Before I started to write this I did some searching and could not find this question specifially answered. Please bear with me beacuse it will be a little long and I am new to building firearms.
Laws applicable to the question below-
Federal: It is legal to convert a pistol into a rifle, but illegal to convert a rifle into a pistol. IF built in pistol configuration, a firearm can be readily converted between the two configurations. However, if pistol barrel is less than 16" NFA applies when in rifle configuration and it must be registed and taxed as such. (I do not have citations for this. If someone does, please help.)
Maryland: New "assult pistols" are prohibited post 1994 (29.03.01.29). After Oct 1, 2013 an UZI in any form is prohibited from sale, transfer, or manufacture in the state of Maryland (SB281).
ATF: It is legal for an unlicensed individual to manufacture a firearm without intent to sell so long as the firearm meets all state and federal regulations.
Okay so now lets get into the question-
Hypothetically, a Maryland resident intends to manufacture an UZI carbine from a parts kit with 16" barrel and receiver repair section. Per the current law, the firearm can be built before Oct 1, 2013 and does not need to be registered.
Here is the tricky part, the Maryland resident most favors the UZI carbine when it has the accompanying detachable wood stock. The folding stock and long barrel look strange to the MD resident. Further, the MD resident would like to retain the detachable stock function so that the UZI carbine may be shot in pistol configuration outside of the state.
Would it be possible (between now and Oct 1, 2013) for a MD resident to build an UZI in pistol configuration with 16" barrel outside the state of MD? Then, still outside the state of MD, convert that pistol to a rifle per Federal guidlines? Now under federal law, that receiver originally built as a pistol, can legally be convered between pistol and rifle configuation? Note- This is not addressing the SBR aspect of the law, which for an extra $200 and registration makes this all moot. This discussion is for a legally unregisted 16" barrel pistol outside the state of Maryland.
Now, the UZI pistol in question was built outside the state of MD and then converted into a rifle with 16" barrel and quick detach wooden stock? Would it be legal for the MD resident to transport the now UZI carbine with quick detach stock into the state of MD as a rifle, with the intent that the stock would never be removed in the state of MD and thereby, outside MD the firearm is a pistol, but inside the state a rifle?
That makes for a very long question, but in summary and to hopefully not over-simplify.
1. Can a MD resident build and posess an "assault pistol" outside the state?
2. Can a MD resident build a rifle outside of the state then transport into and posess the rifle within the state?
3. Can an UZI that is federally considered a pistol be posessed, as a rifle, in MD by a MD resident?
4. Can a MD resident posess in MD an UZI rifle with quick detach wooden stock if the stock is never removed in MD?
5. After October 1, 2013 can a legal UZI be transported over state lines by a MD resident for shooting events, modified back to pistol form, then back to rifle form, and return with the resident in rifle form for continued posession in MD? - This one may need interpretation from the AG on SB281?
Thanks in advance!
Laws applicable to the question below-
Federal: It is legal to convert a pistol into a rifle, but illegal to convert a rifle into a pistol. IF built in pistol configuration, a firearm can be readily converted between the two configurations. However, if pistol barrel is less than 16" NFA applies when in rifle configuration and it must be registed and taxed as such. (I do not have citations for this. If someone does, please help.)
Maryland: New "assult pistols" are prohibited post 1994 (29.03.01.29). After Oct 1, 2013 an UZI in any form is prohibited from sale, transfer, or manufacture in the state of Maryland (SB281).
ATF: It is legal for an unlicensed individual to manufacture a firearm without intent to sell so long as the firearm meets all state and federal regulations.
Okay so now lets get into the question-
Hypothetically, a Maryland resident intends to manufacture an UZI carbine from a parts kit with 16" barrel and receiver repair section. Per the current law, the firearm can be built before Oct 1, 2013 and does not need to be registered.
Here is the tricky part, the Maryland resident most favors the UZI carbine when it has the accompanying detachable wood stock. The folding stock and long barrel look strange to the MD resident. Further, the MD resident would like to retain the detachable stock function so that the UZI carbine may be shot in pistol configuration outside of the state.
Would it be possible (between now and Oct 1, 2013) for a MD resident to build an UZI in pistol configuration with 16" barrel outside the state of MD? Then, still outside the state of MD, convert that pistol to a rifle per Federal guidlines? Now under federal law, that receiver originally built as a pistol, can legally be convered between pistol and rifle configuation? Note- This is not addressing the SBR aspect of the law, which for an extra $200 and registration makes this all moot. This discussion is for a legally unregisted 16" barrel pistol outside the state of Maryland.
Now, the UZI pistol in question was built outside the state of MD and then converted into a rifle with 16" barrel and quick detach wooden stock? Would it be legal for the MD resident to transport the now UZI carbine with quick detach stock into the state of MD as a rifle, with the intent that the stock would never be removed in the state of MD and thereby, outside MD the firearm is a pistol, but inside the state a rifle?
That makes for a very long question, but in summary and to hopefully not over-simplify.
1. Can a MD resident build and posess an "assault pistol" outside the state?
2. Can a MD resident build a rifle outside of the state then transport into and posess the rifle within the state?
3. Can an UZI that is federally considered a pistol be posessed, as a rifle, in MD by a MD resident?
4. Can a MD resident posess in MD an UZI rifle with quick detach wooden stock if the stock is never removed in MD?
5. After October 1, 2013 can a legal UZI be transported over state lines by a MD resident for shooting events, modified back to pistol form, then back to rifle form, and return with the resident in rifle form for continued posession in MD? - This one may need interpretation from the AG on SB281?
Thanks in advance!
