Intratec TEC-DC9

The Intratec TEC-DC9 (TEC-9) is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic firearm, chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, and classified by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a handgun. Designed by Intratec, an American offshoot of Interdynamic AB, it is made of inexpensive molded polymers and stamped steel parts. Magazines with 10-, 20-, 32-, -50 and upwards of 72-rounds are made. The three models are referred to as the TEC-9, although only one model was sold under that name.

The TEC-9 and, eventually, TEC-DC9 variants were listed among the 19 firearms banned by name in the USA by the now expired 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB). This ban caused the cessation of their manufacture, and forced Intratec to introduce a newer model called the AB-10.

After the AWB, Intratec introduced the AB-10, a TEC-9 Mini without a threaded muzzle and limited to a 10 round magazine instead of a 20 or 32 round magazine. However, it accepted the high capacity magazines of the pre-ban models.

The TEC-9 is an offshoot of a design from a Swedish company, Interdynamic AB of Stockholm. Intended as a cheap submachine gun based on the Carl Gustav M/45 for military applications, Interdynamic did not find a government buyer, and the gun did not enter production.

Controversy
The weapon was the subject of controversy following its use in the 101 California Street shootings and later the Columbine High School massacre. The gun was banned by name in the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. California amended its 1989 Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act (AWCA) later in 1999, effective January 2000, to ban firearms having features such as barrel shrouds. In 2001, the Supreme Court of California ruled that Intratec was not liable for the 1993 California Street attacks. In that same year, the company went out of business and production of the AB-10 model ceased.