New York Gun Ban and the M1 Garand

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Well, the NY government just stomped on the rights of millions of law abiding citizens in New York. The NRA and CMP Highpower community also took a hit today.

I’m no legal expert and this bill was clearly thrown together so it’s unclear what the impacts will be on our sport.

Here is the full text of the bill, try not to go blind while reading it.

http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S2230-2013

What I got from it:

Most importantly, is the M1 Garand now banned in NY? I don’t know, it seems to be excluded from the ban but its hard to say for sure.

(A) A SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE THAT HAS AN ABILITY TO ACCEPT A DETACHABLE
MAGAZINE AND HAS AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:

(I) A FOLDING OR TELESCOPING STOCK;
(II) A PISTOL GRIP THAT PROTRUDES CONSPICUOUSLY BENEATH THE ACTION OF
THE WEAPON;
(III) A THUMBHOLE STOCK;
(IV) A SECOND HANDGRIP OR A PROTRUDING GRIP THAT CAN BE HELD BY THE
NON-TRIGGER HAND;
(V) A BAYONET MOUNT;
(VI) A FLASH SUPPRESSOR, MUZZLE BREAK, MUZZLE COMPENSATOR, OR THREADED
BARREL DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE A FLASH SUPPRESSOR, MUZZLE BREAK, OR

As you know the Garand has a “fixed” magazine. However who knows how they define a detachable magazine. Furthermore, the Garand only functions with 7 rounds loaded in the magazine. But again is that good enough? As clearly logic does not apply.

Of course magazines are regulated separately, so it is again unclear if an enbloc alone is even legal.

In theory it should be exempted by this language:

21 23. “Large capacity ammunition feeding device” means a magazine, belt,
22 drum, feed strip, or similar device, [manufactured after September thir-
23 teenth, nineteen hundred ninety-four,] that (a) has a capacity of, or
24 that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than ten
25 rounds of ammunition, or (b) contains more than seven rounds of ammuni-
26 tion, or (c) is obtained after the effective date of the chapter of the
27 laws of two thousand thirteen which amended this subdivision and has a
28 capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept,
29 more than seven rounds of ammunition; provided, however, that such term
30 does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and
31 capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition or a
32 feeding device that is a curio or relic. A feeding device that is a
33 curio or relic is defined as a device that (i) was manufactured at least
34 fifty years prior to the current date, (ii) is only capable of being
35 used exclusively in a firearm, rifle, or shotgun that was manufactured
36 at least fifty years prior to the current date, but not including repli-
37 cas thereof,

How one determines the age of a enbloc I couldn’t tell you. Does the SAI M1 count as a replica or does it push the Garand out of the 50 year exemption.

There seems to an exemption for magazines for NRA highpower. However, seems to still be subject to the 7 round limit, which makes 0 sense.

S. 2230 24 A. 2388
LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN WHICH AMENDED THIS PARAGRAPH AND MAY SO
LAWFULLY POSSESS IT THEREAFTER UPON REGISTRATION, SHALL ONLY BE SUBJECT
TO PUNISHMENT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION SIXTEEN-A OF
SECTION 400.00 OF THIS CHAPTER; provided, that such a license OR REGIS
TRATION shall not preclude a conviction for the offense defined in
subdivision three of section 265.01 of this article OR SECTION 265.01-A
OF THIS ARTICLE.
7-F. POSSESSION AND USE OF A MAGAZINE, BELT, FEED STRIP OR SIMILAR
DEVICE, THAT CONTAINS MORE THAN SEVEN ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, BUT THAT
DOES NOT HAVE A CAPACITY OF OR CAN READILY BE RESTORED OR CONVERTED TO
ACCEPT MORE THAN TEN ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, AT AN INDOOR OR OUTDOOR
FIRING RANGE LOCATED IN OR ON PREMISES OWNED OR OCCUPIED BY A DULY
INCORPORATED ORGANIZATION ORGANIZED FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES OR TO
FOSTER PROFICIENCY IN ARMS; AT AN INDOOR OR OUTDOOR FIRING RANGE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FIRING A RIFLE OR SHOTGUN; AT A COLLEGIATE, OLYMPIC OR TARGET
SHOOTING COMPETITION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF OR APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL
RIFLE ASSOCIATION; OR AT AN ORGANIZED MATCH SANCTIONED BY THE INTERNA
TIONAL HANDGUN METALLIC SILHOUETTE ASSOCIATION.

I’ve read this 12 times I still don’t get it.

Of course the AR-15 is now non-transferable so the NY highpower crowd isn’t going to see much growth, which is depressing to think about.

So this is a lot of words to say I don’t know. However I am certain this law is horrible infringement on New Yorker’s second amendment rights.

Please take a moment to contact your State and Federal legislators and urge them to oppose any gun control laws.

http://www.nraila.org/get-involved-locally/grassroots/write-your-reps.aspx

UPDATE: here is an FAQ from NYS:

http://www.governor.ny.gov/2013/gun-reforms-faq

UPDATE 2: CMP is still shipping M1 Garands to NY however now they must go to an FFL

http://www.nraila.org/get-involved-locally/grassroots/write-your-reps.aspx

Update 3: The law has been revised so you can still (gee thanks) possess 10 round feeding devices if you only load them with 7 rounds. So how I understand this there is no problem possessing enblocs is not a problem nor is loading them at the range. But, again as I understand, that means you can’t keep your clips loaded while at home.

