That'd be Richard Celata (of KT Ordnance) being interviewed by Aaron Zelmen (of JPFO) (via End the War On Freedom).
It looks like they're trying to get him on manufacturing w/o a license. Oddly enough that's the same bullshit they're trying to pull on a gunsmith in Missouri.
It seems to me the ATFU is telling its boys to try to come up with creative & innovative ways to close that whole second amendment loophole thingy. Specifically they want to shut down the do-it-yourselfer market.
They've started enforcing a regulation which prohibits parts kits from being imported with barrels if said firearm was fully automatic before it was torch cut.
They're trying to shut down a gunsmith by claiming that gunsmithing is actually manufacturing.
They're trying to hurt a parts maker by claiming he's manufacturing firearms.
To me that spells out a vendetta against the do-it-yourselfers & those who help them.
(If you're wondering how gunsmiths fit in on the do-it-yourself thing, there are a few projects that all but the most diehard amateur builders will shop out to a gunsmith instead of doing it themselves such as drilling & tapping for a scope, installing a barrel &/or checking headspace for example.)
Here's an excerpt from the interview:
"Richard: Well that is what it comes down to is their interpretation. We have known from previous determination letters that they really don’t mean much even after they issue one. They have issued several letters claiming that the AR15 in such a configuration is not a firearm along with also the 1911s, yet it is arbitrary. You can send in two 80% frames to the ATF at two different times and get two different answers. One time one person will look at it and say it is a firearm and another time another person will look at it and say, no it is not, so there is not much determination on that of what constitutes that, but the general rule of thumb that they go by is that if it cannot be assembled in any manner and fire a single round, it is not a firearm. It would take a considerable amount of time, depending on your skill level; of course, my skill level is above most average people who buy these, so it would take me less time than someone else who would not have my skill level, but still the AR15 style rifle, you can’t assemble it, you can’t put a hammer trigger, you can’t put the buffer tube in, you need to drill and tap. I think it is pretty much about 18 or 20 holes in it before it will work properly and if you don’t do the hammer and trigger hole properly, it will never work. The sear will not engage. So it is not like you just buy something and assemble it and 10 minutes later, you have a working firearm. Most people take an average of between 20 hours to finish one to bring it to 100% receiver."
Go read it all. & if you can give Mr. Celata whatever help you're able to give.
Posted by Publicola at July 21, 2006 01:51 AM | TrackBack