Man with homemade gun pleads guilty

[The Straight Story]

Man with homemade gun pleads guilty

A man arrested outside the Whitefish Police Department with a homemade firearm has been convicted of federal weapons charges.

During a hearing in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Andrew Scott Benningfield, 37, of Whitefish pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of a firearm without a serial number.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 27.

According to court documents, officers inside the Whitefish Police Department heard a loud banging noise from outside the back door in August 2007.

Upon exiting the building, they saw a trash can had been knocked over and a lone man walking away with something in his hand.

Officers arrested Benningfield for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after he admitted to pushing the can aside, reportedly because it was in his way.

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/01/25/news/local_montana/news_8767142625_04.txt

If it were up to me I would ban home made fruitcakes before I did home made guns :)

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. Am I supposed to be horrified or impressed?

[aikoaiko]

2. Wow, I had no idea it was a crime to make your own gun and not put a serial number on it.

Especially in Montana. This is Missoula MT right?


eta: Its kind of an arts-n-crafts things with gun folks to "roll your own".

[Chulanowa]

3. Well, I was under the impression that assembly kits were already numbered

I could of course be wrong. But I'm thinking we're not talking about a "build a black powder replica!" gun here... Odds are it was some variety of zip gun.

[aikoaiko]

5. IIRC, you can buy unfinished receivers (80% or less finished) with no numbers and no FFL/NICS

The rest of the parts are considered accessories which may or may not have serial numbers.

A lot of AK guys build their own receivers, but you're right that the parts kits typically do have serial numbers.

[TWiley]

4. oh Puh-Leeeze Now we compare fruitcakes with home made guns?

The only thing they have in common is the fruitcake that makes his own gun.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Home made firearms are allowed, but some paperwork has to be done

I have a friend that makes single shot rifles based on historical designs. Machines *everything* himself except the barrel. Does the stock making as well. They are works of art. He has a serial number on each of them. He has told me if he wants to sell them it becomes more difficult since he would not be a manufacturer and different laws apply, including liability.