ATF 41P Minor Update – Up to One Month Pushback
Two years to the day after the comment period – which received well over 9,000 comments – ended, there is still little news other than that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) has amended the rule 41P status to reflect yet another pushback of up to one month.
The 41P status page has been again updated to reflect a mysterious final action date of 01/00/2016 from the previously noted and equally curious 12/00/2015 final action date. It should again be pointed out that this date is the date by which the BATFE will make a decision on whether or not to implement the changes set forth in the proposed rule, not necessarily the date by which the rule takes effect – if it is ever approved and takes effect at all.
Joshua Prince’s law blog posted on the topic last month with several important notes and some speculation about the potential future of the rule. Prince postulates that “ATF could move forward with a final rule prior to the end of this year or ATF could once again delay the final action date; however, if it is delayed further, it will likely be delayed in one month increments.” Further, he points out the following two important statements from BATFE personnel:
- The Agency Contact, Brenda Friend Esq., previously told Attorney Merting that the rule would not be retroactive and would only apply to new transactions.
- During the 12th Annual Import/Export Conference, I asked ATF howpending transfers would be treated, if a new rule was implemented. ATF responded that any new regulation would only apply to applications submitted after the effective date of the regulation. Attorney Merting confirmed that this was consistent with what Attorney Friend told him.
In essence, it is more of the same wait-and-see that we have had for the last two years.
As always, the GunLink Blog will post additional details as they become available.
Glock Factory Service: The Best Kept Secret in Sights?
It’s no secret that Glock’s factory sights might not exactly be the best in the business. Pistol shooters may find a variety of faults with the sights, from the polymer material from which they are constructed to the otherwise unconventional “ball in the bucket” markings versus more traditional 3-dot sights to the dimensions of the stock sights. Whatever it is, enough people dislike them to make the field of aftermarket sights a relatively large one.
One of the main concerns heard most frequently seems to be about the durability of the polymer sights. Some damage to the side of a Glock rear sight is visible in our Armed Citizen graphic. A stock front post on one of the GunLink Glocks was starting to wear on one corner and mushroom on the other corner from being drawn and reholstered. One of our shooting buddies told us about a Glock that took an unlucky hit to the rear sight after dropping a few inches onto an end table and the sight snapped out. Other stories of sight failure can be easily found if you scrounge around online.
To be certain, the polymer OEM Glock sights are not complete garbage and, truthfully, might be just fine for the majority of casual shooters. Although they don’t make a habit of regularly releasing their numbers, Glock production hit the 5-million mark eight years ago in 2007. If the last eight years kept pace with the previous 8-year period, the numbers are now somewhere around 8 million. The majority of those pistols’ owners probably don’t spend a lot of time using them hard enough to cause any notable damage. Continue reading
Brownells New Products Week in Review for December 4, 2015
Product manager Paul Levy shares some of the new products this week at Brownells.
- Magpul PMAG D-60 Drum Magazine – Lightweight, durable polymer magazine holds up to 60 rounds of 5.56/.223 ammunition for sustained firepower without a reload. Drum’s compact design allows for easy prone firing, and simplifies storage. Tension-relieving lever eases loading. Fits standard AR-15-style firearms, as well as HK416, MR556, M27 IAR and similar.
- Bravo Company KMR Alpha Handguard – With many of the same advantages as the original KMR Handguard, the all-aluminum Alpha version weighs slightly more, but costs less. Handguard flares slightly toward the muzzle into special flat-bottomed shape that is comfortable and ergonomic, and helps give stability when shooting off a rest or barricade. Accepts KeyMod accessories at four offset positions, and free floats the barrel to help maximize accuracy potential.
- 7″ KMR Alpha
- 8″ KMR Alpha
- 9″ KMR Alpha
- 10″ KMR Alpha
- 13″ KMR Alpha
- 15″ KMR Alpha
- Rapid Pure Trail Blazer Ultralight Camp Filter – Reservoir-style filter hangs up on a branch, pole or stand and uses gravity to help remove virtually all particles, impurities, microorganisms and viruses from water. Can be rolled up for easy storage in a pack or bag. Comes with 9-liter reservoir, long-threaded connector, sealing washers and tube for drinking or directing water into other containers. Filter unit length determines flow rate and average service life.
Armed Citizen: Liquor store employee shoots armed robber
An armed criminal entered Liquor World in Louisville, Ky. and attempted to rob the store. An employee on duty responded to the threat by retrieving a gun and shooting the criminal. The would-be thief died after being taken to a hospital. The employee was not injured during the incident. (WLKY, Louisville, Ky. 09/28/15)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
Armed Citizen: New Right-to-Carry permit holder defends himself against armed robbers
A 23-year-old Right-to-Carry permit holder was waiting for a bus after work when a trio of armed men attempted to rob him. One of the thieves put their hands inside the permit holder’s pocket and stole $220. The permit holder responded to the robbery by drawing a gun and firing at the criminals, striking two and causing all to flee. The two wounded robbers were captured by police while seeking medical attention at a nearby hospital.
The permit holder obtained his Right-to-Carry permit mere weeks before his harrowing encounter. Speaking with a local media outlet, the permit holder’s brother noted, “I believe you should have the right to protect yourself from any danger… We should be able to walk and go where we want freely and not be in fear of our life that that’s why I believe your CPL is protecting you from any danger you may come across.” (FOX 2 Detroit, Detroit, Mich. 10/19/15)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
Armed Citizen: Elderly husband saves wife from armed robber
A 27-year-old man armed with a gun entered a rental office in the Eastside section of Indianapolis, Ind. and attempted to rob the 75-year-old woman inside. The woman’s 73-year-old husband was in another part of the building at the time, but became aware of the robbery and retrieved a gun. Coming to his wife’s defense, the husband fired at the criminal, striking him several times and putting an end to the threat.
According to a local media outlet, the robber faced multiple arrest warrants, for dealing drugs, strangulation, and illegal firearms possession. (The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Ind. 09/22/15)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
