The SKS: Curio?

Here in my hometown of Philadelphia, a Police officer was murdered this past Saturday in the Port Richmond Area. The weapon used? A Romanian variation of the Russian SKS semi-automatic carbine. Known as the Model 56 (not to be confused with the Chinese Type 56), this weapon is apparently fairly new to the American market, appearing only in the past few years. It would seem that this particular rifle has been modified to accept a 30 round magazine. You may ask how it's possible that a weapon of this calibre (7.62X.39mm) could bought and sold with a 30 round magazine? This weapon is covered under curios or relics laws. Basically it states that once a weapon reaches a certain age (over 50 years old), it is qualifies as a c&r. These laws however do not cover modifications to the weapons...

Unless.

Unless the weapon in question has fewer than 10 imported parts. Those 10 imported parts on an SKS include the following:

(1) Frames, receivers, Receiver castings, forgings or stampings

(2) Barrels

(3) Barrel Extensions

(4) Mounting Blocks (trunnions)

(5) Muzzle Attachments

(6) Bolts

(7) Bolt Carriers

(8) Operating Rods

(9) Gas Pistons

(10) Trigger Housings

(11) Triggers

(12) Hammers

(13) Sears

(14) Disconnectors

(15) Buttstocks

(16) Pistol Grips

(17) Forearms, Handguards

(18) Magazine Bodies

(19) Followers

(20) Floorplates



"The point is, if your newly "assembled", non C&R Yugo SKS is comprised of ten or less of the listed imported parts, is no longer considered to have been "assembled from imported parts" but is considered of US manufacture. If you can successfully play the ten or less game, your rifle is Home grown and you can "Bubba" it to your heart's content...including installing a removable magazine, bipod, pistol grip etc."

- from the Blog "Captain of A Crew of One."



In looking at this explanation, I find that I can understand in relative terms how this all works. There are layers of responsibility that assume that as a weapon passes between hands each person who assembles, sells, or buys the weapon bears some level of responsibility for it. This responsibility breaks down when one person in the chain is unable or unwilling to follow the rules and regulations set forth by the legislature of the respective federal and state governments.
I feel that people should be able to own weapons that are fully operational. Owning a weapon that can't fire is like owning a car that doesn't have a gas tank. It seems somewhat pointless. However owning a weapon in our society should carry a heavy burden of responsibility. Though the constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, it would be just as impossible for the founding fathers to think of what could possibly happened to arms in the 232 years that have passed since the country's inception as would be for us to do so. So the notion of rationality seems to be the logical solution. In other words, people should be able to own weapons. It's part of the culture here in the U.S. However, it is also a part of the culture to grow and mature into its difficult choices of nationhood. This issue requires calm thinking.