob]

"In all fairness, if automatics are illegal, this accelerator should too."

Pay close attention to how the law defines "machinegun:"
"more than one shot... by a single function of the trigger."

This device clearly pulls the trigger once per shot.

Seems pretty clear.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“He has voted Republican his entire life, twice for George W. Bush.”

There’s one born every minute.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“Wake me up you y’all are ready for discussing real options. Including massive civil disobedience...”

It’s OK! McHuckaromnonsoniani will save us.

[TLI]

On a side note, a shoe lace can make an AK full auto. It was demonstrated to ATF in a court proceeding. Their opinion was shoelaces should be illegal! For those not aware, ATF makes rulings, which are not law, and then enforces them.

That was not just a ruling, a guy went to prison for that.

A shoelace...

and JPFO published, a letter from the ATF declaring that if a shoelace had ever been tied to the trigger of a firearm to induce the gun to fire automatically, then that shoelace itself would forever afterward be an illegal machine gun under federal law. (JPFO was accused of ridiculing the ATF by making that claim; but in fact, the ATF was the only one being ridiculous.)

[beebuster2000]

"marksmen have been using a technique called bump firing, shooting a semiautomatic rifle from the hip"

say what?

Marksmen? I think not. at least not from the hip.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The NRA is worse than useless. It deceives people into sending it millions of dollars, with those people erroneously thinking the money will be spent to restore and protect our 2A rights. Were it not for the NRA’s deceit, those people would be sending their money to organizations that really would spend it to restore and protect our 2A rights.

[RandallFlagg]

If they said it was legal and then it was not legal, then this is a taking of property entitled to compensation.

For those not aware, ATF makes rulings, which are not law, and then enforces them. This is what bothers me...

If this guy had access to legal resources and written documentation to their statement that authorized production of his device, his case might single-handedly take down the BATF.

[oh8eleven]

There are ex-Marines ....

[tiger-one]

Then of course any of you NRA haters can always start your own Gun Lobby instead of cry-babying about the one we already have.

Your NRA gun lobby is not lobbying for you, they are lobbying for "B" rated Mitt Romney and other Liberals. Letting all gun owners, slowly twist in the wind while taking your money.

[ElkGroveDan]

I don't know anything about the guy who wrote the article, but one sentence that could have been worded differently makes the government's case:

Once the trigger is pulled, the Accelerator's spring mechanism takes over and the trigger reciprocates at high speed, using recoil resistance to imitate automatic fire.

I would have said:

Once the trigger is pulled The first time the trigger is pulled, the Accelerator's spring mechanism takes over and the trigger reciprocates at high speed, using recoil resistance to imitate automatic fire intitiate rapid semiautomatic fire.

The distinction is significant, and if that description was lifted from the guy's instructions or promotional material, he's lost his case. If it was created by the writer of the article, he needs to contact them and ask for a correction.

[SirFishalot]

A long sad tale! I hate to say this, but he should have seen this coming. The ATF is not about to allow "conversion kits" for any semiautomatic rifle. He can wiggle and dance all he wants but that is exactly what his invention was. I'm surprised that the ATF passed it on the first go round.

This is actually a story about a poor business strategy for the product. The guy clearly knew that he was producing a product for a market which is already highly regulated and controversial. His strategy should have been focused on quick sales of the product full well knowing that the political climate could change at anytime and kill off the market window for the product.

[CodeToad]

Joaquin Jackson, NRA board member, denouncing ownership of assault weapons, high capacity magaines, etc. in recent interview.