The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ classification of pistol grip only firearms with 14” barrels that fire shotgun shells and are over 26” in overall length as neither “shotguns” nor National Firearms Act “Destructive Devices” or “Any Other Weapons” has created a situation wherein the agency must either quietly save face or have it exposed that untold numbers of good faith gun owners currently legally possess firearms problematic for the government to allow. In order for that status quo to continue, ATF, in conjunction with certain members of Congress and lobbying interests, is working at “tweaking” its definition of the arbitrary “sporting use” term, insider sources tell Gun Rights Examiner. And with that will come a push to expand definitions to allow for further importation bans on certain types of presently legal ammunition.
Well, frankly, I never knew there was a 'hole' in the NFA requirement that shotguns have 18.5 inch barrels or larger.
Now, I have no proof of this yet, but it appears this issue is about the 14" barreled shotguns.
Leaving aside the problem I have with limiting shotgun barrel length AT ALL, I find that the lack of this mention in most articles (that it pertains to 14" barreled shotguns) makes this close -- if not actual -- Fear Porn.
Most people reading these articles will assume that the regulation will apply to their 19" barreled, pistol gripped shotgun.
I need to perform further research, but at first blush, this doesn't look like an overreach under NFA.
Not liking the specialty-ammo import ban, but domestic production will still go on.
On a scale of 1-10 on gun-rights threats, it's looking like a 3.
Will confirm.
What happened is that they made several rulings that factory pistol grip shotguns could have a barrel shorter than 18 inches as long as the over all length exceeded 26 inches. The first of these rulings came out I believe in 2013 or early 2014. Can’t remember right off.
However, ATF messed up and created a situation that flies in the face of the NFA and GCA. In a nutshell, combine this with the Hollis case and the NFA is pretty much done. I expect it to be overturned in the courts in the next 10 years or sooner.
What’s funny is that ATF keeps doing stuff to try to keep the NFA on life support only to see it slip further into extinction. They’re not the brightest people around.
“Now, I have no proof of this yet, but it appears this issue is about the 14” barreled shotguns.”
Yes, David’s first article “buried the lead”. It was a bit murky.
I asked about this and I have documents in my inbox that are supposed to explain and confirm it. It is part of the mess that ATF created with its insane regulatory scheme.
I was on the phone with an expert on the issue, Len Savage, and he confirmed that ATF had given the ok for manufacture and sale of shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches, if the overall length is more than 26 inches, and the shotgun does not have a shoulder stock. No NFA tax required.
I have been pretty busy, but I will get an article out.
The ruling that a pistol grip shotgun, without a shoulder stock, is a destructive device, was made a while back, even if the barrel is 18 or more inches. I remember it, and figured the ATF must of realized what a pickle that put them in. It appears that they never rescinded it, and hear we are.
http://shockwavetechnologies.com/site/?page_id=88