We're the Only Ones Aggravated Enough

A suspended Middlesex County sheriff's officer is facing more trouble after being accused this week of aggravated assault. Neil Raciti, 47, of Milltown, who also serves as Borough Council president, was charged Friday with possession of an assault weapon and possession of a high-capacity magazine... [More]

Hoist on his own petard...?

In re the removed "trigger mechanism," I was wondering if enough of the guts were taken out if it would no longer be a legally-defined "firearm." Preliminary feedback advises:

In NJ the magazines and the flash hider are themselves regulated under state law separate from the "firearm". There are no photos, by trigger mechanism did they mean triggers parts. or since it is an AR-15 type firearm did it mean the lower receiver was removed? There is a distinction, an AR format lower receiver is regulated by the ATF as "the receiver" as such it is considered a firearm even if no other parts are present or in ones possession. Moreover; to purchase a stripped AR type lower receiver from an FFL requires a 4473 and a background check, the same as it is for the complete firearm.

[Via BE]