ATF Determines That The Rare Breed FRT-15 Trigger is A Machine Gun

ATF Determines That The Rare Breed FRT-15 Trigger is A Machine Gun
ATF Determines That The Rare Breed FRT-15 Trigger is A Machine Gun

ORLANDO, FL-(Ammoland.com)- Rare Breed Triggers received a letter from the Tampa branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stating its FRT-15 trigger is a machine gun.

The Rare Breed Triggers FRT-15 is a force reset trigger. When a trigger is pulled, the FRT-15 trigger’s sear forces the trigger to reset. The trigger dramatically speeds up the rate of fire of an AR15 style of firearm. A machinegun is a gun that fires more than one bullet with a single function of the trigger. The shooter has to pull the trigger for every round that is fired, the company correctly believes that the FRT-15 trigger is not a machine gun. But much like the bump stocks, the ATF disagreed with the company’s assertion.

From Rare Breed Triggers current lawsuit:

23. In other words, ATF may promulgate and enforce rules under this section of the United States Code, but ATF has no authority to change the Code or the Code’s definition of what constitutes a “machinegun”.

Rare Breed Trigger LLC did not submit a trigger to the ATF for an opinion letter, the company relied on the legal opinions of attorneys and experts outside of the ATF. The company has several videos on its website with these experts explaining why the Rare Breed FRT-15 trigger is not a machine gun. Even if the company had an opinion letter from the ATF, it could have just reversed its decision much as it did with bump stocks.

AmmoLand News learned that the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) acquired a few Rare Breed Triggers FRT-15s a few months ago and proceeded to test the devices. The Firearms Enforcement Officer (FEO) that examined the trigger determined it to be a machine gun, much like the ATF considers a Drop in Auto Sear (DIAS) or a bump stock a machine gun. The Tampa Field office was notified by FATD and drafted a letter to the company on July 26, 2021.

The letter informing Rare Breed Triggers, LLC of the ATF’s determination was addressed to Kevin Maxwell, who owns the company. The letter states that the ATF considers the FRT-15 a machine gun. The ATF disagrees with the company on the “single function” of the trigger. They believe that the FRT-15 only requires a single function of a trigger to fire.

On August 3, 2021, Rare Breed Triggers, LLC and Mr. Maxwell filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Department of Justice, the ATF, ATF Acting Director Marvin Richardson, and Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) Craig Saier of the Tampa Field Division. The case was brought in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida Orlando Division. The court denied an ex parte (emergency) temporary restraining order and set a court date of August 18.

Rare Breed is asking the court to rule that the FRT-15 is not a machine gun. The company argues that a machine gun is defined by a single function of a trigger and not how fast a gun can fire. The company also claims that the ATF doesn’t have the authority to change the definition of a machine gun under the Gun Control Act.

The company claims that the FRT-15 is not an auto sear. Rare Breed states that its trigger just speeds up the reset of a trigger and functions like any other semi-automatic firearm. The operations the company list for a semi-automatic gun is Firing, Unlocking, Extracting, Ejecting, Cocking, Feeding, Chambering, and Locking.

The lawsuit list four experts that Rare Breed consulted on the legalities of the FRT-15. Dan O’Kelly is one of the legal experts that the company consulted and is a former ATF agent that has acted as an expert witness in multiple court cases. Rick Vasquez is a retired ATF employee from FATD. He has also worked with the gun industry on compliance issues since leaving the Bureau.

Mr. Maxwell, who is also a lawyer in addition to the company owner, will be acting as an attorney for Rare Breed Triggers.

Rare Breed Triggers has not returned AmmoLand’s request for comment.


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.

John Crump

John Crump
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Shotgun505

I will not comply! You can have my guns bullets first. Shall not be infringed! What the fuck does this mean to you? It is time to retake our country and execute any official who doesn’t follow the constitution! They are traitors to America.

BadBilly21

Please keep your powder dry at least until they get to your house. Otherwise threats to shoot government officials will only hurt our cause.

