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Old 06-13-2006, 12:36   #6
vsvo
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: No. VA, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer
MSTN's brake. I actually am trying to figure out whether it is legal in CA, since "flash suppressors" are not. It's not a flash suppressor, but it has a similar function . . .

Any legal advice for me, grasshopper? The statutes are on the CA AG web site.
According to §978.20(b), Article 2, Chapter 12.8 of the California Department of Justice Regulations for Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines, "'flash suppressor' means any device designed, intended, or that functions to reduce or redirect muzzle flash from the shooter's field of vision."

Therefore, based on your description of its function, the brake falls within the definition of a banned feature. The original definition promulgated by DOJ specifically excluded muzzle brakes, until someone figured out that brakes can reduce flash. Since DOJ interpreted flash suppression as the legislative intent, regardless of device name, they modified the original definition.

As to whether it's legal on your rifle, I would say yes, since your rifle is already registered as an assault weapon. I didn't see anything in the statutes prohibiting modifications to registered weapons, except for a section on removing banned features and cancelling the registration. How does adding one more evil feature from the list of evil features make it more evil?

Last edited by vsvo; 06-13-2006 at 12:43.
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