This is a thread about the Walther P22 pistol. Unfortunately for the gun owners who purchased this target firearm legally, some moron gun-control advocate in California has discovered that it was sold with a (gasp) threaded barrel. So, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer is sending out letters to every citizen of California who purchased the Walther P22 stating that they have 45 days to get their firearm’s bushing glued onto the barrel by Smith and Wesson. This prevents the threads from being exposed and the barrel from being removed. No one is taking into account that one of the great benefits of owning a P22 is the ability to swap 3.5" barrels with a 5" one and back again. Obviously, this diminishes the resale value of the firearm and the value of the firearm to a shooter who enjoys the ability to change barrels on his pistol.
Here is the demand letter:
Clearly, this is an example of reasonable firearm legislation.
Meh. I don’t have much use for most gun control legislation. But on the other hand, if it’s in violation, it’s in violation. Buyer beware and all that. At least S&W is doing it for free.
The point is, these things are retroactively in violation, and weren’t considered illegal until April. Persons who purchased the P22 in 2002 (before the “Dangerous” Weapons Act of 2003) are still required to have this done. This is an example of lawful citizens being persecuted because the State of California fucked up. If you want to try and explain to me how this helps stop crime, go ahead and try.
We’re taking one more step down the road to confiscation, here.
This Year’s Model, I will try and find it for you. I retrieved the letter from another message board. If you google a bit, you will find multiple links about this whole fiasco.
And in this, folks, we see the actual application of a firearms registry. It ain’t doin’ nothin’ to: a) stop criminals from using guns in the commission of violent crimes; b) assist authorities in apprehening criminals after they’ve committed their crimes; or c) prevent criminals from obtaining guns in the first place. No way, no how. A firearm registry is effective only for indentifying for prosecution previously law-abiding citizens whose guns have been criminalized. And this ain’t the first time California has misused its firearm registry in such a manner.
Well, I did, and all I got was blogs and message boards. Also, I cannot find anything about this at the Smith & Wesson web sites, or the Walther web site. And just for luck - neither could I find anything at snopes.
Lord Ashtar, I doubt taking legal action against California would accomplish much. California successfully managed to do this to SKS owners. Honestly, I don’t think CA has much regard for the Constitution.
Nothing. California previously used its firearms registry to confiscate legally owned and duly registered guns after the state legislature passed a law more broadly defining the term “assault weapon.”
It’s not an ex post facto law. An es post facto law would be if they said it was a crime for anyone to buy a handgun, retroactive to 1990, then rounded up and prosecuted people in violation of a law that didn’t exist at the time.
This is simply stating that a new regulation is required for certain guns and current gun owners must now come into compliance with this new regulation or face penalties. Two different things.
This Year’s Model, you do understand that this sort of thing isn’t good PR for anybody, don’t you? Go ahead and give Smith and Wesson a call, if you don’t believe me.
I just got off the phone with Smith and Wesson myself. This is in fact occurring. The number for S&W is 1-800-331-0852, press 7 to speak to their information desk.
Why are you taking this? Send them a letter and tell them to take shove their tyrannical patootie so far up their nose they’ll think they were hit by a… a…
Well, I don’t have a good way to end that one.
The point is, why tolerate? Get on the horn, get the NRA, and get it stopped!
No. Threaded barrels are a rarity. Especially ones threaded at the “business” end. This is the Walther model in question: http://www.waltheramerica.com/p22.htm
It’s my understanding that the barrel on the Walther is threaded at the other end, the end that attaches the barrel to the rest of the pistol, so that the barrels can be changed out.
I don’t think it has a damn thing to do with a silencer.