Henry Bowman

Rare Breed Tells ATF “I Will Not Comply” (excerpts)…Allegedly there are hundreds of pages of documents providing to show that PRIOR to PRODUCTION this was a non-issue and in accordance with the ATFs draconian rules and regulations. Only AFTER this trigger went into production was ANY mention of it not being a 100% legal semi auto trigger. Rare Breed, however, thankfully had the foresight to plan for such cloak and dagger tomfooleries to be performed by the ATF, and are FULLY prepared to take a stand and fight for what’s right. Rare has asked that you, OUR READER, can also help, SPREAD… Read more »

Tank

Yep.
We the People should have been at the we will not comply long ago. Illegal immigration invasions, voting laws & rigged Dominion Voting machines made in China (which are illegal) don’t help the process either.

swmft

Venezuelan software al la Chavez, cant forget that

Ryben Flynn

I said months ago the “AFT” would decide it’s a machine gun. If they could decide a plastic stock is a machine gun, what’s to stop them from declaring Levi, Wrangler and Rustler jeans with belt loops a machine gun, or rubber bands or a shoestring (Oh, wait. They did that for one rifle), or Jerry Miculek’s trigger finger?

Last edited 2 years ago by Ryben Flynn
Russn8r

“How much BS will we take?”

A lot more until shills like TEX stop pimping do-nothing cucks like Abbott & Phelan.

https://texasscorecard.com/state/texans-critique-gov-abbotts-and-speaker-phelans-handling-of-botched-special-session/

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Ryben Flynn

Thinking you may be a Democrat.

Russn8r

Are you a dim-bulb RINO? I back Huffines, true R for Tx Gov https://donhuffines.com/

You back the do-nothing cuck.

Well, Abbott did do something. His lockdown jailed hairstylists & broke small firms. Only does the right thing under heavy pressure from conservatives, then half-assed like his chain-link ‘wall’.

Sabotages efforts to ban child sex-change. To evade action he asked others if it was abuse. Let it sink in. Had to ask others if child sex amputation is abuse. Didn’t hear what he wanted, they said it’s abuse, he did zip.

Sabotages efforts to slash Tx’s crushing property tax too.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Ryben Flynn

NOPE. Conservative Republican. Voted for Trump twice, but not RINO Lindsey Graham.
And it seems you condone teh ATF reclassify firearms, tehn you are one of them.
Reporting you for a personal attack.

Russn8r

I see, can’t take what you dish out. Long as you’re crying to mommy, tell them about your personal attack “thinking you may be a Democrat”.

I not only voted for Trump, I donated & volunteered starting in 2015.

How do you figure I support ATF reclassifying firearms? I think ATF should be abolished.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
APG member

Seems more like an NSA troll; loves to promote the democrat/republican false dichotomy. Check yourself BTW…

Russn8r

Nice projection. Unlike you & TEX, I only have one account.

You’re the dude who claims there’s no such thing as a RINO, protecting traitors & squishes in the “R” tent who are far more destructive than Dems.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
APG member

No, no such thing as a Republican. Huffines will NEVER get the party nod. The Rhinoceros Party has left you behind. Tex and I are one and the same, and the internet was constructed to support your ego…

Russn8r

Showing your colors. If Huffines doesn’t get it, it’s thanks to your ilk. Let me guess: LoLibertarian?

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Russn8r

“…period!…not even close!…very possible…Could be…” -TEX/Will

LoL

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
USMC0351Grunt

That’s; “Shit-Sucking Weasel”

Russn8r

That foul mouth thuggery fits your low IQ, grunt.

Bill

NSA: The only part of the government that actually listens to the people!

Russn8r

“fuck off you Goddamned ass clown.”
-Roland T Gunner aka TEX/FORD Will/Will et ilk.

That’s right, you outed yourself, “pissant”.

Low-IQ, can’t address truth or reason, so you lash like a child with foul-mouth ad hominem deflection.

