Assault Style Firearm Update – March 27, 2025

[MAJoe]

The rifle as a whole meets it but the lower, which is a firearm on it's own now l, is an ASF by way of subsections (e) & (f)

I am presenting the argument that I would use if I were the state - and given what we know, it is not a stretch since the total elimination of enumerated guns was a core goal of chapt 135

I agree with you as well. If you ONLY had bolt action uppers I think that would help in a court case, but if you had semi auto uppers that easily swap over, I think you’d be screwed without a miracle lawyer.

This is all heavy speculation though, and perhaps some pants shitting.

 

[paul73]

are you folks still arguing of who will take what bunk in the jail cell for violating a law that is not a law?

 

[GM-GUY]

It looks like uppers now count as prohibited per the state - from the Mass website

*************************
The weapon’s internal functional components are substantially similar to the construction or configuration of a weapon that is expressly banned under the law (such as a Colt AR-15 or a Kalashnikov AK-47);

OR

The weapon has a receiver that includes or accepts key operating components that are interchangeable with those of a banned weapon. The relevant operating components may include, but are not limited to:

1) the trigger assembly;

2) the bolt carrier or bolt carrier group;

3) the charging handle;

4) the extractor or extractor assembly; or

5) the magazine port.

*******************************

 

[not new guy]

Is an upper a weapon though?

 

[paul73]

It looks like uppers now count as prohibited

 

[GM-GUY]

I have no clue what is going on with this - I stumbled upon it with an AI search.

I have some extra uppers - swap them out depending on what I’m doing. I don’t know how that squares with anything.

 

[pastera]

You guys are talking past each other because of how idiotic this law is. They want the lower to be a firearm regardless of whatever shit is or isn't attached to it. Stick a bolt action upper on it and you have a bolt action firearm, right? Or do you have a firearm (the lower) that is simultaneously both an ASF and a bolt action firearm? Who the hell knows. It seems like the lower would fall under the bolt action exclusion except that it's easily converted back to an ASF as a lower. We know what the state would argue, maybe, but do we know how a cop will act or how a court will rule?

I am 90% certain the "readily modified" language in (g) would be interpreted to hold
The clear intent was to regulate a receiver the same as a functional firearm.
An AR is by definition a copy or duplicate therefore is doesn't require any feature to be an ASF
An AR lower, especially one designated as multi-caliber, is designed and intended to be readily modified to accommodate different uppers.
An AR lower equipped with, or supporting, a buffer and buffer spring shows clear intent and ability to support semiautomatic operations (items not necessary for manually loaded operations)

And if you also possess a semiautomatic upper then constructive possession is all but proven.

 

[paul73]

how that squares with anything

like this - buy all the uppers you ever wanted to own ASAP.

 

[pastera]

It looks like uppers now count as prohibited per the state - from the Mass website

*************************
The weapon’s internal functional components are substantially similar to the construction or configuration of a weapon that is expressly banned under the law (such as a Colt AR-15 or a Kalashnikov AK-47);

OR

The weapon has a receiver that includes or accepts key operating components that are interchangeable with those of a banned weapon. The relevant operating components may include, but are not limited to:

1) the trigger assembly;

2) the bolt carrier or bolt carrier group;

3) the charging handle;

4) the extractor or extractor assembly; or

5) the magazine port.

*******************************

No, the frame/receiver is the part of a gun that IS a gun.
An
AR upper is simply a part or component.

 

[pastera]

Is an upper a weapon though?

No
The firearm is the frame/receiver similar to federal definition.
As you disassemble a gun everything you remove is simply a part until you get to the serialized frame/receiver.

Funny thing is that many slide assemblies can fire a round without the frame in place by disabling the block and then pulling and releasing the striker. But the frame/receiver it pretty much inert.

 

[pastera]

like this - buy all the uppers you ever wanted to own ASAP.

Why?
Many places ship them to your door.

 

[CrackPot]

Well so does an MCX but those can still be bought as long as they have the fin grip.

Yes, some shops will sell them with a fin grip. There is no case law and no government authority in MA relative to the legality of fin grips. They are known good in CA as a non-feature. We just do not know about them in MA. I understand shops decision to use them. Hopefully they install them before bringing them into the state because shipping a factory MCX into the state is a felony as importation of ASFs is illegal.

 

[paul73]

Why?
Many places ship them to your door.

to not be overly frustrated when all places will stop doing that. because reasons.

 

[Toast]

You care because if with a quick push of your takedown pins an "expert" can mount a semiautomatic upper and show it could fire then that lower fits the definition of a ASF.
Subsection (g) defines the exclusions and if your lower can accept a semiautomatic upper and fire a round then it doesn't meet those exclusions.

Then any criteria is meaningless, as that would mean the if someone could quickly remove (via 2 screws) the fixed stock and replace it with a collapsible one, you suddenly blow the features count regardless of its initial configuration.

 

[CapeCod Shooter_56]

The rifle as a whole meets it but the lower, which is a firearm on it's own now l, is an ASF by way of subsections (e) & (f)

I am presenting the argument that I would use if I were the state - and given what we know, it is not a stretch since the total elimination of enumerated guns was a core goal of chapt 135

No, I totally get it and I understand your point of view however, I believe the section you’re referring to is referring to unfinished or incomplete receivers. Once it’s a finished firearm that operates by bolt action I believe that then goes away, but honestly, who the hell knows. Plans are in motion to move to FL so basically anything goes firearms wise.

 

[CapeCod Shooter_56]

I agree with you as well. If you ONLY had bolt action uppers I think that would help in a court case, but if you had semi auto uppers that easily swap over, I think you’d be screwed without a miracle lawyer.

This is all heavy speculation though, and perhaps some pants shitting.

