"The U.S. government opposed South Korea’s bid to sell hundreds of thousands of aging U.S. combat rifles to American gun collectors," Jung Sung-ki of The Korea Times reports.
"The ministry announced the plan last September as part of efforts to boost its defense budget, saying the export of the M1 Garand and carbine rifles would start by the end of 2009."
So why didn't they?
"The U.S. administration put the brakes on the plan, citing “problems” that could be caused by the importation of the rifles."
Problems? What problems?
"The problems the U.S. government cited were somewhat ambiguous, said an official at the Ministry of National Defense on condition of anonymity."
Oh, in other words, made up problems. The administration came up with baseless excuses about aging rifles that "could cause problems such as firearm accidents."
And they said that bad guys might get a hold of them!
The truth could not be simpler: Older rifles can be safely maintained and sold. Just ask the Civilian Marksmanship Program. I got my M1 Garand back when the Director of Civilian Marksmanship program was controlled by the Department of the Army and it remains a favorite gun.
And the bad guy excuse could be used to object to the sale of all guns everywhere. Meanwhile, they're denying an opportunity to good guys--you know, the ones the Founders deemed "necessary to the security of a free State"...
This is ridiculous, offensive and subversive.
It's also more proof of the anti-gun agenda the Obama administration has been forced by political realities to keep under wraps during his first term. The antis would have us believe the lie that he has expanded gun rights--the basic talking point they push is that he signed a law allowing for guns to be carried in National Parks.
What happened there was he was unwilling to derail a credit card bill where that provision was slipped in. Why was it done that way?
Because a Clinton-appointed federal judge sabotaged a Bush administration ruling providing for guns in parks under the transparent that recognizing unalienable rights requires an extended bureaucratic environmental impact study. And Obama, who played his part in the charade and did not direct an appeal, would have been perfectly happy to wait that out had his hand not been forced.
Add to this all those anti-gun nominations: Eric Holder, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan...
He may have erased his anti-gun wishlist from the White House website (an old tactic perfected by his ideological forebears), but his hostility to our right to keep and bear arms remains. He just doesn't dare show his hand. Yet.
It's up to us to keep it that way.
Let's push back. I have no idea what the best way to reverse this latest import ban decision would be, but I'm going to do some investigating. If anyone has any ideas on how to apply pressure, please share it.
Hopefully, this will not be the last word.
Comments
In addition to the silly objections by the administration, I have some problem with the idea that the Koreans are going to "sell" those rifles to Americans. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Americans paid for those rifles long, long ago. They were paid for with money stolen from Americans, to be exact.
They were GIVEN to the Koreans. So, now they want to SELL them back to us?
Sure, better than having them destroyed - but still...
The best way to deal with this is publicity AND working with an arms importer who knows the law about importing firearms, particularly one who works with a return of arms originally made in the US.
I, too, have a Garand shipped to me directly from the CMP, arrived while I was away at "Summer Camp" with the Army Reserves, so UPS dropped it off at my neighbors where is rested for two weeks. Thank God they weren't terrorists, eh?
Isn't it strange that CAI and a number of others import weapons from Europe regularly but Korea can't sell to us. Perhaps lawyers from importers should lead the charge (with fixed bayonets). Perhaps a pro 2A congressman / senator could bring this up in a bill. Certainly Kalid Sheik Obama doesn't want more armed Americans and more weapons to collect later
I think by "bad guys" they mean citizens who might join a militia and by using M-1 Garands would be better armed than the regular troops.
I'm having issues replying to your article due to your sensitive profanity filter. I reposted my reply on the below link so maybe you can see what I'm doing wrong.
http://www.semiautorifles.com/forums/f10/why-obama-administration-blocki...
Actually, you should contact the ODCMP on this. It turns out, the rifles are not actually the property of the South Korean government. The US government lent them to the South Koreans, and they are supposed to be returned to the USA when the South Koreans are done with them. This argument with the South Korean government has been going on for 5 years.
Stopping importation of old military rifles on the basis that they could be used in crimes and cause accidents?
When was the last time anyone heard of a Garand being used in a crime. Just about everyone I know wants a Garand. That's the real reason they want to stop the importation. It's a ploy to punish law abiding gun collectors. Acting as if an importer/distributor wouldn't safety check the guns before sale is beyond stupid.
Another farce brought to you by the Statist in Chief...
Great article, David. I'm sending this one forward. I always knew Obama was truly anti-gun, but now we see the proof, along with his anti-gun nominations.
What stopped the import, EO, law? Was it stopped before 2009, if so that would be BUSH, not AKA. Let us have all the facts.
Just checking to see if the "obscene comment filter" that filters ALL comments, obscene or not, is still in place.
Have them shipped to another two or three countries that are not N. Korea. Then import the guns in their smaller quantities to the US.
I have an idea that would end this policy, but it would be considered "REVOLUTION-ARY" so I better keep my opinion to myself.
I want an M-1
All in good sarcasm it should be easy to get them across the border to the south.
Yah..... That's the problem when somebody who can arbitrarily stop something for their own reasons, does. Or causes something unconstitutional to happen because they can, even when they know it's unconstitutional.
The remedy for that is not pleasant unless you're one of the directly affected.
Because they can.
Tim Covington: I've sent the link to your blog post to both the Korean Times reporter and to the CMP and asked them to weigh in. I'll do an update post as warranted by their responses.
http://www.guntotinhippies.com/2010/08/17/update-on-the-garands-and-m1-c...
This is ridiculous. I would gladly plop down my hard earned cash for a m1 carbine. Just make them give back the loaned property and distribute via CMP. I mean, for crissakes, the CMP was a government created program. You'd think there'd be a little more support or something.
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