I am asking for a coworker who recently got his gun license. Is it legal to purchase an 80% lower and machine it and build it yourself or have the laws changed he is receiving conflicting answers and that’s all I appear to be finding online?
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80% lower
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MachineHead
NES Member
What are you really trying to do?
Just stick with the advice from the professionals. If your dad’s friend is ATF, then by Jupiter, who are you to question him?
Just stick with the advice from the professionals. If your dad’s friend is ATF, then by Jupiter, who are you to question him?
He is actually just trying to own an AR15 in MA. He was to young before she pulled her bs.
DPR
NES Member
The laws have not changed.
DPR
NES Member
Best to listen to ATF dad. Otherwise they'll show up at your house and burn it down.
allen-1
NES Member
Exactly this.
Federal law says that people can complete 80% lowers for their own use.
State laws vary.
Massachusetts has law, and then Massachusetts has statements made by the Attorney General which appear to be establishing new "guidelines".
As a spectator only, I'm not at all sure of the legality of her position; but it's certainly not my a$$ on the line.
Go read up on "pre-bans" and on "07/20", and then make your own best informed decision.
Do NOT trust some random guy from the internet; it's your life, not his.
I think it’s not allowed in MA. But I honestly don’t know. I want an AR but didn’t get my license til ‘17. Just accepted the fact that I’m SOL unless I wanna fork over $1500. I suppose you could just build the rifle and keep it hush hush. It’s not like her edict is legal (not sure if the Boys will accept that reasoning if they find it though)
Hi Maura
bdb
NES Member
If you listen to Maura's re-intepretation of state law, no new black scary rifles that weren't owned here prior to her decree date 7/20/16 (I think it was 16). You or your friend can buy an AR owned and "registered" here prior to that date, or build one up from a lower purchased prior to that date, or at least that is the general consensus these days. Pre-94 is even way more legal 
Perso to person or pre94 from a dealer
Her enforcement notice means jack shit. It was a bullshit scare tactic to shut down new purchases of AR and AK platforms from dealers. She hasn’t arrested or charged anyone in almost 3 years and she won’t! All the lawsuits are moving forward and hopefully she gets her ass handed to her by a REAL federal judge. For now, go to the classifieds here or armslist for a person to to person transfer, online for a pre94 rifle and go ahead and make as many 80%’s as u want! She can’t do shit and she knows it! I wish some FFLs in MA would lawyer up and tell her to screw, follow the law and transfer AR and AK rifles. As far as the ATF guy, treat Feds like mushrooms...feed em shit and keep them in the dark.
c
U can make as many 80%’s as u want
HorizontalHunter
NES Member
babygorilla
NES Member
Build it, don't register it and if caught plead the 5th amendment. Eff em.
Yep. There is no born on date that magically appears on new rifles either. Just STFU and lawyer up if you have a problem.
As others said, Maura's BS is no where to be found in the MGL....still.
Here’s a thought:
Say you have an 80% lower, and you send in a request to the ATF to SBR it. Let’s say the ATF approves this (not sure if they would or not, I’ve heard conflicting reports). Can you now, legally, build the SBR according to the law in MA? Seeing as it is now an NFA item, and has a barrel shorter than 16”, it would no longer fit MA classification as an “assault rifle”, no?
Say you have an 80% lower, and you send in a request to the ATF to SBR it. Let’s say the ATF approves this (not sure if they would or not, I’ve heard conflicting reports). Can you now, legally, build the SBR according to the law in MA? Seeing as it is now an NFA item, and has a barrel shorter than 16”, it would no longer fit MA classification as an “assault rifle”, no?
Good question that no one knows the answer to. You could argue that an SBR does not meet the legal definition of a "rifle" at all under MA law. Chances are it'll cost you a LOT to argue that since it will be in court.
Heres something Ive been wondering about. (I am not SUGGESTING or encouraging this, merely asking about the legal ramifications of the scenario)
So from what ive heard if you posessed an 80% lower before the enforcement notice, it was legal to complete (and register?) it after the notice similiair to how it works with stripped lowers.
Scenario: an unmarked 80% lower, completed and kept in the home, perhaps even post-healey (Hi Maura!) for personal use only (not pinned 10 round). Some fanatical anti-2A LEO shows up and books you for posession of an AW or a "copycat weapon" post Healeys decree. You claim it was completed before the decree. Therefore the burden of proof would be on THEM to prove it was completed after the Healey notice wouldnt it?
Scenario 2: same as above, except you claim you possessed the 80% lower BEFORE the enforcement notice but COMPLETED it after, as allowed by lord Maura.
Scenario 3: Not really a scenario, just wondering how registration would effect the scenarios above.
So from what ive heard if you posessed an 80% lower before the enforcement notice, it was legal to complete (and register?) it after the notice similiair to how it works with stripped lowers.
Scenario: an unmarked 80% lower, completed and kept in the home, perhaps even post-healey (Hi Maura!) for personal use only (not pinned 10 round). Some fanatical anti-2A LEO shows up and books you for posession of an AW or a "copycat weapon" post Healeys decree. You claim it was completed before the decree. Therefore the burden of proof would be on THEM to prove it was completed after the Healey notice wouldnt it?
Scenario 2: same as above, except you claim you possessed the 80% lower BEFORE the enforcement notice but COMPLETED it after, as allowed by lord Maura.
Scenario 3: Not really a scenario, just wondering how registration would effect the scenarios above.
babygorilla
NES Member
She has decreed that even OWNING one is illegal, even if bought prior to her decree and after '94. Build it now, own it now. Still the same felon in waiting.
