10,800 assault weapon seized in Louisville

[BigOleDummy]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Mosby (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Last edited Sat Jun 27, 2020, 06:10 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: WHAS Louisville Ky.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville seized more than 10,000 assault weapons that were being smuggled into the country.

On May 22, officers inspected a shipment heading for Melbourne, Florida manifested as containing 100 steel pin samples. Instead, they found 10,800 assault weapons appraised at $129,600.

Thomas Mahn, CBP's Louisville port director, said the weapons were knowingly mislabeled in hopes of avoiding any inspection.

Read more: https://www.whas11.com/article/news/crime/louisville-border-patrol-seize-assault-weapons/417-4d117d10-7fe6-4de0-887b-71c25f6926a4

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Heading to Florida. Gearing up for the election or its aftermath?

Ok. This is only my second or third time starting a thread though I have been here a long time. I followed the guidelines from DU in posting it. I copy/pasted the exact headline as it appeared. I will also admit that I did not watch the attached news video as I rarely if ever watch "moving media" as I prefer text articles. As pointed out in some comments the written headline is misleading as it is parts that was confiscated. WHAS is one of the oldest, and around here anyway, most trusted of the local news media so I was confident in reporting it here in DU. I'm sorry for any confusion. Everything from "Ok" on is an edit after reading the comments posted so far and being a real noob at posting new things here I am leery of changing anything in front of that "Ok".

[skip fox]

1. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

If we are lucky, it's just the mob running and selling guns, but the quantity makes me think it's even more sinister.

[doc03]

2. Assault weapons are all sold out at the local gun shops also the ammo for them and

9MMs.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. They're worth $12 apiece? NT

[mopinko]

5. glad i'm not the only one who knows their maths around here.

[Tbear]

6. Well, they were shipped from China so

what, exactly, are the assault weapons that are worth less than $13 each?

[DallasNE]

33. This Was Assault Weapon Parts

It likely takes a dozen parts to make a weapon. I'm guessing they ship them that way hoping inspectors wouldn't recognize the parts as being assault weapon parts.

[Doug.Goodall]

8. They are cheap Chinese junk from Shenzhen, China.

Illegal guns that cannot be legally sold are probably worth about $12. Anybody who would chamber a round in some illegal, mass produced gun from China probably deserves what they have coming to them.

[hardluck]

11. The linked video say parts not actual rifles

That’s the discrepancy

[NickB79]

20. Likely AR or AK receivers

You can buy ones made legally in the US for under $70, since they're just milled pieces of aluminum. You have to add a barreled upper, stock, trigger, etc, but the receiver is technically the serialized portion considered a firearm, and the part you need to do a background check on.

For a mass-produced Chinese copy with no QA standards, $12 each sounds about right.

Hell, if you're OK with a polymer lower instead of aluminum (and willing to risk it cracking after a few hundred rounds), you could get it even cheaper.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-lower-safe-fire-1728.html

[Doug.Goodall]

21. I read the linked article, I didn't see a video.

Even if it is just parts, they are junk. Harbor Freight had a recall on their jack stands. Seems they were cast so badly, they would collapse. The replacements they were exchanging had faulty welds, and could collapse. I would be suspect of anything from China that could injure me if it failed.

[hardluck]

22. Totally agree (nt)

[Traildogbob]

30. Fake guns

Stuffed with Jina Flu. They knew Americans would scarf them up. Especially the non masked freedumb fighters. Russia and Jina are ending AmirKKKa. Because we are massively stupid. Thanks Fox, and GOP, and Jesus.

[Arthur_Frain]

25. Math was 3 of my biggest problems in high school.

nt

[tecelote]

27. Reminds me of a Trump joke...

Trump believes he has three kinds of supporters.
Those that can count and those that can't.

[Arthur_Frain]

35. Nice

nt

[global1]

4. I'm Sure Customs & Border Patrol Are Following Up With Whom Those Guns Were Addressed To....

One would think that they should follow-up. I'm also sure that we'll never find out that information from C&BP.

[lpbk2713]

7. If they're an RNC donor they will be released to them in a hurry.

With an apology.

[Cirque du So-What]

9. Makes me wonder

whether Cheeto Benito’s regime was arming mercenaries for a coup in Venezuela. It would be a helluva distraction.

[hardluck]

10. Written story is incorrect

The actual video states it is “assault weapon parts” not “assault weapons” as stated in the written article. This makes sense because the individual value of 10,800 assault weapons appraised at $129,600 would be $12.

[sarisataka]

14. Hard to tell if it is terrible reporting

Or intentionally sensationalizing the headline. The video shows it is bags of parts, not actual weapons.

[hardluck]

18. Almost seems intentional

Here’s Custom’s news release.

