"If you want to build an AR-15 pistol you just put a pistol grip and a short barrel on it. And as a result of those features it will be classified, according to the federal definitions, as a pistol instead of a rifle."
This is wrong on so many levels. It is not that simple to remain legal, in all 50 states.
ATF regulations prohibit just taking a AR-15 lower sold as a rifle, placing a 'pistol' upper on it and be kosher. That's not how it works at all. If a lower was sold OR configured at any time as a rifle, it will ALWAYS be a rifle. That is the law. The actual part of the law that make it thus is in the US code. I will quote, then explain how this matters after the quote.
18 USC § 921 (8):
"The term “short-barreled rifle” means a rifle having one or more barrels less than sixteen inches in length and any weapon made from a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches."
When an AR-15 is manufactured the rifle they must submit a form 5320.2 to the ATF that declares the type of firearm manufactured and its serial number. If your AR-15 was sold as a rifle, then it will always be a rifle, there is nothing you can do to change that. By placing a pistol length upper on a rifle you have no made a pistol, you have made a Short Barreled Rifle, without the proper tax and paperwork and approval by the ATF you have just made an NFA item, NOT A PISTOL.
Yes, you made a 'pistol' by barrel definition, but if you get caught with it, and the firearm goes though any type of investigation the ATF agent working your case will have some charges to file.
To make an AR-15 pistol it will have had to be manufactured from birth as a pistol. This happens 2 ways, you either buy a already made pistol from a manufacturer, then the documentation will always say it is a pistol, OR you buy a stripped lower, which is documented to the ATF as being an AOW, any other weapon, but technically if you built your lower into a rifle on its original build, then put a pistol upper on it, you would still be in violation, proving that obviously would be much more difficult for the government, I would suggest never to have photographs of said firearm in either configuration, not that I am in any way suggesting anyone violate the law, simply giving advice on never to have photos of your guns floating around, legal or not.
But, the journalist, and 'expert' never intended on actually being honest about AR-15 pistols.
"If you want to build an AR-15 pistol you just put a pistol grip and a short barrel on it. And as a result of those features it will be classified, according to the federal definitions, as a pistol instead of a rifle."
This is wrong on so many levels. It is not that simple to remain legal, in all 50 states.
ATF regulations prohibit just taking a AR-15 lower sold as a rifle, placing a 'pistol' upper on it and be kosher. That's not how it works at all. If a lower was sold OR configured at any time as a rifle, it will ALWAYS be a rifle. That is the law. The actual part of the law that make it thus is in the US code. I will quote, then explain how this matters after the quote.
18 USC § 921 (8):
"The term “short-barreled rifle” means a rifle having one or more barrels less than sixteen inches in length and any weapon made from a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches."
When an AR-15 is manufactured the rifle they must submit a form 5320.2 to the ATF that declares the type of firearm manufactured and its serial number. If your AR-15 was sold as a rifle, then it will always be a rifle, there is nothing you can do to change that. By placing a pistol length upper on a rifle you have no made a pistol, you have made a Short Barreled Rifle, without the proper tax and paperwork and approval by the ATF you have just made an NFA item, NOT A PISTOL.
Yes, you made a 'pistol' by barrel definition, but if you get caught with it, and the firearm goes though any type of investigation the ATF agent working your case will have some charges to file.
To make an AR-15 pistol it will have had to be manufactured from birth as a pistol. This happens 2 ways, you either buy a already made pistol from a manufacturer, then the documentation will always say it is a pistol, OR you buy a stripped lower, which is documented to the ATF as being an AOW, any other weapon, but technically if you built your lower into a rifle on its original build, then put a pistol upper on it, you would still be in violation, proving that obviously would be much more difficult for the government, I would suggest never to have photographs of said firearm in either configuration, not that I am in any way suggesting anyone violate the law, simply giving advice on never to have photos of your guns floating around, legal or not.
But, the journalist, and 'expert' never intended on actually being honest about AR-15 pistols.