Opinion ID: 788155
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Interchangeable Ammunition

Text: 15 The GCA, in pertinent part, prohibits licensed dealers from selling ammunition for other than a shotgun or rifle to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than twenty-one years old. 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1). The statute thus distinguishes between handgun ammunition, which may not be sold to those under 21, and longarm ammunition, which may be sold to customers as young as 18. Brown v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 976 F.Supp. 729, 732 (W.D.Tenn.1997). Appellant claims that it did not violate 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) because the .25 ACP ammunition it sold Mr. Rains was interchangeable. See Bell v. Smitty's Super Valu, Inc., 183 Ariz. 66, 900 P.2d 15, 16-17 (1995)(dealer who sold interchangeable bullets to person over age of eighteen but under age of twenty-one did not violate 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1)). The district court disagreed, finding that the .25 ACP ammunition was not interchangeable because appellant could not (1) prove that Mr. Rains owned a rifle that could discharge .25 ACP ammunition or (2) prove more contemporary usages of .25 ACP ammunition in rifles. We concur. 16 Although there is evidence that a limited number of antiquated rifles exist on the gun show circuit that are capable of firing.25 caliber ACP ammunition, we nonetheless find that this cartridge is not interchangeable because it is universally regarded and marketed as strictly handgun ammunition. 4 However, even if we were to conclude that the ammunition is interchangeable, appellant would still be liable under section 922(b)(1) because we remain unconvinced that appellant was satisfied that Mr. Rains was purchasing the .25 caliber cartridge for use in a rifle or shotgun. Brown v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 976 F.Supp. at 733 (ATF publication states that licensee may sell interchangeable ammunition to a person less than 21 years old `provided the buyer is 18 years or older, and the dealer is satisfied that it is for use in a rifle')(quoting Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide 107 (1995)); cf. Phillips v. K-Mart Corp., 588 So.2d 142, 144 (La.Ct.App.1991)(holding that dealer did not violate § 922(b) by selling .357 Magnum ammunition to nineteen year old who told clerk he intended to use ammunition in rifle); see also Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Firearms: Frequently Asked Questions (Dec. 27, 2002), available at http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm (stating that a licensee may sell interchangeable ammunition to a person less than twenty-one years of age if buyer is at least eighteen and the dealer is satisfied that it is for use in a rifle). A review of the record, the parties' briefs, and oral arguments by counsel fail to even mildly evidence appellant's obedience to this obligation.