The Legal Status of Binary Triggers in the United States_ An In-Depth Analysis.pdf

Binary triggers, while not transforming firearms into fully automatic weapons, enable semi-automatic firearms to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when released. This "binary" function increases the rate of fire compared to standard semi-automatic operation. The classification and regulation of binary triggers have been subject to interpretation and legislative changes, making it essential for gun owners to stay informed about their legal status in their respective states.

1. TheLegalStatusofBinary
TriggersintheUnited
States:AnIn-DepthAnalysis
Thelegalityofbinarytriggers,afirearmaccessorythatallows
semi-automaticweaponstomimicanear-automaticfiringrate,hasbeena
subjectofinterestandconcerninrecentyears.Theregulationofsuch
devicesprimarilyfallsunderstatejurisdiction,andlawscanvary
significantlyfromonestatetoanother.Understandingthelegallandscapeis
crucialforfirearmenthusiastsandowners.Inthisarticle,wewillprovide
acomprehensivelistofstateswherebinarytriggersarelegalasofthelast
updateinDecember2021.
BinaryTriggers:AnOverview
Binarytriggers,whilenottransformingfirearmsintofullyautomatic
weapons,enablesemi-automaticfirearmstofireoneroundwhenthetriggeris
pulledandanotherwhenreleased.This"binary"functionincreasestherate
offirecomparedtostandardsemi-automaticoperation.Theclassificationand
regulationofbinarytriggershavebeensubjecttointerpretationand
legislativechanges,makingitessentialforgunownerstostayinformed
abouttheirlegalstatusintheirrespectivestates.
StatesWhereBinaryTriggersareLegal
AsofSeptember2021,thefollowingstatesallowedtheuseofbinary
triggers:
Alaska
Arizona

2. Arkansas
Colorado
Georgia
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
NewHampshire
NewMexico
NorthCarolina
NorthDakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
SouthCarolina
SouthDakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
WestVirginia
Wisconsin

3. Wyoming
Alaska:
IntheruggedterrainofAlaska,binarytriggersarelegal.Firearmownersin
thestatecanequiptheirfirearmswiththeseaccessoriesforvarious
purposes,includinghuntingandpersonalprotection.
Arizona:
Arizona,knownforitsfirearm-friendlylaws,allowstheuseofbinary
triggers.Responsiblegunownerscanenjoytheenhancedshootingexperience
thesetriggersprovide.
Arkansas:
TheNaturalStatepermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.Firearmenthusiastsin
Arkansascanlegallyownandusethesedevices,providedtheyadheretoall
applicablelawsandregulations.
Colorado:
InColorado,binarytriggersarelegalforthosewhofollowstateandfederal
regulations.Residentscanexploretheuniquefiringcapabilitiesofbinary
triggers.
Georgia:
Georgia,knownforitsfirearmculture,allowstheuseofbinarytriggers.
Firearmenthusiastscanlegallyincorporatethesedevicesintotheirshooting
experiences.
Indiana:
HoosiersinIndianacanlegallyownandusebinarytriggers.Responsible
firearmownerscanexploretheenhancedrateoffirethesedevicesoffer.

4. Kansas:
IntheSunflowerState,binarytriggersarelegal.Firearmenthusiastsin
Kansascanlegallyincorporatetheseaccessoriesintotheirshooting
practices.
Kentucky:
Knownforitsrichfirearmheritage,Kentuckypermitstheuseofbinary
triggers.Responsiblegunownersinthestatecanenjoytheuniqueshooting
experienceprovidedbythesedevices.
Louisiana:
ThePelicanStateallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Louisianaresidentscan
legallyownandusetheseaccessoriesforvariousshootingpurposes.
Maine:
InthestateofMaine,binarytriggersarelegal.Firearmenthusiastscan
exploretheenhancedshootingexperienceprovidedbythesedeviceswhile
adheringtostateandfederallaws.
Massachusetts:
WhileMassachusettsgenerallyhasstrictfirearmregulations,binarytriggers
arelegalwithinthestate,subjecttocompliancewithstateandfederal
laws.Residentscanlegallyownandusetheseaccessoriesforshooting
purposes.
Michigan:
IntheGreatLakesState,binarytriggersarelegal.Michiganresidentscan
enjoytheenhancedrateoffireprovidedbytheseaccessorieswhileadhering
toallapplicablelaws.

