DAYTON, NV –-(Ammoland.com)- Federal authorities have raided the offices of Polymer80 for allegedly illegally manufacturing and distributing firearms, failing to pay taxes, shipping firearms across state lines, and failing to conduct background checks.
The target of the raid centers around the company’s “Buy Build Shoot Kit,” which includes a slide, barrel, parts, the jigs, drill bits, and an 80% frame. The end-user would still need to mill out the frame to turn it into a working firearm. The ATF claims that because of the way the company sells the kits that these packages constitute firearms, and Polymer80 needs to serialize the frame.
This demand is a departure from long-standing ATF regulations that held as long as the frame was no more than 80% complete that the agency would not consider it a firearm, and it would not need a serial number.
Organizations like Brady United and anti-gun politicians have been pushing the ATF to change the ruling on what constitutes a firearm. States like California have sued the federal government over what it calls “ghost guns” and seeks to redefine a completed gun’s long-standing definition.
Just last week, Brady United filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ghost Gunner Inc. and 12 other parts makers on behalf of a California family. In this case, the anti-gun organization claims companies like Polymer80 (not named in the lawsuit) markets to prohibited people. Brady United ignores the strong tradition of Americans building their own firearms. Tens of Thousands of hobbyists build homemade guns to continue the tradition.
Anti-gun groups and politicians have pointed to isolated incidents where criminals used finished guns in crimes. In most cases, the suspects were not prohibited people and could have purchased a traditional firearm. Over 90% of guns used in crimes were obtained illegally.
In the weeks after the election, the acting head of the ATF, Regina Lombardo, told the Biden transition team that pistol braces and 80% receivers were the ATF’s number one and number two issues. The raid could signify a shift in ATF’s policies with the incoming anti-gun Biden regime if election challenges are unsuccessful. An owner of a large company that produces 80% lower receivers told AmmoLand News that their lawyers believe that after the election, the Department of Justice will choose not to defend itself in the California lawsuit, effectively changing the laws surrounding 80% lower receivers and frames.
Polymer 80 ATF Determination Letter
It is unclear what this means for people that purchased the kits from Polymer80. The ATF has yet to indicate if they believe those buyers own illegal firearms. Right now, the case is just involving the “Buy Build Shoot Kit” line of products because it comes with everything needed to complete the gun. Polymer80 does have a determination letter that their frame is NOT a firearm. It is unclear whether the ATF would consider one of their 80% frames a gun if the customer added everything they needed to complete it to their cart separately.
At this point, there is a lot of questions without answers, but gun rights advocates believe this is just a sign of things to come under a Democrat lead Biden/Harris administration.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
The only thing illegal here is the existence of the ATF.
The BATFE is now acting in complete concert with their perceived incoming commandant. They are not going to follow direction from what they see as nothing more than a lame duck administration; there will be no meaningful consequence to their disobedience anyway. Nominated (not confirmed) members of Biden’s team have already met with the ATF to discuss their plans to make ghost guns illegal, among other pet gun-control projects of the left. Strange timing on these 80% raids, right? This is only the beginning of at least 4 years of outright assault on our 2nd Amendment, should Biden be inaugurated. Any other… Read more »
Now the BATFE is tracking down individual customers.
Interesting that Trump didn’t spend this much effort on BLM/Antifa.
Republican politicians hate firearm owners.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/12/11/polymer80-kits/?fbclid=IwAR1_PoRlmGHMnmiFDAnNT0UhJ1wFoeDgkhZoqIlcGkUTkxLhEq3fu5vtOcw
The author did not speculate on why Barr has not directed the BATFE to engage in enforcement actions against violent people who have actually committed violent acts and violated federal regulations. The violent BLM/Antifa rioters used incendiary devices prohibited by the NFA of 1934 all summer long. I don’t believe Barr and the BATFE initiated one action against any of those people for those violations.
Why?
Why did the FBI send 15 agents to investigate a garage door pull?
The BATFE reports up to Barr who was appointed by Trump and who reports to Trump. Trump appointed a Director of the BATFE who was so anti-gun the Senate wouldn’t approve him. Barr appointed an Acting Director of the BATFE who is strongly anti-2nd Amendment. For the last four years, the Republican administration controlled the BATFE. All of the things they have done regarding bump stocks, pistol braces, and “ghost guns,” have been done at the direction of Trump or with the tacit approval of Trump. These interpretations of regulations are being enthusiastically enforced by government employees, many of whom… Read more »
This is TYRANNY and TREASON. TYRANNY because a government agency is illegally ASSAULTING not just a company who manufactures LEGAL parts of equipment, but also everyone who may have purchased said parts of equipment. It is TREASONOUS because the atfe has disavowed their oath to the constitution, the nation and the people. Every American citizen who is not in jail or the looney farm and is of proper age has the RIGHT to keep and bear arms. This unalienable RIGHT is given to mankind from the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, see Luke 22:36, and this RIGHT is further guaranteed by the… Read more »