An Average Guy [not shown] writes:
I found myself reviewing the Chicago Firearms Registration form (a ridiculous concept all by itself) trying to weigh my desire to be law-abiding with my desire to uphold the Constitution and not allow my rights as a gun owner to be infringed upon. I own a few weapons, one of which is a 1911, and another is the “mare’s leg” .22 from Henry. I was puzzling over the list of guns you’re not allowed to register, which is longer than my aforementioned lever action plinker, wondering to myself why Chicago deems it necessary to disallow the registration (and therefore the legal ownership of) any handguns weighing more than 50 ounces, unloaded. I realized that perhaps they consider very large handguns to be “too powerful” for the public (another absurd idea; are we seeing a pattern?) . . .
Since I don’t own a scale capable of weighing to the ounce, I had to go to the internet to find out that my .22 lever action, manufactured as a pistol by Henry with a 12″ barrel, is too heavy to be legally registered.
My 1911, which according to Springfield is 40 oz, is dangerously close, especially since I replaced the wood grips with aluminum. A .50 caliber Desert Eagle? Forget about it.
A Smith and Wesson .44 (with 6″ barrel)? Also pretty close for comfort, at 45 oz. The same gun, with a weighted barrel to reduce recoil for competition? Way too heavy, at 57 oz. Or with a 6.5″ barrel? 48 oz.
Close enough, perhaps for the City to say it’s too heavy, and slap you with a fine for lying on a form, trying to register an ‘illegal’ weapon, and possession of an ‘illegal’ weapon. And probably try to take away all your gun rights.
This arbitrary restriction, which I can only assumed is aimed at the AR/AK pistols & similar, is just one more thing that puts someone who actually wants to follow Chicago’s absurd requirements, but cannot without risking his liberty, into a quandary.
the funny part is people who claim guns cannot be used for personal defense rely on people with guns to defend them (the police) It makes no sense if guns cant be used how can police protect you? ESPECIALLY when they dont arrive on scene untuil well after the crime is over usually. anti gunners position is ‘oh well we have to be victims to be noble”.. to hell with that. daddy gonna pack some heat!
Woe unto the fools who decide to cause trouble on my street. I don’t need to arm my neighbors, fortunately! 😀
But, yeah… I’m jonesing for a lever action!
PTSD was once called shell shock, its not new, we have been aware of it since 1914. Liberals make me sick….
Our little one is 11 and has her own pink and stainless .22lr. She is allowed to store it under her bed only after we have both visually an physically cleared it and put it on safe(is a single shot). Her friends come over but do not see her rifle or know about it. She keeps her ammo, glasses and earmuffs in her own ammo can. We teach her constantly as I home carry everyday and where she can see it and is aware I have it on me.
Be responsible, teach and reinforce the safety rules.
“I think we should require our legislators to take a course on history and the constitution before they propose legislation.”
No. It should be a requirement to stand for election.
Yeah the way I read it, my Marlin 1894c is banned in by the SAFE act. A lever action with a fixed, 9rd magazine.
Didn’t they exempt lever guns? Or are they like the shotguns, exempt in one place but not another?
I believe they are exactly like shotguns. Exempted under the “assault weapons” section, but not exempted under the “magazines” provisions.
Something you are all missing, can you get an enbloc clip that is less then eight for a garrand?
Sure, an AR can be fitted with a nonremovable seven round mag, but how do you change an historic rifle like the King of Battle?
They have 5 rounders of which I have 1 for hunting. They also have 2 round clips for Garand competitions.
This law cannot stand in the face of Heller and McDonald, can it?
Accidental? Bullchit! They knew damn well what they were doing.
I am a Vietnam veteran and would like to buy 1 or 2 M 1 Garand
Did I hear at minute 50 that she says that it is legal to hunt humans with 15, 3o etc round magazines?
Yes indeed the magazine restrictions are the real problem. Equally as evil are the terms “readily adaptable” and “capable of accepting”. As we all know, any gun capable of accepting a detachable mag is capable of accepting a mag of any size – voila’ – got yourself a restriction!
Readily adaptable might be OK if it’s ruled to not effect a replacement part not in your possession but do you want to hang your freedom on that?
I enclose a letter I wrote to all NY legislators I thought would be interested in this matter with very good returns, hopefully some concrete results will follow.
Dear Senator,
OK, we’ve had some great rallies, made our points, even got the attention of our out-of-it Governor, now it’s time to actually get down to business and fix this misbegotten Safe Act.
