Attorney Gary Wells (photo by Dick Remski)
Larry Hampton
In keeping with the Robson Ranch Gun Club’s mission to promote the safe and lawful use of firearms for sport, competition, collection, and protection, we hosted Mr. Gary Wells, Esq., to speak at our June 13 meeting. Mr. Wells is a local Argyle attorney specializing in Firearms Law and Trusts.
Mr. Wells addressed several areas of law concerning firearms, outlining laws regarding the transfer of firearms, both interstate and intrastate. The laws regarding transfers are very convoluted, with state and federal law often in conflict. Complicating matters, the laws are different for handguns vs. long guns vs. NFA arms (machine guns, short-barrel rifles, etc.). He also addressed a current issue regarding an ATF ruling on Forearm Braces for pistols. We were surprised to learn that this type of ATF action has a long history of success and failure, all of which started in 1990 when a major movie scene named a gun that never existed. They used a real manufacturer’s name but a model that never existed, with features that didn’t exist. The non-existent gun caused an uproar because, supposedly, it could pass through airport security undetected. At the end of this Forearm Brace discussion, we were given four options on what to do individually while this ruling is currently in litigation: 1) change the barrel to be 16 or more inches in length, 2) remove the brace, 3) dispose of the firearm, 4) wait for clarification due to litigation.
Finally, Mr. Wells discussed Firearm’s Trusts and how they can protect you, your guns, and your heirs. A trust will allow your heirs to take possession of the firearms without going through probate and allows multiple trustees to make use of NFA firearms without violating the law. If you have any questions or interest in setting up a trust, we suggest you contact Mr. Wells or any other qualified attorney.
In summary, Mr. Wells made us very aware of how important it is to know the laws to prevent inadvertent violations. Even more important is how the law, in its best application, can hurt you as much as help you if you are unaware of its application.
The mission of our Robson Ranch Gun Club is to provide an opportunity and forum for our members to meet and share their interest in firearms, participate in various forms of shooting sports, and provide a learning environment for all skill levels of firearm ownership and use. Our monthly meeting is the second Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the RR clubhouse. Safety is always our primary concern and is a shared responsibility of all members. Firearms and ammunition are not permitted in any RR facility. For more information, contact Miguel (Coco) Ondina, president, at [email protected] or Chris Simpson, vice president, at [email protected].