Or at the very least own at least one pre-94 ar so that’s your legal semi auto ar and you make different rifles from that.

 

[GM-GUY]

to not be overly frustrated when all places will stop doing that. because reasons.

This was from a purchase @ PA the other day

**************************************************
Your Primary Arms order is “ON HOLD” due to product restrictions

Thank you for your recent purchase. We noticed that one or more item(s) in your order might be subject to state regulations depending on how it’s used.

Please review the items with restrictions for your order:


Geissele Automatics Super Duty MOD1 5.56 NATO Complete Upper Receiver - 16" - DDC


Before we ship your order, we ask that you confirm you intend to use these products in a way that complies with your State and Local Laws. We will hold your order for 7 calendar days or until we hear back from you.

By pressing the "YES" button below, you confirm that the item(s) are being used in a compliant manner.

By pressing the "NO" button below, your order will be cancelled and your credit card will NOT be billed.

************************************************

It was on sale and I figured I might as well update/upgrade my S&W M&P ORC from 2009 before things get any crazier. Also got a trigger and a light for the project.

I clicked yes as no one defined ‘compliant’ and it’s is going on an Optics Ready Compliant - I do need to get a brake pinned/welded. It’s due tomorrow via FedEx.

 

[Yotacrawler]

This was from a purchase @ PA the other day

**************************************************
Your Primary Arms order is “ON HOLD” due to product restrictions

Thank you for your recent purchase. We noticed that one or more item(s) in your order might be subject to state regulations depending on how it’s used.

Please review the items with restrictions for your order:


Geissele Automatics Super Duty MOD1 5.56 NATO Complete Upper Receiver - 16" - DDC


Before we ship your order, we ask that you confirm you intend to use these products in a way that complies with your State and Local Laws. We will hold your order for 7 calendar days or until we hear back from you.

By pressing the "YES" button below, you confirm that the item(s) are being used in a compliant manner.

By pressing the "NO" button below, your order will be cancelled and your credit card will NOT be billed.

************************************************

It was on sale and I figured I might as well update/upgrade my S&W M&P ORC from 2009 before things get any crazier. Also got a trigger and a light for the project.

I clicked yes as no one defined ‘compliant’ and it’s is going on an Optics Ready Compliant - I do need to get a brake pinned/welded. It’s due tomorrow via FedEx.

I have gotten that from Primary a few times over the last few months.

 

[Mark from ?]

This was from a purchase @ PA the other day

**************************************************
Your Primary Arms order is “ON HOLD” due to product restrictions

Thank you for your recent purchase. We noticed that one or more item(s) in your order might be subject to state regulations depending on how it’s used.

Please review the items with restrictions for your order:


Geissele Automatics Super Duty MOD1 5.56 NATO Complete Upper Receiver - 16" - DDC


Before we ship your order, we ask that you confirm you intend to use these products in a way that complies with your State and Local Laws. We will hold your order for 7 calendar days or until we hear back from you.

By pressing the "YES" button below, you confirm that the item(s) are being used in a compliant manner.

By pressing the "NO" button below, your order will be cancelled and your credit card will NOT be billed.

************************************************

It was on sale and I figured I might as well update/upgrade my S&W M&P ORC from 2009 before things get any crazier. Also got a trigger and a light for the project.

I clicked yes as no one defined ‘compliant’ and it’s is going on an Optics Ready Compliant - I do need to get a brake pinned/welded. It’s due tomorrow via FedEx.

There was a whole thread on this and people were up in arms over clicking a yes button.

Moral of the story...if you don't like a place, don't buy there. Find another place to buy that doesnt make you butthurt, get on with your life.

 

[Jeffaah]

Really trying to avoid being a pants shitter….but defense is expensive and I don’t want a trash can sized butt hole from a stint in the pen….

Can person store firearms at a relatives residence in nh? Does that alleviate some risk?

Worst case and not ideal…can ownership be transferred out of state with 2 willing ffls?

 

[Reptile]

Really trying to avoid being a pants shitter….but defense is expensive and I don’t want a trash can sized butt hole from a stint in the pen….

Can person store firearms at a relatives residence in nh? Does that alleviate some risk?

Worst case and not ideal…can ownership be transferred out of state with 2 willing ffls?

You can store guns in NH.

If I had post 2016 lowers - I would do so.

 

[Steve600]

My Bushmaster ‘94 preban is like the stock market. Last year the price was up, last fall I was a sucker for paying so much, now it seems to have value again. I gave up trying to figure it all out.

 

[Bmcl322]

Between my Uncle and myself, we know the answers to all these questions! Just ask! Happy to help.

 

[556USER]

I'd wager our 38% could easily handle the 62%.

Thing is that the 38% includes us but we are some smaller fraction of that total 38%. I'd say one would have to wait for the elusive "go time"to find out just how much of the 38% we are.

 

[Coyote33]

I do need to get a brake pinned/welded.

I believe most people on here are saying that is no longer a requirement. But what the heck do I know?

 

[556USER]

Where is all this stuff documented?

It's tattooed on Maura's inner labia in micro script.

 

[VTski4x4]

It's tattooed on Maura's inner labia in micro script.

I'm going to have nightmares now. Thanks for that.

 

[Jeffaah]

It's tattooed on Maura's inner labia in micro script.

Sounds hot.

 

[Coyote33]

Remember the definition of firearm no longer requires the ability to fire a projectile

But isn't that kind of the most understood definition of one since forever? Will all this go away if something happens nationally?

 

[Coyote33]

like this - buy all the uppers you ever wanted to own ASAP.

Or, is it SELL them all, because of this:

It looks like uppers now count as prohibited per the state - from the Mass website

Gotta ask:


View: https://youtu.be/xMaE6toi4mk?t=19