Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns,seattle.general,alt.society.civil-liberty From: [r--oh--n] at [eskimo.com] (Rebecca Rohan) Subject: Al Woodbridge's Story 5/5 Date: Sat, 14 May 1994 08:23:53 GMT WA --- BATF and Al Woodbridge, Part 5 of 5 Reprinted from the newsletter of WAC (Washington Arms Collectors) Impact presumably by Irv Benzion As you know Al Woodbridge was found guilty under federal law of 12 counts of machine gun possession. The majority of the counts for which he was convicted were for Thompson and Sten parts kits that some of you may currently own. The Thompson kits contained not only all the necessary parts to build a machine gun but also cut up pieces of different Thompson receivers. The receiver parts were not matching i.e. they were pieces of receivers from different guns. If the pieces of the receiver were held together the ensuing gap between them would be anywhere from an eighth to a quarter of an inch since they were not cut from the same firearm. In Woodbridge's trail the BATF weapons expert used strapping tape to hold the receiver pieces together. Although there were gaps in the receiver of approximately a quarter of an inch, the guns were shot twice, each time firing a two-shot burst. The second type of "machine gun" the BATF produced as evidence was Sten guns kits and some hollow tubes with cuts in them. To have a functioning Sten gun the barrel retaining ring and the buttstock attaching ring >must be welded on to< the receiver tube. Both of these rings were >not, repeat not<, attached to the tubes. Still it was determined that these were also machine guns. I have yet to figure out how this arm could have been fired --- was the shooter supposed to hold the barrel on with his fingers? The BATF agent did not fire any of the Sten gun kits. Therefore from Woodbridge's conviction it might be safe to assume that Sten gun kits and hollow tubes >now< constitute a machine gun. According to the BATF's published "red book" of regulations, machine gun parts kits >are legal to possess, buy or sell< under federal law and can be purchased without an FFL by mail order. With this conviction it appears that the definition of what constitutes a machine gun has been expanded to include parts kits. From these two instances it might be wise if you own or are contemplating purchasing machine gun parts kits to ... >JUST FORGET IT<. Further, if you own an AR15 or clone you should examine it or have it inspected by a knowledgeable gunsmith for M16 parts. It is common knowledge that over the years the federal government has sold as surplus millions of M16 firing system parts, i.e. bolts, bolt carriers, and hammers. Those parts were purchased by rifle manufacturers and used in AR15 style rifles that were sold on the civilian market. I am also under the impression that in the early days of manufacture, Colt used over-run M16 parts in their rifles too. The ownership of those parts, although previously not illegal could now be determined to change your rifle into a machine gun. They do not eve have to be in the firearm and the firearm does not have to fire automatically. The BATF has in the past issued clearly defined definitions as to what constituted a fully automatic firearm and what does not. It is therefore suggested that if you own any machine gun parts kits, or anything that could be remotely construed by the federal government as a machine gun, that you save yourself a lot of trouble an dispose of them. Washington State Law >Understand that according to Washington State law the ownership of machine gun parts has been and is now illegal.< In reality this statute is seldom enforced unless a person has those specific parts to turn a firearm into a machine gun. One might question then why is the machine gun parts law not normally enforced? The answer is because its language is too broad since many non-fully automatic firearms use parts that are interchangeable with those used in fully automatic firearms. For example a wooden stock or a sling swivel for a M1 Carbine will also fit the M2 Carbine, a select fire weapon. To the layman it is apparent that the spirit of the law is to prohibit ownership of those specific parts from which a complete machine gun can be made >but from now on no one can be sure!!!< Woodbridge's Future Shortly after his conviction Al resigned his club office and membership, his connection with the State R&P and his position as our lobbyist. Al also withdrew his name as a candidate for the NRA Board of Directors. Woodbridge is facing a maximum sentence of 120 hears in prison --- 10 years for each count. >He is in the process of filing an appeal.< Woodbridge >was not granted bail< by Judge Tanner and as far as can be determined will remain in prison until the appeal is heard, but that could be up to three years in the future. As most of you know Lori and Al Woodbridge are not wealthy. The cost of the appeal could run to well over $100,000. There are two ways you can help Al. First, you can patronize Big Al's Guns in Auburn. Lori intends to keep the store running as it is their main source of income. Secondly, the Club will accept donations to the >"W.A.C. Legal Defense Fund" earmarked for Al Woodbridge.< Dennis asks that you make separate checks out to the "Defense Fund" --- do not include your dues or table rent in one check. Please send your donation made out to the W.A.C. Legal Defense Fund to P.O. 7335, Tacoma, WA 98407 or give it to Betty Budil on the secretary's dais at one of our meetings. A great person who did more to defend our continued firearm ownership in this state than anyone else in recent history and my friend now sits in jail. >I'm not asking for $2 any more --- I'm asking for $20s.< END OF 5TH WAC ARTICLE -- Rebecca Rohan ([r--oh--n] at [eskimo.com]) | If fascists try to take Gun control forces responsible citizens to be: | your gun, say "No" to A.) Slaves B.) Criminals C.) Revolutionaries | them all until it's empty.