Update 1/1/14 The 7 round limit appears to have been overturn pending a SOCTUS ruling it looks like those evil 8 round clips are safe again.

Update 1.2.14 So maybe you can have 10 rounds in parts of NY and not others, sounds like someone is trying to make the front page of one of those “strange and stupid law” books

Get Garand thumb from twitter

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I’m now on twitter!

@GarandThumbBlog

End of season cleaning of M1 Garand

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To avoid POI changes I only take my M1 Garand apart to clean it during the season if it rains during a match. I’ve gotten lucky and only had one match in the pouring rain, knock on wood. Constant disassembly can also cause excessive wear. So during the season I use a bore guide and just clean the barrel, reapplying grease as needed.

Bore guide:

20130102-210939.jpg

After the season I do a detailed field strip and clean everything. Don’t remove the gas tube as every time you take it off it could loosen it and cause accuracy issues. I leave the key and the tube only removing the gas plug so I can clean the carbon build up.

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Before putting it back together I like to hand rub a light coat of pure raw linseed oil on to the stock which helps seal it up and restores the spots on the stock that have dried up due to me sweeting on it all season.

Your gun rights, gun bans, and what you can do.

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As I’m sure you’ve heard Obama and several democratic members of congress have been wailing for gun control. Feinstein has promised to introduce a highly restrictive bill which will effect all gun owners and seriously hurt highpower and other shooting sports. This ban specifically bans the popular competition rifles the AR-15 and M1 carbine. In essence this would snuff out the “highpower community” by forcing us to register our rifles and forbidding any potential new shooters from acquiring a match rifle. The summery is below.

Summary of 2013 legislation

Following is a summary of the 2013 legislation:

Bans the sale, transfer, importation, or manufacturing of:
120 specifically-named firearms;
Certain other semiautomatic rifles, handguns, shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine and have one or more military characteristics; and
Semiautomatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds.
Strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by:
Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test;
Eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test; and
Banning firearms with “thumbhole stocks” and “bullet buttons” to address attempts to “work around” prior bans.
Bans large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.
Protects legitimate hunters and the rights of existing gun owners by:
Grandfathering weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment;
Exempting over 900 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes; and
Exempting antique, manually-operated, and permanently disabled weapons.
Requires that grandfathered weapons be registered under the National Firearms Act, to include:
Background check of owner and any transferee;
Type and serial number of the firearm;
Positive identification, including photograph and fingerprint;
Certification from local law enforcement of identity and that possession would not violate State or local law; and
Dedicated funding for ATF to implement registration.
A pdf of the bill summary is available here.

Please take a moment to contact your representatives and senators and ask that they actively oppose any gun control legislation.

Contact all of them here:

http://www.nraila.org/get-involved-locally/grassroots/write-your-reps.aspx

Contact the speaker of the house here:

http://www.speaker.gov/Contact/

A “legitimate” match rifle at risk of being banned.

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Have Gun Will Travel: Flying With a Handgun

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I fly fairly frequently for work, but I’ve never had guts to check a handgun. My wife and I went to the Florida Keys for our 5th anniversary and much to her dismay I decided its time to make this happen. Turns out it’s pretty easy to do. I bought an orange pelican 1200 with pick and pluck ,and a set of matching master locks just big enough to fit through the lock points. Pick and pluck certainly does not look nice but it gets the job done.

 

Review your airlines policy, but for US air the firearm needs to be unloaded in a locked hard side case. Do NOT use a “TSA approved” lock, the firearm should only be accessible to you. Keep the key with you and place a spare in your carry on. This case can be put in your larger soft sided checked bag. I take the extra step of using a bike cable lock to lock the hard case to the soft luggage. While it wouldn’t take more than a few minutes  and basic tools to get the cable  off the bag, I would hope it would slow down a rogue airport employee looking to quickly make off with my Glock.

 

Ammo can be in the larger soft luggage bag, but must be in a manufactures case or similar. I carry buffalo bore their package is nice for reuse. Some airlines allow you to keep your ammo In the locked hard case others allow you to store ammo in a loaded magazine.  I find it easier to keep it separate, as I generally fly US Airways. 20121217-125636.jpg When you get to the airport go to the counter and tell them you would like to declare a firearm. If its busy you may want to ask where to go at the start of the line. At PHL I needed to go to the “special assistance line” at MIA I just went to the regular line. At the counter you will sign a little orange form declaring it is unloaded and unlock the case placing the tag inside. At PHL I was walked down to the end where my bag was handed off to TSA at MIA the X-ray is on a different level so I was told I’d be paged at the gate if there was a problem (there were no problems).

 

At your final destination you’ll claim your bag as normal from the belt so don’t stop for 6 beers after your flight lest your Glock becomes property of one of the homeless that roam PHL. Make sure you check the state laws of your destination before you fly with a gun and avoid NJ and NY, It is also a good practice to review the airline polices. I have flown, US air, United, and Delta in this manner.

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