Rare Breed FRT-15 Criminal Examination Released

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)- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) filed the criminal examination of the Rare Breed FRT-15 trigger in District Court today.

The Rare Breed FRT-15 is a forced reset trigger. The shooter must pull the trigger with each shot. Because of this, the company claims a firearm with the FRT-15 trigger is still a semiautomatic firearm. The drop-in trigger forces the trigger to be reset. The force reset dramatically speeds up the rate of fire of a gun. Rare Breed claims its trigger is similar to the 3MRC TAC Con trigger, which has an ATF approval letter. Still, the company does not have an approval letter for the FRT-15 from the ATF’s Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD).

The company has been selling the trigger by the thousands for months. The ATF took noticed and acquired the trigger to examine because the agency was concerned it was a machine gun. If a part turns a firearm into a machine gun, the ATF considers the item to be a machine gun itself. Lighting Links and Drop-In Auto Sears (DIAS) must be serialized because of the ATF’s determination that they are machine guns. The ATF ruled that bump stocks are machine guns, although Gun Owners of America (GOA) has successfully pushed back against this determination.

The Firearms Enforcement Officer (FEO) wields enormous power over the firearms industry. Special Agent Michael Nuttal sent the Rare Breed FRT-15 to FATD’s Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch (FTISB) to be examined in early June of this year. FEO David Smith was assigned the case. FTISB is the branch within FATD that determines if a gun is a machine gun or semiautomatic and issues letters to companies.

The FEO notes that the patent for the FRT-15 states that the device “causes the trigger to be forcibly reset,” and “once reset, movement of the trigger is blocked by a locking bar and cannot be pulled until the bolt has returned to battery, thus preventing “hammer follow” behind the bolt or bolt carrier. “

The FEO claims that is not true. He states that the trigger does not function by “hammer follow.” The agent states, “A device designed to prevent the hammer from positively resetting could cause a firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger, and would also be classified as a combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun; thus a ‘machinegun’ as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b).”

The agent cites Staples v. the United States in his findings. In the case that was heard by the Supreme Court, it was found that a gun is considered a machine gun when the “trigger is depressed, the weapon will automatically continue to fire until its trigger is released, or the ammunition is exhausted.” Rare Breed argues that the gun does not fire automatically.

During the bump stock ban, the ATF changed the definition of “single function of the trigger.” For many years the ATF held fast that this term meant a single movement of the trigger. After the bump stock ban, the ATF started interpreting the term to mean the action of pulling the trigger and all follow-up actions. This change widely affected what is and isn’t considered a machine gun.

The FEO also states that any gun that uses a “spring, electric motor or non-manual source of energy which assists in the automatic resetting of the hammer and causes a firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger, such an item or device would be classified as a combination of parts designed and intended, for
use in converting a weapon into a machinegun.” It is unclear what this means for other triggers that use similar methods to reset the trigger.

The FEO installed the trigger into a Bushmaster AR-15, and test fired it at the ATF’s Martinsburg, WV facility. The FEO claimed that the rifle fired automatically, making it a machine gun. The agent fired two rounds twice out of the firearms. Smith then inserted five rounds and fired the gun again. He claims all five rounds were expelled from the Bushmaster automatically.

The examination was completed on July 15th, and the cease was served on July 26th. Rare Breed has vowed to fight the ATF in court and has enlisted all-stars like former ATF employees Dan O’Kelly and Rick Vasquez in its defense.


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

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JNew

The ATF are only going after them because they’re successful. Simple as that.

Arizona

Who proof read the “examination”? Typos, syntax errors, factual inaccuracies, and obviously false and illogical conclusions were rampant.

Further… A slow motion video proves the trigger is actuated repeatedly in order to fire repeatedly. A consistent pressure on the trigger will NOT result in automatic and continuous firing- pressure must be regulated higher and lower in order to actuate the trigger and achieve repeated firing.

The F squad is conducting mental gymnastics and redefining words in order to categorize this as a machine gun, which per the 2nd amendment and SCOTUS protects military grade militia weapons specifically.

