RoadDawg
Nos nostraque Deo
- Dec 6, 2010
- 94,485
One minor correction to the above...Maryland wanted to follow in CA's path and basically copied their regulated rifles list back in 1989 for the first 39 rifles on the regulated list. MSRPA was successful in getting the Colt Sporter HBAR specifically exempted for competition reason, because COLT still owned the patent back in 1989 and was the only HBAR on the market at the time. Fast forward to 1992 when Bushmaster made a heavy Barrel version of their AR-15. MSP, in written correspondence, verified that the Bushmaster heavy barrel was a copy of the Colt Sporter HBAR and could be sold cash and carry. Then the other heavy barrel copies came along.
The additions to the regulated list were based on this and came about in 1994 in Maryland.
This is the real reason that HBAR rifles remained legal to possess in Maryland then and subsequently now.
And as I was told back then... MSRPA was helped by support of the military because they did not want their visiting shooters to be placed in jeopardy of violating Maryland gun laws while participating in the Maryland Shooting Competitions.
And the “weight” of the barrel really had no bearing on the issue other than the fact that the HBAR rifle does not have the cutout portion of the barrel which allows the M-203 to be attached. The fact that the rifle was designated by Colt as a “MATCH TARGET” stamped “MATCH HBAR” rifle... helped to sell the “approval“ for the exemption to the MGA. The “copy” exemptions for other manufacturer’s HBARs came later as you pointed out.
Example: