[BoulderCouncilHotline] Follow up to Thursday's public hearing

[Carr, Thomas]

I want to apologize for the apparent confusion about the scope of the proposed ordinance as it relates to .22 caliber rifles.  The police armorer, Scott Little, had expressed to me a concern that as written, without a clear definition of "pistol grip" the ordinance could be read to include grips similar to those depicted in my slide.  While this would not be what many would consider a pistol grip, we try to be careful when drafting an ordinance.   Sam Weaver has suggested that we define pistol grip to mean a grip that is detached from the stock of the weapon.   I am forwarding an email from Scott that lays out the various options.  In the examples below only the one identified as letter "E" would be banned under such a definition.  ("D" would be banned for having a thumbhole grip.).

The ordinance is a work in progress.  I appreciate your patience as we work through these complicated issues.

Tom

From: Little, Scott
Sent: Sunday, April 8, 2018 4:16 PM
To: Carr, Thomas <CarrT at bouldercolorado.gov>
Cc: Testa, Greg <TESTAG at bouldercolorado.gov>; Weinheimer, Carey <WEINHEIMERC at bouldercolorado.gov>; Little, Scott <LITTLES at bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: definition loose ends to the council presentation


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Different styles of gunstock grips
The grip area is held by the shooter's trigger hand during firing, and is the part of the butt that connects with the fore-end. The back part of the grip is called the tang. Many grips have roughened textures<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/Jtu0CQWgrLckNo86hkRmjY?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org> or even finger grooves engraved into the sides to increase the firmness of the shooter's hold. Some grips have a thumb rest (or thumb groove) carved near the tang to give a more ergonomic hold for the trigger finger.
The grip varies widely in styles. A straight grip stock (A) proceeds smoothly from toe to the trigger, giving a nearly horizontal holding angle for the trigger hand, while a full pistol grip<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/1xmfCR6jvBivg5JrIqNS2k?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org>stock (E) contains a separate stand-out grip piece, providing a nearly vertical angle for the trigger hand for maximal ergonomics<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/WzlZCVOnzZIxPg7lCkJukX?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org>, and is commonly found on modern military rifles such as the ubiquitous AK-47<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/HZp8CW6oABi5yD2jh1OVVW?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org> and AR-15<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/BdK2CXDpBVtXMO1nfMhEIu?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org> families of assault rifles<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/0yFrCYEqDXFL6AQ3I2ExhP?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org>. In between the two extremes, the semi-grip stock (B) is perhaps the most common sporting rifle stock, with a steeper angle cut into the stock to provide a more diagonal angle for the trigger hand. Modern target-style stocks have generally moved towards a fuller, more vertical grip, though built into the stock rather than made as a separate piece. Anschütz<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/3RzwCZ6rEXi5oQEMhJhdEN?domain=en.m.wikipedia.org> grip stocks (C), for example, use a nearly vertical grip, and many thumbhole grip stocks (D) are similar to pistol grips in shape.

This was in response to S Weaver's questions about semi-automatic 22 rimfire rifles as to how a grip is defined. As you can see by the definitions and the pictures every rifle with a stock has a grip right behind the trigger guard and trigger. If S Weaver was talking only about a "straight grip stock" that would not be broad enough to define numerous semi auto rifles in center fire or rimfire calibers. It appears to me what the ordinance wants to limit/ban is a "detached" pistol grip and a thumbhole stock. If the word " detachable" is added to pistol grip, it might clear up the confusion. In diagram "C" you will notice that the Anschutz grip is approaching the verticality of the detached and the thumbhole grip but is different. This type of 22 rimfire rifle is predominantly used by biathletes for training and competition. They are expensive rifles.

The UZI Power Point slide explanation:

This a picture of the right side of an UZI pistol, where we can see that the protrusion or forward stabilizing vertical grip piece is actually a butt plate of a folding stock, which in turn is a prohibited characteristic like a telescoping stock. The slide used in the PP was a picture of the left side of an UZI which obscured  the folding stock. Some in the audience noticed this and seized on it. We need to get rid of the slide, or explain it differently.



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 Centerfire verses rimfire definitions:

The big difference is how the powder is ignited by the energetic material in the primer. A centerfire primer is more efficient and more energetic in order to get the gun powder to burn that is in it case. This results in higher pressures and velocities. Rimfire priming material is located in the rim ( circumference) of the cartridge case, is not as energetic, and the powder does not create the pressures and velocities in the case. This is due to the relatively smaller cartridge case volume.

Different Ignition Systems
You can see that the names really make sense when you look at the ignition systems.
Rimfire ammo gets its name from the firing pin striking the "rim" of the cartridge to ignite the primer.  While centerfire ammo is where the firing pin strikes the primer that is located at the "center" of the cartridge base.
[Centerfire vs Rimfire Primer]Centerfire vs Rimfire Primer
You can see the firing pin marks on the spent brass above.  Again, centerfires hit the center primer while rimfires hit the rim.
[Rimfire vs Centerfire Firing Pin Marks]Rimfire vs Centerfire Firing Pin Marks


* Centerfire cartridge detonates when the firing pin hits the primer that is located at the center of the base. On the other hand, rim cartridge detonates when it is hit by the firing pin on its edge.

* Centerfire ammunition is more powerful than Rimfire ammunition.

* Centerfire ammunition can withstand rough usage while Rimfire cannot. This is because of the fact that Centerfire cartridge has a thicker metal.

* Rimfire cartridge is very inexpensive, but it cannot be reloaded.

* .22 LR is the most popular Rimfire cartridge around the world as it is very cheap and also has a low recoil.

* In Rimfire cartridge, the entire inside edge of the casing is primer.

* Though inexpensive, Rimfire design can be used to manufacture low caliber rifles only.

* Rimfire is an older technique, but it has remained static, and nothing much has changed in its design since it was patented in 1831.

I recommend that we distill some of this information and amend the slide in the PP.



S. Weaver addressed Tom about drum fed or rotating cylinder shotguns ( Street Sweeper or Stryker) " like some other cities have done". I wouldn't waste time on this as these weapons have been reclassified by the ATF in 2000 as "destructive devices". That means that after that date they cannot be sold owned by the general public. However, there was a federal grandfather provision for people that owned them prior to that were given the opportunity to seek the permit/stamp to keep them. They are still manufactured and sold to government and le agencies but still as an NFA item.

[http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1371023938_street-sweeper.jpg]

 There are a few detachable box magazine shotguns as well:

[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/6b/e5/31/6be5313b334fca4083d25fdcd88872cb.jpg]

  As you can see these shotguns have prohibited characteristics, pistol grip, folding and telescoping stocks and this was covered in alternative definitions though not discussed at length in the presentation at the meeting. Shotguns use centerfire cartridges.

 L. Morzell asked about silencers vs suppressors. I responded by saying that they are synonymous. Silencer is antiquated language, however the term is used in the CRS. When a permit/stamp holder through the ATF possesses one it is called a "suppressor" on the Form 4. I didn't  want to confuse the matter for her.

Finally, on CCW issues. There is a federal CCW provision for retired officers in good standing with their respective departments that allows them to carry concealed and they can carry (almost) nationwide. There are some states, California, New York and a few other east coast states that have restrictive rules on it but Colorado allows for it. Also there are CCW reciprocating states with Colorado where CCW permit holders are allowed to carry here. If you think the current exemption language adequately covers these situations we would not have to add specific language.

  These were some of the notes that I took during the hearing and presentation. Wanted to get them to you while they were fresh.



Scott













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Ofc. Scott Little
Armorer /EOD  Technician
Boulder Police Department
1805 33rd Street
Boulder, Colorado 80301
303-441-3477

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