Restricted Marked ARs

[mag318]

During the AWB makers had to mark their recievers and mags Restricted LE/Gov only. Why does Colt still mark their ARs this way? What happens if a new AWB becomes law and you are caught with a restricted engraved rifle? You would be required to prove you bought it before the new ban went into effect I imagine. Other makers don't engrave their recievers, only Colt which turns a lot of buyers off.

[smkummer]

All of us could speculate why they are doing this. Even if one were to call and ask Colt we might only get the politically correct reason why they are doing this. Heck a retro SP1 would move like hot cakes right now. You will notice that the magazines that are stamped restricted also have a date on them. If a new law passes (I believe it will have a harder time passing this time around) , most likely it would include a new date. It would be real hard to enforce a new law that would be retroactive to the original date with the flood a magazines and firearms out in circulation. just my .02

[tomob1]

only Colt which turns a lot of buyers off.

for as many people who get "turned off" by the markings, I bet ther's twice as many who get "turned on" by them!
kinda like black Talon ammo. people pay a premium for it because they think it was banned or restricted.
just my 2c
tom

[dfariswheel]

Colt prefers to sell these rifles only to law enforcement for political reasons.
For this reason they stamp them for "LE use only".
This is strictly a company stamp since it has no force in law.
The "political" reasons are the beating the company took from the anti-gunners pushing for the original ban, and the fact that the VERY anti-gun State of Connecticut is a partial owner of Colt and has ordered them not to sell LE-Only firearms to non-LE buyers.
When an owner orders you to do something, you do it.

As example, all the older stamped steel folding stocks Remington made for their shotguns were stamped as "LE Only". Any citizen was completely free to own one if he could get one some where.

Same holds for the Colt LE rifle. Colt doesn't want "civilians" to buy them, but if you can get one, it's totally legal.
You can stamp "Military-only" or "LE-only" or "Genuine American Citizens-only" on anything you want, but it has no force of law. Anyone who gets one is legal.

If there is another ban, all you'll have to do is show that the serial number was made prior to a ban.
Most all AR manufacturers will furnish proof of when a rifle was made.
You'll have no trouble proving when a rifle was made, and the "LE" stamps will have no force in law because they too were applied BEFORE any ban.
Only rifles made AFTER a ban can be so restricted.

[A1A]

Until Congress passes a law otherwise.

[weagle99]

This is strictly a company stamp since it has no force in law.

Same holds for the Colt LE rifle. Colt doesn't want "civilians" to buy them, but if you can get one, it's totally legal.
You can stamp "Military-only" or "LE-only" or "Genuine American Citizens-only" on anything you want, but it has no force of law. Anyone who gets one is legal.

You'll have no trouble proving when a rifle was made, and the "LE" stamps will have no force in law because they too were applied BEFORE any ban.

My understanding is that some states (NY for example) currently ban citizens from owning LE only marked guns, meaning that Colt's stamp basically carries the force of law in those states.

Luckily I don't live in one of those states, so I could be wrong on this and defer to Dr. D's knowledge to contrary as appropriate...

[Mushinto]

My understanding is that some states (NY for example) currently ban citizens from owning LE only marked guns, meaning that Colt's stamp basically carries the force of law in those states.

Luckily I don't live in one of those states, so I could be wrong on this and defer to Dr. D's knowledge to contrary as appropriate...

I don't think New Yorkers (City) can own ARs no matter what is marked on them.

And, luckily I escaped from behind that iron curtain.

[NYresq]

My understanding is that some states (NY for example) currently ban citizens from owning LE only marked guns, meaning that Colt's stamp basically carries the force of law in those states...

NY has its own assault weapons ban very similar to the now defunked fed ban. The NY ban is enforceable the same as the fed ban was, by manufacture date. Weapons (pistol or rifle) marked as LEO only have nothing to do with anything being legal or not in NY state

[M203sniper]

All of this will be gone in a few years. Cities will get tired of being sued and losing after McDonald v Chicago finally writes the rules in black&white the way they ought to be.

If you have a little disposable income and a good lawyer, get him a gift. Sue city hall.