Olofson case

MSSA has become involved in the Olofson case.

Olofson is a guy in Wisconsin who loaned his AR15 to a friend to take to the range. This AR doubled at the range – fired twice with one trigger pull. The “friend” returned the rifle to Olofson and reported the doubling to police. The BATFE raided Olofson and confiscated the AR. When the BATFE first tested the AR, they couldn’t get it to double. They tested again with ammo with soft primers and were able to make the AR double. Olofson was charged with and convicted of illegal possession and illegal transfer of a machine gun. The conviction was appealed to the federal circuit court of appeals, which upheld the two felony convictions.

Olofson is now appealing to the US Supreme Court. The USSC only takes about 1 of 100 cases appealed to it. MSSA is filing an amicus brief in support of the petition to the USSC to hear the Olofson case.

I’ve been digging around for information about unintended doubling or slam-fire in semi-auto rifles. Some of what I’ve found I’ve posted at:
http://www.mtssa.org/olofson/

If the USSC agrees to review the Olofson case, MSSA will need to file another amicus brief supporting the underlying case.

Stay tuned.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

50% off on receivers from KT Ordinance

Rick, owner of KT Ordnance in Dillon, needs to raise funds to pay off legal bills from when he was harassed by the BATFE (no charges were ever filed).

To raise funds, he’s selling his 80% receivers at a 50% discount. 80% receivers are incomplete, so they are not regulated as “firearms.” You would have to drill some holes or do some other machine work to finish these receivers, then add other parts such as barrels and lockwork to make a working firearm. You may finish these only for yourself, but it is not legal (as I understand it) to resell these or to, without a federal manufacturer’s license, be in the business of making and selling finished firearms. If you buy for cash, there is no paper trail on these receivers.

See Rick’s Website or Google “80% firearms” to learn more about the legalities and process for turning these 80% receivers into working firearms. Call Rick if you have any questions.

Here is Rick’s offer:

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KT Ordnance is running a special on all our 80% receivers (less the P-50) of 1/2 price.
We have 1911’s, AR-15’s AR-10’s and MK-1’s.

Use promotional code: “Molon Labe” to receive your 50% discount.

At these prices, buy one for a Christmas present for the “tinkerer” you know.
You can never have to many firearms.

You can order here: http://www.ktordnance.com/kto/
Or mail in your order (address below).

Thank you.
Richard Celata

KTO
382 Adams Lane
Dillon, Montana 59725
(406) 834-3611
www.ktordnance.com/kto/

Grizzly Bears Back On ESA List. Molloy’s Science Trumps USFWS’ Science

Major press sources got Molloy’s ruling all wrong!

Once again we are witness to everything that is wrong with the Endangered Species Act. Judge Donald Molloy, the one judge all the environmentalists seem to run to when they need a court to support their agendas, has decided that grizzly bears in the Yellowstone area, should be put back on the Endangered Species Act list of protected species.

It is a waste of my time and energy to attempt to explain why Molloy’s science is in disagreement with that of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Science. None of it really matters. It is incredible that the science used by the USFWS is regularly disregarded by Molloy in favor of either his own interpretation or that of the environmentalists. It really blows my mind. The out for the judges becomes whose science fits the case. Read more

Shooting Range Alert

It appears that there may be one or more out-of-state people soliciting contracts in Montana to do shooting range “inspections.” These “inspections” have resulted in the closure of one, maybe two shooting ranges because of safety defects alleged in the inspection reports.

Are there ranges in Montana with safety problems? Quite possibly. Is hiring one of these roving, self-styled “inspectors” the best way to address such problems? Almost certainly not. The resulting inspection reports may mandate remediation strategies far too expensive for a local club to afford, thus requiring range closure. Read more

Potomac precision rifle match; 9/19

MSSA will host its 9th long-range; field, precision rifle match at Potomac, Montana on Saturday, September 19th.

Shooters may enter Hunter Class, with 41 steel targets downrange between 100 and 300 yards (mostly), or Precision Class, with 65 steel targets downrange between 300 and 1,000 yards. This is not highly competitive as no prizes or trophies are awarded. It is more of a chance to play with rifles at distance, with safety rules, spotting and scorekeeping. (Sorry, we haven’t been able to arrange for any wolves to traverse the course.)

All information about the match is available at:
http://marbut.com/rifle

Preregistration (with me) is suggested but not required.

We do these matches generally on the third Saturday of each month during the shooting season (April to October), minus July and August if fire danger threatens. It is a fun match to shoot and test the long range ability of shooter, gear and ammo.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

CWP class – Missoula

I’ve scheduled a Gun Safety for Concealed Weapons Permits class in Missoula for Sunday, September 20th.

I teach these classes all in one weekend day, morning in the classroom and afternoon on the range, 9 AM to 4 PM, with pre-class study required. Tuition is $85.

This class is not filled yet, so if you know anyone who wishes to attend, have them call me at 549-1252.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

Information needed

I need any information you can dig up about any firearms, firearms accessories or ammunition manufactured in Montana prior to 1889.

Were there gunsmiths in business in Montana before 1998? Did they make any guns from scratch? Was there any manufacture of black powder in Montana before 1889? Was lead mined here and cast into bullets here? Can any of this be documented from written historical sources?

Thanks loads for any help you can provide!

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

CNN Covers Montana’s Firearms Freedom Act

It took awhile but finally CNN covered the story in Montana of their attempt to tell the Federal Government they have overstepped their authority in dictating to that state what they can and cannot do as far as regulating commerce. At issue is HB246, the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, which was passed in the Montana Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Read more

Wolf Protectors Uncloak Greed, Reveal Irrational Behavior

Sportsmen across Idaho this morning are claiming some sort of victory in the ongoing wolf debate, as hunters will take to the field with the hopes of bagging a wolf. Yesterday’s hearing in federal court, aimed at putting an emergency halt to the wolf hunt, ended without a decision from Judge Donald Molloy. He promised a quick ruling. While people wait, hunters are taking advantage of the situation and heading afield.

But in the court room yesterday, the plaintiffs, a group of 13 environmentalists fighting against the wolf hunts, openly displayed their greed when the lawyer for Earthjustice told Judge Molloy that there needed to be 3,000 to 5,000 wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains region before they would consider the reintroduction a success. He didn’t say they would deem it a success. He said they would consider it a success. This has been part of the problem from the onset. 3,000 to 5,000 wolves is a far cry from the original claim that 300 wolves would do the trick. The environmentalists just keep moving the goal posts further away. Read more