We were taken aback by AG James’ cease-and-desist order and the language used in it. Just as we’ve maintained since our founding, none of the products we sell are legally considered firearms by any state or federal law. More importantly, buying one of our products – in this case, an 80% lower receiver, officially called a receiver blank by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms – and turning it into a firearm does not in any way constitute the making of an assault weapon.
Even a finished 80% lower is simply a stripped lower receiver, a generic firearm with no features. In fact, it can’t even function. It doesn’t have any of the parts described in the letter (“… at least one of several enumerated secondary characteristics, including a pistol grip or a stock that folds, telescopes, or bears a thumbhole”) that would allow any state or federal law to define the receiver, the firearm itself, as an assault weapon.
AG James says, “There is only one purpose for the products that these companies are selling – to manufacture illegal and deadly assault weapons”. This could not be further from the truth. We do not believe the AR-15 is an assault weapon. It is one of the most popular sporting rifles bought, sold, and importantly, built by Americans, in the United States.
While 80-lower.com always operates within the confines of state and federal laws, we’re also patriotic supporters of the Second Amendment. We believe every American should have full, unrestricted access to their 2A rights. The Gun Control Act of 1968 and the ATF have long held that it is perfectly legal for a private citizen to build a gun at home for personal use, if they can otherwise legally own a firearm. We simply want to support that right.
We find this letter to be perplexing, but this development is sudden and ongoing. We’re actively working to respond to this demand with the best possible results, and we’ll provide our customers with an update regarding the sale and shipment of 80% lowers, frame blanks, and receiver blanks to the state of New York.