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/10800-assault-weapons-parts-seized-cbp-louisville

[CloudWatcher]

28. What awful reporting

10,000 parts and they showed what looked like about 32 two-gallon baggies of hardware. That'd be over 300 "parts" per baggie. Those are tiny parts they're counting, not major assemblies. I'd guess maybe enough "parts" to convert 60 guns to fully automatic? I don't know, but the headlines of 10,000 assult weapons is just absurd.

[ace3csusm]

12. perhaps that 129,600 was put on paper work to avoid inspection

what are assault weapons priced $500 each

[machoneman]

13. Bet they are parts to turn semi-auto AR-15's or other assault rifles into fully automatic guns.

[sarisataka]

15. You would lose that bet nt

[marie999]

17. I never fired an AR-15 so I can only go by other similar weapons.

Firing a weapon on full automatic is a waste of ammo because of the rise. All though it is a different type of weapon, I have found that firing 3 quick rounds with my M-14 works best for me. I will admit that I do find my M-14 can feel quite heavy at times, but I like the 7.62 mm NATO ammo.

[flamin lib]

26. Explain that to the folks in Las Vegas . . .

[marie999]

38. He fired over 1000 rounds in 10 minute and killed only 58 people.

I say only 58 people because a crowd that size and density, with proper control of his weapons the body-count should have been much higher. As I wrote, I am not familiar with the AR-15, but at 495 yards, the body-count could have been much higher with proper control of the weapons.

[flamin lib]

39. So what you're saying is that an amateur who didn't have proper control of

his weapons, weapons that used a less than perfect modification, was as able to shoot over 100 people, of which *only* 58 died, at a distance of 400 plus yards. Yeah, makes your point exactly.

It is better to remain silent and have others think you foolish than to speak and remove all doubt.

[marie999]

41. I think that was nice of you to write

that last paragraph about yourself, since you are not mean enough to write it to an old woman.

[marie999]

42. My original post was not about shooting people

but was about the AR-15 and the parts recovered. You are the one that brought up the Vegas Massacre.

[aikoaiko]

16. The video says 10,000 Assault Weapons parts which is more likley.

And probably not 10,000 whole assault weapons given the picture they showed.

A completed AR-15 lower has about 35 parts.

Still, it sounds like these parts were intended for black market sale and its a good catch by customs.

Of course, I've been told there are assault weapons lying on the street in states like Florida.

[hardluck]

19. Yup - parts not rifles. Here's the news release from customs

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/10800-assault-weapons-parts-seized-cbp-louisville

[NickB79]

23. Parts aren't illegal. Receivers are

Hell, I've bought cheap rifle parts off Wish.com and had them shipped from China to Minnesota directly to my mailbox.

If these were illegal, they were unregistered receivers. And receivers are the true "firearm" per ATF regulations, even if it just looks like a hunk of milled aluminum to the untrained eye.

[hardluck]

24. Very true

And makes sense though the article is still incorrect as an AR lower wouldn’t be an assault weapon under any applicable statute.

[DallasNE]

29. This Is Crazy

This article doesn't explain if these weapons parts could easily be assembled into complete weapons and, if so, how many. Since this is from May they wouldn't have known that Trump moved his convention to Florida.

It will be interesting to find out the affiliations of this Melbourne resident and whether they have any Boogaloo connections. Also, I would expect that weapons are not an item China is allowed to export to America so what consequence for China will there be?

[bobbieinok]

31. Thanks to all commenting. You help clarify a muddled story!

[Firestorm49]

32. The CBP Center for Excellence and Expertise happens to be the official website for the

Department of Homeland Security.

Revolution, anybody?

[Polybius]

34. The thread title is inaccurate and misleading, pleased edit it

It actually reads "10,800 assault weapon parts seized in Louisville."

[LTG]

36. Parts kits

Imported parts kits are usually made up of disassembled surplus military weapons. They generally come without the barrels and receiver, although some in the past have been in the kit but cut in half. These kits would also, I believe, require an import license. Likely kits made from old Chinese AKs.

Barrels can be easily purchased online, as can the stocks, from many companies. While the receiver is the registered part and requires a background check, you can buy a receiver flat without a check. These are flat pieces of metal that are the right shape and size which has all the necessary holes and cutouts. You put it in a press, put two parallel 90 degree bends in it and you have a receiver. Add parts from the kit by welding or riveting them in place. Add the remaining parts, barrel and furniture and you have a semi-auto AK47. No great skill required at all. All perfectly legal to build and to own.

AR15s can also be built but the receiver is milled and can only be bought 80% finished, without a background check. The remaining finish work takes some very precise milling.

Kits are cheap to the importer and used to be cheap online and at gun shows. No background check required as it isn’t a gun.

[BigOleDummy]

37. Mea Culpa

After reading the comments I have added a paragraph in the original post. It was a misleading title but one I copy/pasted directly from the source as per DU guidelines. Sorry for any confusion.

[sl8]

40. The source has corrected their article title.

Coreeced title: "10,800 assault weapon parts seized in Louisville".

[Mosby]

43. LOCKING

Per the SoP for LBN the title of the post must match the headline.