And poison the Ammoland well like an agent provocateur telling folks to shoot cops in the head.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
USMC0351Grunt
Russn8r

Gov Greg Abbott wants the cowards arrested too”
-TEX

BS.
“The record shows Repubs enabled the Dem walkout & let them leave.” Collaborated, in fact.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/house-democrats-left-texas-to-kill-conservative-priorities-republicans-let-them

Abbott pretends conservative under heavy pressure from real conservatives in reelection years.

Now delete your message & run away, it’s your coward M.O.

Russn8r

That disputes nothing I or the Texas Scorecard wrote. Nice strawman though, grunt.

“The record shows Repubs enabled the Dem walkout & let them leave.” Collaborated, in fact.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/house-democrats-left-texas-to-kill-conservative-priorities-republicans-let-them

Relic

Commie scum atf as usual doing chicommiecrats bidding.

AZ Lefty

Just doing what Trump and the GOP set the precedent for them to do!

Russn8r

Oh no! What should we do now? Vote commie-Dem?

Henry Bowman

Get the hell outta here & go back to Daily Kos, you commie POS!!
YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.

Bpjsurf

Henry Bowman, it is not for you to decide who is welcome here. All are welcome here provided that individuals adhere to the commenting policy which apparently you need to revisit: https://www.ammoland.com/ammoland-comment-policy/#axzz73Rf6gU6k And by the way Az Lefty happens to be correct.

JSNMGC

TEX – 8/13/21:

“He’s correct? That’s just your opinion and you’re wrong!”

Response to “TEX”(Will, et al.):

Your hero-worshipping knows no bounds. Once you decide you like someone (Trump, Abbott, Boebert, etc.), they can do no wrong (and you have no expectations of them).

You should be nicer to the AMMOLAND people – they give you (and your various other accounts) a lot of latitude.

APG member

Yeah, the Lefty is correct…

Henry Bowman

No, leftists are domestic enemies of Liberty and the Constitution, PERIOD. I do not welcome them, nor do many others here. The ones that do are likely also leftists (or RINO collaborators). I reject RINO appeaser rhetoric as surely as I would tell Neville Chamberlain himself how wrong he is, were he here now. You sir are just as wrong as AzLefty and clearly you stand against all that is good and right. And to demonstrate how anti-liberty you are, I bet you’ll ban this account. I have no power to remove anyone, but you do & I’m sure that… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Henry Bowman
Russn8r

“I agree absolutely 100%.”

Another rim job, TEX? What’s your malfunction? Did mommie leave you in the tub with your floaters?

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Laddyboy

After the court decision supporting RARE BREED, the ATF and sub-divisions MUST be FORCED to REPAY ALL of the EXPENSES INCURRED in this ILLEGAL ACTION brought on by the ILLEGALLY FORMED ATF/BATF/BATFE by an IRS “director”!!!!!
It IS NOT within the bounds of an enforcement bureaucracy to create or modify any rule or law that is not passed by congress!!!!!!

JimmyS

They’ll pay with your money, dipshit. There is no downside.

TStheDeplorable

I love the firearms community. I meet the best people at the range. I have history as a cop and as a lawyer, and over the years I saw far too many good people, great citizens, imprisoned for running afoul of the ATF’s many vague determinations, in particular things like what constitutes “constructive possession” by a felon, or even what a “felon” really is. I write here now to warn people to let this play out in the courts before buying one of these, because the costs of a very rare successful trial in federal court will exceed $100,000, but… Read more »

Russn8r

Make it happen, Tiger Boy! Let’s see your name in the paper.

Eric Equis

Well said, sir! You have to weigh the risk/benefit of each battle before committing to it.

BadBilly21

Please keep in mind how the FBI & ATF orchestrated the recent Michigan Militia operation. If it wasn’t for the FBI pushing and encouraging those guys, it most likely wouldn’t have even gotten to the planning stage. And you can bet there are MANY more of these entrapment schemes being developed right now all over the US. Be smart!

