Transporting pistols and rifles together

[Sgt.K]

I have a friend who has multiple AR rifles and multiple AR pistols. He wants to take multiple pieces to the range in a backpack-style bag, but needs to break them down to fit. I am concerned for his freedom, given that this puts a shoulder-stocked lower in with a short-barreled upper. I know that he could readily show that he has equivalent numbers of rifle lowers & uppers and of pistol lowers & uppers, but that whole "constructive possession" thing is still sneaking around in the back of my brain. Could he get in trouble? To be fair, the only threat may be from Mr. ATF-man who had to sleep on the couch last night and is pissed at the world, but I'm curious if anyone knows if there is any case law addressing situations like this.

Thanks.

[buckengr]

Not a lawyer, but I believe United States v. Thompson-Center Arms Co. is the most relevant controlling case-law.

Essentially, if the parts can be used to assemble a legal configuration or an illegal configuration, the government must assume they are going to be used to assemble a legal configuration.

Your friend should be in the clear.