« Illinois Supreme Court strikes down ban on guns within 1,000 ft of parks | Main | CCW licensee saves LEO »
Criminal complaint against the "person of interest" in Las Vegas shooting
Right here. It's against Douglas Haig (not the Lord Douglas Haig, who should have been tried for mass murder... of his own men) for manufacture (by reloading) of AP bullets in .308 and .223.
It poses an interesting legal question. The .223 in particular has a two part core: in front is a steel penetrator, and behind a conventional lead core. The .30 AP has a steel core with lead wrapped around it. But the statute banning manufacture of AP defines AP bullets as having "a core which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from" several banned metals, including steel. Is a two-part core, one part of which is lead, something that meets that? ATF's position is essentially that a bullet can have more than one core, and if any are the banned metals, the bullet qualifies. I think that's questionable, particularly since the statute requires that the core be "constructed entirely" of a banned metal, and bullet at which the statute was aimed was in fact a solid, made I believe of bronze.
hat tip to reader Steven Stamboulieh...
4 Comments | Leave a comment
The problem is that any number of pistols have been chambered for rifle cartridges. Thompson Center is a major offender. As a result, the 5.56 & 7.62 cartridges are now considered pistol cartridges and the BATFE has used this to deny imports under pliable politicians.
IANAL so my eyes glazed over before I could finish the full complaint, but it seems the charge is making and selling ammunition without the proper license and the fact that it is AP is secondary.
I think this is a correct analysis. Making ammo without a license is not a crime, but making ammo without a license and selling it IS a crime. The Feds are looking for anything to stick and Doug is, unfortunately, the fall guy.
I worked with him many years ago at a large Pacific Northwest Aerospace Company and in his spare time he was the go-to guy for unique and specialty ammo. Tracers in 22LR, 9mm and 45 ACP, special 12ga rounds, APIT in all calibers plus whatever surplus exotic military ammo was available. If he couldn't get it or make it, his colleagues could. It was all in good fun and not intended to be seditious or criminal.
Besides being a firearms expert, he is a very competent engineer.
It also says "...used in a handgun..." and "...intended for use in a handgun...".