Larry

Why doesn’t the BATF just admit they’re classifying machine guns in the same off-the-cuff way Justice Potter Stewart classified pornography?
“I shall not today attempt further to define [it]… But I know it when I see it.”

Nanashi

I think even the do nothing courts would balk at so flagrantly violating Chicago v. Morales (not that the ATF doesn’t already, GoA found the determinations department are self proclaimed experts).

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

My question is this. What difference should it make? Why is it that the ATF and every other “law enforcement” or “military” establishment can have “machine guns” but the people that the 2nd amendment can’t unless they jump through a bunch of hoops? I guess SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED is like the rest of the Constitution…Just a PAPER TIGER.

We only have Congress because we did not have the technical ability to represent ourselves. We now do. Disband Congress and represent ourselves with our smart phones. All the sheep here arguing minutia because anyone with a real spine knows we should fight. Sheep to be sheared and herded to the slaughter. Good luck sheep.

Russn8r

Use your smartphone to disband congress, genius. Let us know how it works out.

APG member

YEAH, a well placed vote will make things better! LOL!

Russn8r

Most effective thing is to keep tiger talking online with your fellow chatroom commandos, APG.

Those are the key words, Schart.

Thank Al Capone for that.

JSNMGC

The people to blame are:

  • The majority of voters born in the mid to late 1800s and the early 1900s;
  • The legislators for whom they voted;
  • The socialist president they kept electing until he finally died; and
  • The people working in law enforcement in the 1930s who lobbied for more government regulation of firearms.
Tank

Something to think about in this system that historically was already known & correlated to the current Arc of Crisis’s we are faced with.

“The only difference between Doctors & Lawyers is that Lawyers merely rob you, whereas Doctors Rob & kill you too.”
Anton Chekov

USMC0351Grunt

Ah! The only two professions that only PRACTICE in their disciplines without checks and balances. (Besides the IRS, FBI, DOJ and all the other alphabets.)

Tank

Yes. I would add to the discussion a bit deeper content to reveal sub rosa that both are internally mediated with checks & balances.

Kinda like DOJ/FBI/GAO investigating itself.

What was that eloquent & articulate definition of insanity ? Oh yeah I remember, something about beating beating your head against a wall & expecting different results.

Roland T. Gunner

Enough already! I am done! I formally renounce the peaceful political process and advocate for violence. Fuck those ATF assholes! Its time to shoot a BATFE special agent in the head whenever and wherever you find one. And buy a Rare Breed trigger. And for all you other LEOs snd former LEOs, and FFLs and licensed gunsmiths, saying “but, but, but, they are just good people doing their job: fuck that and fuck you. If everyone refused to do their job, their job would not get done.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

When that starts happening…they might say…gee maybe my job isn’t worth a pension! When, not if the War of the Flea starts…they will all loose just like the big bad US military has lost against a bunch of goat herders in Afghanistan. We can drone them, but those IUD’s seem to be a continual problem for those bad ass soldiers. Maybe we should get them home to fight tyranny here instead of playing games over there. You would think those arm chair soldiers sitting in the Pentagram would have taken a close look at what the Russians dealt with in… Read more »

and when it starts people will need to jump on top , surround disarm we need to take back OUR country

Roland T. Gunner

We had big rhino horn whip antennas on the brush guards of our Suburbans, for some high dollar Raytheon radio that never worked. We were told to just leave it turned off.

Russn8r

RT Gunner tells us to shoot cops in the head, foul-gob low-IQ tiger-talking chatroom commando agent provocateur poisons AmmoLand well.

Shoot yourself in the head, since you’re a gvt agent or too dumb to know it. Lead by example, bad boy. Get your name in the paper.

(aka TEX/FORD Will/Will/”pissant”/”shitweasel”/”batshit”, )

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Roland T. Gunner

I did get my name in the paper once, with a missile launcher. The difference is, I get squirelly eyeballing the bottom of the bourbon bottle, while you are squirelly 24/7.

