A little known and poorly understood piece of legislation has been winding its way through the bowels of ATF's review process and is about to be excreted, er, foisted upon the lawful firearms owning community. I am referring to the Safe Explosives Act.
One can assume that this is yet another part of the knee-jerk reactions to explosives potential that has occurred since 9/11. After review by ATF counsel and more review with various other internal experts, the other shoe is getting ready to drop. In a nutshell, this act seeks to harmonize regulation of the purchase, handling, storage and use of materials defined as explosives. Knowing that the devil is in the details, the part that will cause us the most issue is the definition of explosive. The ATF did agree to form an exploratory committee that included input from various organizations to provide guidance and counsel on how that definition should be written. After all, not even the Army and Navy can agree on what they consider to be explosives, so folks knew that it could be problematic. The committee was never formed, the input was never sought and it certainly wasn't received, and we learned a short time ago that ATF is "ready to publish and move forward" with it's regulatory findings.
All folks that have, handle, buy, sell, use, etc. explosives will be required to have, at minimum, a Handler's FFL. Further, an approved magazine must be used to store all explosives and that magazine must be inspected at least once per year. So what are those explosives?
Anything greater than .50 caliber. And that includes .50 BMG (it is .510 diameter), chalk rounds for grenades (even though they are propelled with what is a .38), and just about every safari caliber. Further, the ATF has indicated that the weapons that fire such explosives will now become DD's (destructive devices), requiring NFA registration. One can only assume that shotguns will still receive their ongoing exemptions from this silliness. Nobody has talked about how the very wealthy and affluent safari hunters will be able to transport their .600 Nitro rifles and ammo in the bellies of FAA regulated air transport. Nobody is considering that everyone who currently has a few boxes of .50 BMG will now have to get a license and a storage magazine... and then be able to go buy all the 4 inch fireworks mortars they want...
This one appears to be real. And the ATF appears to be bound and determined to proceed on their own path with zero outside influence.
One can assume that this is yet another part of the knee-jerk reactions to explosives potential that has occurred since 9/11. After review by ATF counsel and more review with various other internal experts, the other shoe is getting ready to drop. In a nutshell, this act seeks to harmonize regulation of the purchase, handling, storage and use of materials defined as explosives. Knowing that the devil is in the details, the part that will cause us the most issue is the definition of explosive. The ATF did agree to form an exploratory committee that included input from various organizations to provide guidance and counsel on how that definition should be written. After all, not even the Army and Navy can agree on what they consider to be explosives, so folks knew that it could be problematic. The committee was never formed, the input was never sought and it certainly wasn't received, and we learned a short time ago that ATF is "ready to publish and move forward" with it's regulatory findings.
All folks that have, handle, buy, sell, use, etc. explosives will be required to have, at minimum, a Handler's FFL. Further, an approved magazine must be used to store all explosives and that magazine must be inspected at least once per year. So what are those explosives?
Anything greater than .50 caliber. And that includes .50 BMG (it is .510 diameter), chalk rounds for grenades (even though they are propelled with what is a .38), and just about every safari caliber. Further, the ATF has indicated that the weapons that fire such explosives will now become DD's (destructive devices), requiring NFA registration. One can only assume that shotguns will still receive their ongoing exemptions from this silliness. Nobody has talked about how the very wealthy and affluent safari hunters will be able to transport their .600 Nitro rifles and ammo in the bellies of FAA regulated air transport. Nobody is considering that everyone who currently has a few boxes of .50 BMG will now have to get a license and a storage magazine... and then be able to go buy all the 4 inch fireworks mortars they want...
This one appears to be real. And the ATF appears to be bound and determined to proceed on their own path with zero outside influence.
That was exactly what I was thinking. Second thought was "Why?" The BATFs sole purpose in regards to firearms should be keeping guns from being used in crime, if that. When was the last time a caliber (shotgun slugs not included) larger than .50 used in a crime?