Having just received my update to the NY Firearms & Weapons Law guidebook its obvious that we’ve reached the tipping point in confusification. Not even the experts can decyper the piles of jibberish piled on high in reaction to various outrages or percieved dangers over the years, waiting for some outside adult intervention to save it. The entire mess needs a complete overhaul, consolidation and a good dose of logic and common sense.
Laudable as the above is though, we have an even messier situation right at hand and lets get to that.
As I’ve mentioned before, the misconceived and discriminatory “Assault Weapons” law is such a mess that it even forgot to make provision for law-enforcement and entertainment exceptions it will undoubtedly be brought up for revision and this presents an opportunity to make some useful changes for our side.The following points spring up.
1/ Some rifles are not classified as “assault” per se but still have a clip which holds more than 7 rounds such as the one for the M-1 Garand which is immensely popular as both a shooter and collector’s item . The M-1 is virtually impossible to load with 7 rounds. These “clips”, holding 8 rounds, have been and are lying around by the millions. Do they all have to be registered? Are they legal to use? Nobody seems to know.
2/ Some handguns, not classified as “assault”, come with a standard, original magazine over 7 rounds. These include such historic and collectable handguns as the Luger (usually 8 rounds) and Browning HiPower (13 rounds) as well as more modern designs well over 10. Since these are already required to be registered under NY’s Sullivan Law shouldn’t they be exempt, along with their original mags. The exemption for all antiques (both guns and magazines) is a good one, but it should be clarified and made absolute. The present law mentions “fitting replicas” for magazines, which can cause confusion. There are many replicas. What is the story on this?
3/ Some handguns – which are antiques – such as the Mauser “Broomhandle” Model of 1896 which load directly from a “stripper clip” to an internal magazine usually holding 10 rounds. What about these types of “clips” where does it leave them?
4/ Some commonly owned magazines load from stripper clips holding 10 or 15 rounds. Lots of surplus ammunition comes packed in stripper clips or disintegrating links. What about these items? Do they all have to be registered? Are they “feeding devices” ? They should be exempt since they are not part of the firearm itself..
5/ The 7 round rule along with the still legal 10 round magazine is confusing and simply unworkable. This should be changed to 10 rounds just to be in line with practicality and reality. Magazines from 11 to 20 rounds should be “grandfathered”. The classic and highly collectable US Military M-1 Carbine with it’s original 15 round magazine for instance, should be exempt.
The feeling among many is that a 30, 50 or 100 round mag in an AR 15 gives an individual too much destructive power and they may have a point, but can not the 15 or 20 round magazines they usually come with be “grandfathered?
Along the same lines, just as it was (wisely) decided to exempt all tube-fed .22 rim fire rifles, it should be extended to the magazine fed .22 handguns as well – which usually hold 10 rounds.
6/ The part about controlling ammunition should be dropped, it was tried by the Feds and found unworkable and useless.
7/ Let’s finally dump the nonsense about bayonet lugs, grenade launchers, muzzle brakes and compensators.
The bayonet thing is just plain silly – when was the last time a 7/11 was held up at bayonet point? A grenade launcher is useless without a rifle grenade (already really illegal). The other features are actually very useful.
I realize I have not covered all aspects of this law – of coarse not – it needs a detailed study. In the end I think repeal and starting over is the way to go. The “Pataki” laws of the 90’s were bad enough but at least made some sense and were more than sufficient for the purposes intended. The latest effort to “do something” is counter-productive and will simply backfire on the gun control community, cause endless confusion and if pressed, set up some tragic “Ruby Ridge” incidents which I’m sure nobody wants.
My daughter has two pink rifles. A bolt action Crickett and a break action Rossi .22LR. She has never thought either of them were toys. Her rifle case has “Shoot Like A Girl. If You Can” printed on it.
Couldn’t this whole thing be solved by the President of Mexico going out onto the capital steps and firing two blasts into the air?
I grew up with a model 24 and would purchase three of various combs for my children.
I lament the day my cousin stole the rifle from my grandfather. A great firearm, .22WMR/ 20ga, .223 or .243/ 20 or 12ga, 30-30/12ga. SOLD SOLD SOLD !!!
I see a lot of people talking about holding a light in their left hand and shooting. A question for all of you… Have you practiced shooting like this? If you don’t practice, good luck if you ever have to do it especially under a high stress situation. It is one thing to think you can do it and another to actually do it.