Robert Bevis, the owner of Law Weapons in Naperville, came up with an interesting idea that he thought might exempt rifles from gun registration in Illinois. At first blush, we thought it was a great idea. However, at GSL, we get readers from all corners of the firearm world. At least one subject matter expert talked with me Monday evening, explaining that the Law Bolt-15 would leave owners with the very real potential of getting hit with a felony charge. Why? Because it does nothing to convert the form and function of the lower receiver – which the ATF considers “the firearm” when it comes to ARs. In other words, that lower receiver was “born” as a semi-automatic rifle (or possibly a handgun) and physically nothing has changed in the lower receiver to turn it into a non-semi-auto receiver. As such it (and the rest of the gun it’s attached to) would still be a PICA-restricted gun under the new law.
We were wrong in posting that piece from Monday morning, even if it was done with the belief that it was true and correct information. At this point, we’re pretty sure it was not (and we’ll explain why) and for sharing bad information, we apologize.
In our guy’s research and opinion, that LAW-BOLT wouldn’t fly with the BATF and by extension it’s not going to fly with the Illinois State Police reference this new law. (Yes, we’re leaving out the Constitutionality issues.)
What’s more, while I won’t identify the individual I talked with, he’s immersed in this and has been for years. Part of his work involved researching this extensively for a new product line.
Need something more substantive that a manufacturer who worked for years to develop a product that complies with legal intricacies?
How about this example of a “workaround” very similar to Mr. Bevis’, the “Tier 5 Modified Bolt Catch” that would supposedly turn your semi-auto AR-15 into a manually cycled firearm – akin to what Mr. Bevis claims his device will do for users (at $119.95 a pop). Well, great idea, except New York State cops offered an “interpretation” that the device did not change the mechanical operation of the firearm, and as such did not make it a compliant modification under NY’s “SAFE” Act.
From the Long Island Firearms forum.
Subject: Notice – NYS Police Interpretation & Opinion of Tier5 MBC
As we have continually stated firearm laws are subject to change and interpretation. In contradiction to BATF’s definition of a semiautomatic firearm, it has recently come to our attention that New York State Police has taken the position that the use of the Tier5TM MBCTM does not change the mechanical operation of the firearm, therefore it is NOT considered a compliant modification under the NY SAFE Act. We have not received anything official from New York State Police regarding their determination nor do we expect to receive anything in writing stating their position. The courts will have to make the official ruling. We are also seeking an official ruling from the BATF specific to the Tier5TM MBCTM. In abundance of caution, we are notifying our New York State customers that at this time firearms fitted with the Tier5TM MBCTM are still considered a semiautomatic firearm by New York State Police.
Something similar was also tried in California to bypass that state’s scary gun ban. California looked over the product idea, snickered a little and issued an opinion that it did not change the type of firearm upon which it was attached. Instead, it merely made it a “broken” semi-auto rifle. (Credit to “Quiet” at CalGuns.)
So despite the opinion of the attorney Mr. Bevis consulted with (who may regret writing that letter attesting to this as a legal workaround), until and unless the Illinois State Police approve this as a legitimate way to turn your AR- into a “bolt action” rifle, is it worth risking a felony for not making any modifications that would cause the law enforcement agencies / courts / juries to think that your AR-15 isn’t still an AR-15 because it effectively malfunctions with every shot?
Put yourself in the jury box. You’re maybe agnostic at best on guns. You don’t understand the internals. You have an individual who was arrested with this rifle.
And the defendant’s attorney is trying to claim that because the defendant changed out this little part inside:
That somehow that minor modification made the gun above into something besides an AR-15…
Yeah, that’s not gonna fly.
With the experiences of past workarounds as a template for how this one is likely to work out, our opinion is that installing the Law Bolt 15 (or simply removing the gas tube or otherwise blocking the gas port) doesn’t make an AR-15 into a bolt action rifle, or a bacon cheeseburger. It merely makes it a malfunctioning AR-15.
Your mileage may vary, but if you disagree with us, buy and install this product and get busted by ISP, then you’re looking at the potential for a felony charge.
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