Last edited 2 years ago by Arizona
Arizona

All that being said, the fact that the rare breed trigger is based on a 2018 patent by Wolf Tactical that was previously evaluated by atf and determined to be a machine gun (even though their reasoning was factually flawed) will open rare breed to a huge lawsuit by the company’s customers. Why sell a product almost identical to a design that was already determined to be a machine gun? Even though the atf was wrong there, also, they pit that determination in writing and the only difference is the new trigger has a hump at the top and the… Read more »

USMC0351Grunt

Just 2 reasons for now: 1) Ex Post Facto Definition. Latin for “from a thing done afterward.” Overview. Ex 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. Scope. In the often-cited case of Beazell v. … Retroactive Judicial Decisions. … Further Reading. … Ex Post Facto | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute The deprivation of rights under color of law is a federal criminal offense which occurs when any person, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom,… Read more »

Finnky

Wasn’t that Arizona’s point? Ex Post Facto means you cannot be held liable for acts which were legal when committed. However the law has not changed, just interpretation. Thus when triggers were manufactured and sold they were illegal under current interpretation of the law. Question really is whether that interpretation is correct (which it is not).

swmft

this will turn in to a shooting war if scotus does not tell the government what for

Tank

Death by a thousand cuts to weaken the entire Firearm body attacking it organ by organ(component by component).

It’s not rocket science to see it transpiring.

Rob

Time to fight. All the bs the gov does and Americans remain silent. Can’t REVOLT, here comes football season! Lol….America used to mean we had a backbone. Now people are more married to their 401ks and pensions than their legal rights. Where’s the outrage? Companies think outside the box over illegal laws and the gov still drops the hammer. When the Fck are we going to drop the hammer on the federal idiots? We have become a nation of pathetic sheep. Standing in line to be constantly sheared of our wealth and further controlled by our overlords. We better do… Read more »

Henry Bowman

Peace at any price? God forbid!

I’d rather fight and get my liberty back in full measure, than continue to play these BS games.

Russn8r

Too smart by half as usual, Schart. You sound like a LoLibertarian twist off. There will be government. You have to deal with it and minimize it. Alt-universe types like you would create a vacuum that ensures tyranny.

And you’re wrong about civil wars. For example, the American Revolution was also a civil war. It hardly produced less freedom.

USMC0351Grunt

I will stand in that trench.

Henry Bowman

Once again, you are totally wrong. And the “BS games” I referred to is not government, but the BS you are peddling.

Henry Bowman

And yet YOU are the one who started staying “BS”. Wrong again, do not pass go, do not collect $200

Jaque

Who do you put documents behind a pay wall. Scribd is not free after one opens 3 documents. Just publish the material in the body of the article or use a free document server. But please end the use of Scribd

Russn8r

Take your own medicine, Jaque. Stop whining.

Tionico

Ive been accessing ScribD documents llinked from a number ofother sites as well as this one have done it for years, and never paid a nickel.YuoDO have to register, set password, etc. Can’t remember how I did it, but I just followed the prompts and links on ScribD. And I shore ain’t nobuddy speshull.

Tionico

Yuo actually trust google? I sure don’t. Consider the way they handle things elsewhere. No thanks.

ScribD works fine, I’ve never paid a nickel and have downloaded dozens of documents over several years.

Henry Bowman

Yes, I called them out on the use of Scribd and for a very brief time, Ammoland provided a direct link to a PDF version of documents. Then they went back to using Scribd without an alternate link. I suspect Ammoland has a backroom deal with outfits like Scribd… and the NRA (Negotiating Rights Away)!

Henry Bowman

Once again, you are totally wrong. IDK where you get that mess about government & negotiation… I suppose you’re smoking the good stuff.

The “backroom deal” WITH Scribd (not on Scribd) has to do with Ammoland’s policies (such as shamelessly supporting Negotiating Rights Away) and their propensity for supporting fuddery. Once again, you’re missing my point and creating fiction from whole cloth.

Do everyone a favor and stop posting. You are not contributing anything of value, Mr. Shart.

Russn8r

“Please stop violating Ammoland Rules”, you copy-schart name-calling hypocrite!

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Henry Bowman

I agree, this is a fair assessment of yourself, troll!

