US to Block Importation of 200,000 Korean War M1s

[Peter_Suciu]

The South Koreans looked to export to the United States some 200,000 M1 Garand and M1 Carbine rifles and the Obama administration is blocking the efforts:
http://www.firearmstruth.com/2010/firing-back-msm-fails-to-pick-up-on-m1-rifle-story

 

[poniatowski]

Actually, they've been blocking this stuff longer than Obama has been in office and it's silly to think this is just something a certain President is doing (when it's not the President who makes the laws). Try to import a Stuart tank or some other tactical military vehicle. Most of this was ruined for collectors quite some time ago.
Heck, we couldn't bring ANYTHING home from Iraq or Kuwait... and I had a free T-62 all lined up (I'm not kidding either)... so you can't blame Obama for that or anything to do with General Order 1A.
It's sad that the privilege of fire arms use has been abused so heavily without severe punishment in this country... it really hurts collectors and sportsmen. Still, there's a lot of firepower available on the legal market. More than in most other countries.
The best thing you could do is write your representatives and explain how this import would help collectors and hunters. I doubt very much an M1 would be used by a gang member, since it doesn't have that 'hood factor' that other weapons do. Perhaps there's a way for a small number to be imported for purchase of your hunting / collecting club or something. Who knows. Hang in there!


Ron

 

[Peter_Suciu]

Actually, they've been blocking this stuff longer than Obama has been in office and it's silly to think this is just something a certain President is doing

That is a big irony of the story. These guns are blocked for a whole bunch of reasons, but the State Department made it an issue directly. The guns can't return because tax payer dollars paid for them, but the WH and SD is blaming terrorists, gangs as an excuse. So in this case I do think we can blame Obama.

 

[poniatowski]

I think you have to blame the 'Department of Homeland Defense'. You may blame whomever you please, but the facts are that this is all linked to the anti-terrorism legislation of the Bush era. This is what happens when fear and emotions override common sense. Sooner or later it comes back to bite you in the butt.

Personally, I felt insulted by the Pentagon's General Order 1 A, when I went to Iraq. We couldn't have a beer, couldn't 'liberate' anything cool and if you tried, you'd face court martial or prison time.

Again, write your representatives and see what can be done. If enough people do that, then they may see the light. Otherwise, nothing will happen. Best of luck! The M1 was a good weapon and I'm sure a lot of collectors / hunters would enjoy adding one to their collection.

Ron

 

[Peter_Suciu]

I think you have to blame the 'Department of Homeland Defense'.

No Ron, I can blame the State Department for this, as it is the State Department that made the official statement that there were concerns over the guns being "old and potentially dangerous," and having concerns that "the guns could fall into the hands of terrorists and gangs."

The other issues are moot at this point, since the State Department (and through it the White House) are the ones that stepped up to block the importation.

My point has always been that the SD and WH could have done nothing, and then other issues would have kept the guns from coming home. I have been very diligent in following up on this issue, as I've reported on it as a journalist. So the bottom line is that the State Department, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton actually addressed the issue. They could have done nothing, but they still choose to address it.

As a columnist, where I can express my opinion, I personally feel they did so because it allows the SD and WH to say to the anti-gun crowd, "see we stopped these deadly things from coming in the country." The truth is that groups like the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in August gave Obama an F rating, but a month later congratulated his efforts to block this importation.

Didn't hear about all that on CNN or MSNBC did you? But it still happened. So I am continuing to put the pieces together, and this is why at this point I say the blame falls on the State Department. They issued the statement, they told the South Koreas no, and they got the kudos from the anti-gun crowd. The buck stops with them on this one.

Just my two cents.

And thank you for your service. I appreciate what you did, and more Americans should say thank you.

 

[poniatowski]

Yeah, we have the same problem with vintage military vehicles. The sad thing is, if it's shipped out of the country, it doesn't seem as if it ever comes back. I found an old Stuart in Brazil, but couldn't get a firm answer on if I could ship it to the US or not, even with the 37mm missing, so I had to let it go. Now, I think they're all in England.


I hope something turns around and the import can proceed before they get shipped to China or something. And, I do wish you the best of luck on this, because it's obviously important.


At least we can still get Pickelhuabe!!

Ron