Russn8r

You/TEX/et ilk use crude ad hominem to evade issues you can’t address honestly-rationally. A commie M.O.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Roland T. Gunner

ATF special agents are not cops.

Russn8r

Nice try. They have badges and guns. They follow orders. The enforce laws and regulations. Quacks like a duck, walks like a duck…

BadBilly21

Come guys be smart about this. As frustrating as it is, these empty threats only serve to help those that seek to strip us of our rights. They may be used against law abiding gun owners by the corruption media, anti 2A politicians or even added to search warrant applications. I can’t think of a single benefit to any pro second amendment movement, but there are countless ways to for it to be used against us.

Roland T. Gunner

Yes, thank you.

Russn8r

Yep, but ‘guys’? Chatroom commando ‘Gunner’ threatens, I call it out. De facto agent saboteur poisons well, useful idiots upvote him.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Tank

I’m trying to understand why you are sugar coating it.

Use that 1st Amendment vociferously ! (Sarcasm)

Civil disobedience is the only peaceful solution available at this juncture to the Junta’s juggernaut assault.

Roland T. Gunner

Civil disobedience is fine when you are being arrested for blocking a street, or a driveway; or some form of criminalized assembly. You pay your fine and go home in the morning, after stopping at Waffle House. When thry are arresting you for your bump stock or fast reset trigger “machinegun”, or your braced pistol “SBR”, it’s not that easy. But thanks for your and everyone elses tolerance and understanding.

JPM

BATFE makes arbitrary and capricious decisions depending on their mood that day and who you talk to. They apply their own “laws” and regulations which they create, unconstitutionally, out of thin air using “Administrative Law”, which gives their marching orders the full effect of constitutional law, in order to dictate and rule over gun owners, gun dealers and firearm businesses. They make the Gestapo look like girl scouts.

Boris Badenov

How dare you denigrate their Magic 8 balls and dart boards.

Stuff

Rare Breed Triggers sent out an email on August 3rd announcing that it had more triggers to sell, after they received the ATF letter. What are the legal options for buyers after Rare Breed knew of the ATF’s determination?

My understanding is that bump stock litigation is still pending, and there is a group of bump stock owners that have a stay on destroying their bump stocks until the litigation is completed. What are the chances that this could be done here?

USMC0351Grunt

Ex Post FactoPrimary tabs DefinitionLatin for “from a thing done afterward.” OverviewEx post facto is most typically used to refer to a criminal statute that punishes actions retroactively, thereby criminalizing conduct that was legal when originally performed. Two clauses in the United States Constitution prohibit ex post facto laws: Art 1, § 9 This prohibits Congress from passing any laws which apply ex post facto. Art. 1 § 10.  This prohibits the states from passing any laws which apply ex post facto. Scope What Constitutes PunishmentIn the often-cited case of Beazell v. Ohio, 269 U.S. 167 (1925), the Supreme Court defined the scope of the constitutional ex post facto restrictions: “It is settled, by decisions of this… Read more »

chiefton

I have said this for a long time, the ATF fees are illegal as it is an infringement on the 2A rights. This is much like the overturned Jim Crow voter laws the Democrats started. If the government wants to check you out before permitting you to purchase an automatic weapon, then they cover those costs so that the lower-income folks can afford to buy the items. This would negate all of the actions of the ATF ruling what you can and cannot have. After receiving your request, the ATF has 7 days to check you out and approve or… Read more »

Ansel Hazen

Rare Breeds response letter references another forced reset trigger (the 3MR) that the ATF said was ok 10/31/13 and that ok looks to still be in place.

And John, I think with the lawsuit having been filed RBT is unable to provide you with any comment at this time.

Last edited 2 years ago by Ansel Hazen
Tank

Yes I get it Susan.

Make money, bang bitches.

Evolved Cortex thinking of Man’s higher self.

