Rhode Island bans "ghost guns"

And with the swipe of a pen...

anyone have the details? I imagine a grandfathering would make this new law moot.
 
8) "Ghost gun" means a firearm, including a frame or receiver, that lacks a unique serial 18number engraved or cased in metal alloy on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer, maker 19or importer under federal law or markings in accordance with 27 C.F.R. § 479.102. It does not 20include a firearm that has been rendered permanently inoperable, or a firearm that is not required 21to have a serial number in accordance with the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968.

(e) No person shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, possess, or have 31under his or her control a ghost gun or an undetectable firearm or any firearm produced by a 3D 32printing process. Any person convicted of violating this subsection shall be punished by 33imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or 34

LC003405/SUB B/3-Page 5of 6both and except for a first conviction under this section shall not be afforded the provisions of 1suspension or deferment of sentence, probation, nor fine. These provisions shall not apply to 2federally licensed manufacturers (FLN) pursuant to Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 3(ATF) regulation

Here's some of the bill text.
 
A “ghost gun” is described as a firearm, “including a frame or receiver, that lacks a unique serial number engraved or cased in metal alloy on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer or importer.”


So.... what is to stop a 07 ffl from making 80% lowers with a Unique serial number, then burning the list of USN's made that day? A 80% lower isnt a firearm, so there is no requirement of keeping track of those numbers...
 
So.... what is to stop a 07 ffl from making 80% lowers with a Unique serial number, then burning the list of USN's made that day? A 80% lower isnt a firearm, so there is no requirement of keeping track of those numbers...
An 80% lower is not a firearm, frame, or lower. It's a chunk of metal. Just put your serial number before you perform the last operation making it a lower.
 
An 80% lower is not a firearm, frame, or lower. It's a chunk of metal. Just put your serial number before you perform the last operation making it a lower.
Didn’t read the details, but it says “non serialized”..so I also don’t see why a random serial number placed on by you wouldn’t be sufficient...
To actually pull this off though, can it still be a home job or this now FFL category of manufacturing ?
 
So when they arrest and prosecute felons in possession of firearms, they will just add another charge to the list.
 
Okay - You need to mark any firearm with a serial number in accordance with the gun control act of 1968.

Regulations that implement section 923(i) are set forth in 27 CFR 178.92. In general, this section requires each licensed manufacturer or licensed importer of firearms to legibly identify each firearm by engraving, casting, stamping (impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placing on the frame or receiver an individual serial number. The serial number must be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed.
(a)(1) Firearms. You, as a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer of firearms, must legibly identify each firearm manufactured or imported as follows:

If you aren't a licensed manufacturer, you don't need to do anything
 
An 80% lower is not a firearm, frame, or lower. It's a chunk of metal. Just put your serial number before you perform the last operation making it a lower.
according to the article, A “ghost gun” is described as a firearm, “including a frame or receiver, that lacks a unique serial number engraved or cased in metal alloy on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer or importer.”

I get that a 80% lower isnt a firearm, and doesnt normally require a Serial number, but in RI, now it seems it does under state law. Thats why I tossed that idea out, about some smart FFL making 80%'s with serial numbers, then either not keeping a list of the numbers, or destroying the lists, because there is no requirement to keep them.
 
Interestingly there is this part in the new bill (attention to highlighted part):

1593173836338.png

IANAL, but hasn't the GCA68 been interpreted that ONLY licensed dealers need serial numbers?

From Wikepedia:

1593173904606.png

It would seem that if you are making any firearm - outside of one that is 3D printed - even if it is unserialized and for your use, you should be okay

ETA - similar thoughts just ahead of me typing this
 
That seems a lot like RI is trying to take over BATFE ownership of dictating how FFLs operate. There's a bunch of interesting court angles there to contest.
 
The weapons targeted in the ban include guns that can evade metal detectors, she said.

Best to ban ninja stars and nunchucks, too. Maybe saps. Oh, and there was that guy in that Bond movie with the yo-yo made out of circular saw blades. Best to ban that as well. Just to be safe. You never know. . .


A serial number on a gun can be the only lead detectives can follow in the aftermath of some shootings, Neronha said.

“This is a critical first step in many investigations,” he said, “to know where that gun came from.”

No. No it isn't. And it's not many. Some, at best. FEW is more likely.


Of course, RI is typically a bit free'er than mASS, so without a gun registry, how do you stop people from making untraceable guns in the first place??? Because it isn't like they are in mASS and registering them so that you KNOW they are NSN guns.

Oh right. Because criminals always follow the laws except the laws they break.
 
An 80% lower is not a firearm, frame, or lower. It's a chunk of metal. Just put your serial number before you perform the last operation making it a lower.

The law says the serial number must be put on by a licensed manufacturer. While an 80% home brewer is technically the manufacturer, they are not a licensed manufacturer.
 
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