ATF Important Announcement Seeks Input From Shotgun Or Other Gun Buffs
Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) generally prohibits the importation of firearms into the United States. However, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Agency tells us that within the Act, there are four narrow categories of firearms which can be imported , but only with the approval of the Attorney General.
One section of the act, subsection 925(d)(3), states the following: “the Attorney General shall approve applications for importation when the firearms are generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes (the “sporting purposes test”).”
After passage of the GCA in 1968, a panel was convened to provide input on the sporting suitability standards which resulted in factoring criteria for handgun importations. Then in 1989, and again in 1998, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted studies to determine the sporting suitability and importability of certain firearms under section 925(d)(3). However, these studies focused mainly on a type of firearm described as “semiautomatic assault weapons.” The 1989 study determined that assault rifles contained a variety of physical features that distinguished them from traditional sporting rifles. The study concluded that there were three characteristics that defined semiautomatic assault rifles. (ATF announcement-January 28, 2011)
The 1998 study concurred with the conclusions of the 1989 study, but included a finding that “the ability to accept a detachable large capacity magazine originally designed and produced for a military assault weapon should be added to the list of disqualifying military configuration features identified in 1989.” Further, both studies concluded that the scope of “sporting purposes” did not include all lawful activity, but was limited to traditional sports such as hunting, skeet shooting, and trap shooting. This effectively narrowed the universe of firearms considered by each study because a larger number of firearms are “particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to a sporting purpose” if plinking and police or military-style practical shooting competitions are also included as a “sporting purpose.(Ibid)
What all this boils down to, is that during all of these studies and decisions, most of the attention was towards that of rifles and semi-automatic assault weapons. But the old standby for bird and small game hunting, the shot gun, was never taken seriously into consideration. Here is a blurb telling about that:
A shotgun study working group (working group) was assigned to perform a shotgun study under the § 925(d)(3) sporting purposes test. The working group considered the 1989 and 1998 studies, but neither adopted nor entirely accepted findings from those studies as conclusive as to shotguns. (Ibid)
Although it boggles the mind as to why there would be any consideration given to any use of the shotgun other than for sports, yet they have so far been unable to determine I suppose. Of course it is recognized that an occasional homicide is credited to the use of a shot gun and also in some cases, I think, some policemen are permitted to carry one and to use it in case of extreme and hazardous rioting or such things. But, perhaps 99.9 percent are used to knock a bird, duck, etc., out of the air while in flight, or a squirrel as it scampers from tree limb to tree limb.
For sportsmen, and/or gun enthusiasts especially with an interest in shotguns, it would be beneficial to you to read this entire release by the ATF which is extensive...thirty four pages, although a number of them are photos of various types of shotguns and attachments, charts, etc.
It is an interesting read, but besides, many may desire to send them their suggestions or other input concerning the importability of these foreign built shotguns and their suitability for sports. Here are the instructions for emailing them any messages.
January 2011 All interested persons may submit comments on this study.
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to shotgunstudy@atf.gov or by fax to (202)648-9601. Faxed comments may not exceed 5 pages. All comments must include name and mailing address. ATF encourages submission of comments no later than May 1, 2011.
In order to read the entire announcement, in PDF form Click Here.
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