USMC0351Grunt

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Roland T. Gunner

I call bullshit. The firearms examiner’s verbage is all over the place, twisting and misusing terms and language. It’s glaringly obvious he does not like the product (Rare Breed trigger) and was determined to find it to be a machinegun. This case is very important, much moreso than bump stocks. The bump stock ban is primarily idealogical; but, my opinion anyway, this type of trigger is a quality technological advancement that helps to level the plsying field in reclaiming our rights, and we cannot continue to allow ourselves to be cut off at the knees by ATF. Also, even before… Read more »

Knute

“This case is very important, much moreso than bump stocks” 100% agree with your assessment. One more reason is Rare Breed’s refusal to roll over to the ATF’s demands. This is why the criminal referral instantly. The ATF (and all federal agencies, really…) operate largely by bluff. Rare Breed has called, and now the ATF must raise or fold. So, OFC, they must raise. They’re in too deep now to fold out. They’d lose everything. They must just hope that Rare Breed will not call this raise. My hope is that RB will stay strong, knowing they have the best… Read more »

Anita and Isaac

There are tons of single stage triggers that function like they’re advertised to, and tons that when held in have hammer follow on the BCG causing it to continue to strike. Weather this is on purpose or if it’s just a natural side effect of the design is moot.

Russn8r

It is moot if they charge and convict you either way. Big question: Who are the a-holes on these juries? Why aren’t more loyal Americans getting on gun cases and acquitting? Is it because so many Americans worship false authority? All it takes is one true American with balls to hang the jury or even bring the rest over.

APG member

Jury nullification?!? Most of you republicrats do what ever it takes to get out of jury duty. You are sounding like a LOLibertarian!

Tionico

gross generalisation not founded in fact.
Been years since I’ve been called for jury duty. Last time I was in the “reserve pool” and they never called me to come in.

Finnky

Ditto. Lived in current home for almost 25 years. Been called to courthouse once – after wasting hours in jury pool room, got sent home. Got called up again about a month later, but having “served” within past 6 months (or so???) was an automatic exemption. Guess you could say I “used any excuse” to get out of serving the second time. Also got a delay the first time due to being out of country on business trip – if you want to call working an excuse. Would have no problem serving on a jury, even on a protracted case… Read more »

Bubba

You know what?
Maybe that’s the challenge with Juries.
The conservative class actually works instead of being supported by the government. Lol.
See the system is rigged against us yet again.

Bubba

Maybe you are on to something.
Maybe our registered voting selection is being removed from most jury requests.
I have not been called to Jury service in over 30 years. I thought it was due to my LEO days.
Maybe we should be asking that question. Not that I want that summons, but if they have been censoring the conservative selection. Houston we have a problem…

Russn8r

I think you may be right. I wouldn’t be surprised if Republicans, Libertarians, NRA members etc are on a jury blacklist. Although they don’t need to worry about most Republicans and Christians, since most of them are the worst kind of false-authority grovelers. Back the Blue whatever they do, ignorant interpretation of Romans 13 etc.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Bubba

AGP, You’re an idiot….

APG member

Bubba, you are a bubba.

Wild Bill

The suffix “crat” means the ones that get things done. Did you know?

USMC0351Grunt

They ARE getting things done… The eternal destruction of the United States from within, on the coat tails of apathetic American citizens.

JSNMGC

Anti-firearm rights activists are even worse than apathetic American citizens:

https://www.bradyunited.org/program/veterans-for-gun-reform

APG member

Gay marriage, legalized abortion, critical race theory, victim disarmament. In case you have not noticed things are getting done!

Knute

Hey Wild Bill, great to have you back. Must have got a new ISP or something. Whatever happened with Old Harold’s hoof?

Russn8r

I expect less from you, APG, but it fits your snippy hit & run ad hominem coward’s M.O. It’s not just nullification. It’s fair trial as envisioned by the framer-founders. “juries [are] an institution, admirable in itself, and the best calculated for the preservation of liberty and the administration of justice, that ever was devised by the wit of man.” -David Hume “It is not only (the juror’s) right, but his duty…to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, even though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.” -John Adams “…it is usual… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
USMC0351Grunt

The problem is, these juries listen to the orders of the judge and if the judge does NOT inform the jury that, “At this point YOU have total control of the outcome, YOU the JURY can enact law.” or words to that effect, the jury will act like school children and do as the judge tells them. JURYS HAVE POWER, only IF they KNOW their position.