APG member

I like how they named the attorney general all the way down to the field agent in their suit, good luck.

Firing, Unlocking, Extracting, Ejecting, Cocking, Feeding, Chambering, and Locking is the cycle of operation common to ALL firearms. The fact that this trigger requires an M16 carrier may prove problematic if it ever goes to court. ATF gonna ATF…

GmanNM

I dread the negative ramifications for all of us when the plaintiff loses.

“Mr. Maxwell, who is also a lawyer in addition to the company owner, will be acting as an attorney for Rare Breed Triggers.”

Apparently Mr Maxwell never heard that “the man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client”.

Hopefully he prevails, but….

Henry Bowman

Yet, he has enlisted RICK VASQUEZ, who is a former ATF agent and top subject-matter expert in multiple cases. Vasquez killed the one solitary case against bump stocks where an arrest was made.
https://www.tacticalshit.com/rare-breed-tells-atf-i-will-not-comply
https://theinfidel.co/blogs/news/former-atf-branch-chief-rick-vasquezs-letter-on-the-rare-breed-frt-15

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Yeah, except his is a REAL lawyer not some arm chair one who never went to school.

Russn8r

That canard’s a self-serving fave of legal priests to get biz for legal priests. No shortage of lame scumbag lawyers who betray clients. Even crap ones are costly in a case like this. Hiring one hardly ensures success or even good faith competent representation.

OTOH the owner’s a lawyer. He may do a great job. He’ll certainly rep his own interest at least, and save money.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Knute

And who was it that thought up that little adage? The Lawyers! Kind of a self serving little adage that doesn’t even rhyme isn’t it? I’ve been my own lawyer a half dozen times, and never lost a case. And I’m not a member of the bar. I DO, however, know the difference between a law and a statute! 🙂

Roland T. Gunner

Spinning off from Rare Breed triggers, can anyone tell me what happened to the semiauto Atchisson shotgun that was supposed to be released a couple of years ago? I read recently that a first production run was manufactured and sold, but then recalled and confiscated by ATF for dubious reasons, i.e. the markings somehow made it a machinegun. Even though the semi auto shotgun market is flooded with super cheap AR and AK based shothuns, I really wanted that AA-12.

USMC0351Grunt

Prostitution?

Bozz

I’ve watched the video of the RBT trigger in action and I don’t see how it can not be classified as a machine gun. One pull of the trigger will empty the entire mag and the rate of fire is the same as an M16A1. Sure your trigger finger moves back and forth with the reset, but it is just one pull of the trigger. Now, flame away.

JSNMGC

This is not a correct statement:

“One pull of the trigger will empty the entire mag”

This is not relevant:

“the rate of fire is the same as an M16A1”

This is not a correct statement:

“but it is just one pull of the trigger”

Stag

Butters and Fudds are cancer.

USMC0351Grunt

I bet you really believe that Superman can leap tall buildings in a single bound, just because you seen it happen on television?

USMC0351Grunt

Seems it is more interesting reading how to make $6,000 – $8,000 from home ads than read all the pissy-fit ranting going on between the geniuses in this room?

Ansel Hazen

I have long wondered why there is no system in place to flag these spammers.

Tank

Part of the predictive programming psychosis formula & methodology.

Tank

Yes funny how that psychologically works & Hi-Jack’s people’s minds.

Distractions-Propositions of Seductive content/Greed/Avarice always best Doom & Gloom.

Mapped out the human brain centuries ago.

gregs

can all you snowflakes grow up and stop acting like children. you make me want to stop following this blog, which i really like because it is informative.

Russn8r

Fuck off pissant.” -Roland T. Gunner

Hi TEX!

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Ansel Hazen

Children??? If our Founding Fathers hadn’t acted like the “children” you suggest we wouldn’t have a country today.

JSNMGC
Russn8r

gcm = TEX = FORD Will = Will = Roland T. Gunner.

USMC0351Grunt

A picture is worth a thousand words and 245+ years!