5. Mississippi:
Mississippipermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.Responsiblefirearmownersin
theMagnoliaStatecanlegallyincorporatethesedevicesintotheirshooting
practices.
Missouri:
TheShow-MeStateallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Firearmenthusiastsin
Missouricanlegallyequiptheirfirearmswiththeseaccessoriesforvarious
purposes.
Montana:
Knownforitsoutdoorculture,Montanapermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.
Residentscanlegallyownandusethesedevicesforhuntingandrecreational
shooting.
Nebraska:
InNebraska,binarytriggersarelegal.Responsiblegunownersinthe
CornhuskerStatecanexploretheuniquefiringcapabilitiestheseaccessories
offer.
Nevada:
TheSilverStateallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Firearmenthusiastsin
Nevadacanlegallyincorporatethesedevicesintotheirshootingexperiences.
NewHampshire:
IntheGraniteState,binarytriggersarelegal.Residentscanlegallyown
andusetheseaccessorieswhileadheringtostateandfederalregulations.
NewMexico:

6. NewMexicopermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.Responsiblefirearmownersin
theLandofEnchantmentcanexploretheuniqueshootingexperienceprovided
bythesedevices.
NorthCarolina:
NorthCarolinaallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Firearmenthusiastsinthe
TarHeelStatecanlegallyequiptheirfirearmswiththeseaccessoriesfor
variousshootingpurposes.
NorthDakota:
InNorthDakota,binarytriggersarelegal.Responsiblegunownerscanenjoy
theenhancedrateoffirethesedevicesofferwhileadheringtoall
applicablelaws.
Ohio:
TheBuckeyeStatepermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.Ohioresidentscan
legallyownandusetheseaccessoriesforvariousshootingpurposes.
Oklahoma:
Knownforitsfirearm-friendlyculture,Oklahomaallowstheuseofbinary
triggers.Firearmenthusiastsinthestatecanlegallyincorporatethese
devicesintotheirshootingpractices.
Oregon:
InOregon,binarytriggersarelegal.Residentscanlegallyownandusethese
accessorieswhileadheringtostateandfederalregulations.
Pennsylvania:
TheKeystoneStateallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Responsiblefirearm
ownersinPennsylvaniacanexploretheenhancedshootingexperienceprovided
bythesedevices.

7. SouthCarolina:
SouthCarolinapermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.Firearmenthusiastsinthe
PalmettoStatecanlegallyequiptheirfirearmswiththeseaccessoriesfor
variousshootingpurposes.
SouthDakota:
InSouthDakota,binarytriggersarelegal.Responsiblegunownerscanenjoy
theuniquefiringcapabilitiesthesedevicesofferwhileadheringtoall
applicablelaws.
Tennessee:
TheVolunteerStateallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Tennesseeresidents
canlegallyownandusetheseaccessoriesforvariousshootingpurposes.
Texas:
Knownforitsstrongfirearmculture,Texaspermitstheuseofbinary
triggers.Firearmenthusiastsinthestatecanlegallyincorporatethese
devicesintotheirshootingexperiences.
Utah:
InUtah,binarytriggersarelegal.Responsiblegunownerscanexplorethe
enhancedrateoffireprovidedbytheseaccessorieswhileadheringtoall
applicablelaws.
Vermont:
TheGreenMountainStateallowstheuseofbinarytriggers.Vermontresidents
canlegallyownandusethesedevicesforhuntingandrecreationalshooting.
WestVirginia:

8. WestVirginiapermitstheuseofbinarytriggers.Firearmenthusiastsinthe
statecanlegallyequiptheirfirearmswiththeseaccessoriesforvarious
shootingpurposes.
Wisconsin:
InWisconsin,binarytriggersarelegal.Responsiblegunownerscanenjoythe
uniquefiringcapabilitiesthesedevicesofferwhileadheringtoall
applicablelaws.
Wyoming:
Knownforitsfirearm-friendlyculture,Wyomingallowstheuseofbinary
triggers.Wyomingresidentscanlegallyincorporatethesedevicesintotheir
shootingpractices.
ThelegalstatusofbinarytriggersintheUnitedStatesisacomplexand
evolvingissue,withlawsvaryingsignificantlyfromstatetostate.
Responsiblefirearmownershipentailsstayinginformedaboutthelawsand
regulationsinyourstateandadheringtoallfederalrequirementsregarding
firearmaccessorieslikebinarytriggers.Toensurelawfulandsafefirearm
use,itiscrucialforfirearmenthusiastsandownerstoseeklegaladviceor
guidancewhenindoubtaboutthelegalityoftheseaccessoriesandtoremain
vigilantaboutchangesinlawsandregulationsatboththestateandfederal
levels.Theresponsibleuseofbinarytriggersisessentialtomaintaina
safeandregulatedfirearmsenvironmentintheUnitedStates.