Russn8r

True, and that’s a failure of our conservative leadership. It’s idiotic to leave it up to judges, few of whom have any interest in jury power, nearly all of whom actively suppress it. There’s no reason loyal Americans can’t be educated by thousands of conservative think tanks, legal defense funds, the NRA, GOA, SAF, FPC, etc. None of them do it, partly because their members don’t demand it. Partly because they’re infested with herd-minded legal priests.

APG member

Snippy? LOL! I bet that is your pet peeve, you probably have a lot of pet peeves. I support jury nullification, unlike mainstream REPUBLICANS. It is comical you trying to explain to me what the founders envisioned. If you express those sentiments during Voir Dire you will NEVER get on a jury, you ignoramus! Except maybe in New Hampshire.

Last edited 2 years ago by APG member
Russn8r

You really are an ass, APG. Of course you don’t say any of that in voir dire. You say what you have to, short of perjury, in order to get on the jury.

APG member

This is your judicial system as your demigods “the founders” envisioned? The republicrat version of freedom and liberty, you seem to love it.

Russn8r

Keep doubling down on being an ass, APG.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Knute

Back in 80’s I worked hard as a volunteer to get a statute passed that would have forced Judges to make jury nullification a part of the jury’s instructions. All of us were vilified by the powers that be and bullied mercilessly. It missed passing by a few hundred votes. That was my first experience with the corruptness of the system.
It has gotten dozens, if not hundreds, of times worse since then.

Russn8r

Yep. Liberty groups need to educate members. Get loyal Americans primed before they’re called for jury duty. If we can’t get our own leaders to do it, how can we get politicians to do it?

Likewise, loyal America preachers need to rediscover the sermons of the American Revolution. Too many otherwise sensible Christians have been brainwashed with the unlimited obedience misrepresentation of Romans 13.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
JLS

I was on jury duty and was selected for an obvious self defense case that was a political prosecution. When we were interviewed before the start of the trial, I asked about jury nullification. I was out of jury duty in less than 10 minutes and haven’t been called since. Fortunately the other jurors had enough common sense to find the defendant not guilty and the prosecutor was sanctioned by the judge for wasting the court’s time.

USMC0351Grunt

I appreciate that… You are one of the few that fully understand the position and the power of only ONE stepping-up to the plate and sacrificing your own wants and needs to accomplish what is best for the overall nation rather than your own petty wants, needs and desires. MOST citizens fail to realize this as is witnessed by the failures of our governments at all levels across the country with the rising crime and destruction all based on special interests and ignorance. Until the next person, then the next, then the next grows a spine and realizes that, we… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by USMC0351Grunt
Knute

And that is what makes them sheep. Most also assume(we all know what that spells) that all that aren’t sheep must be wolves.
I’d much rather be a man. 🙂

Roland T. Gunner

I just undownvoted it again.

USMC0351Grunt

I suppose the constant ranting and bickering back and forth is the protocol on Ammoland and far more effective and important rather than attempting to formulate a solution, deployment of and follow through in coalition action against those that abrogate the law to further erode our rights, freedom and liberties? Aside from the Rare Breed issue, WE, The People are being attacked by the federal government from ALL angles, so much so “they” rely on OUR ignorance, lack of backbone and apathy in order to win against US… Last Push Needed for Comments on ATF Rule Change ~ “What’s a… Read more »

Deplorable Bill

A well regulated militia being necessary to the free state, the RIGHT of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. Militia implies the use of military firearms/equipment. Yes joe, that means full auto firearms, cannon etc. Necessary to your free state, your freedom, my free state, my freedom etc. Our free state. Every free American citizen has the LEGAL RIGHT and MANDATE to keep and bear arms. The 2A instructs all free Americans to keep and bear arms. SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED refers to the government and what they are not legally able to do. Sooner… Read more »

john

I Agree too .

USMC0351Grunt

Fuck SCRIBD and all the historical rhetoric of NRA compromise, etc. and keep our eyes on the ball!