Catch .22 Update

Well, wonder of wonders. I was in a large central Connecticut firearm retailer the other day, whose slogan is; "Guns For The Good Guys." Lo and behold, there in the gun case, in gleaming splendor, was a copy of the afore mentioned "Colt" .22 Rail Gun. I was suprised to see it displayed, since other retailers I had spoken to about the design had said that they could not sell it, or take one in trade.

I asked the counter person if I could handle the weapon. He then produced it from the case, and handed it to me. I quickly racked, and locked back the slide. There it was, the little threaded end cap that protected the eight millimeter threads on the end of the barrel. I showed the threaded cap to the salesperson, and queried him about the legality. He said the "threads" did not protrude from the front of the slide, and was therefore legal. "Besides, do you think the owner would risk this business on an illegal firearm" he added, as he put the pistol back in its place of honor.

I am very confused. I was pretty darn sure the gun I sold my brother-in-law was considered an assault weapon in Connecticut, and therefore, illegal to own, transfer, trade, sell, or possess. It does after all, have a threaded barrel. The new law states that a semi-automatic pistol with a threaded barrel meets the criteria for assault weapon status. It does not have verbiage that says "threading that protrudes, or is visible." Hopefully, I can relate this information to my friend before he welds the end cap on his M&P. Perhaps the brain trust in Hartford is, has, or is in the process of amending or clarifying the statute.

That pistol is now retailing for nearly $400. The next time I'm in Maine, visiting my BIL, I may revisit that firearm transaction. Slim chance he'd sell it back to me for what I allowed him to pay. Anyway, I will wait for definitive proof of legality before posting here. The waters are still a bit muddy.