Why is Obama admin blocking import of surplus rifles?

[OakRidgeStars]

Why is Obama administration blocking import of surplus rifles?

By David Codrea, Gun Rights Examiner

[SNIP]

"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?...

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-n ... lus-rifles

[chfaunce]

Because he knows that SK will need all the resources they can get when NK comes for them?

Kidding.

Seriously, because it's Obama, he's just trying to come up with a nifty tax he can put on them. Once he's figured that out, everyone will be open for business. For now, he'll probably chalk it up to some sort of 'safety concern'. Who knows.

I'd reallllly like an M1 Garand, though.

[Jakeiscrazy]

I would like an M1 Carbine! This would really knock down the price!

[Diomed]

Codrea whiffed this one.

South Korea wants a waiver from the US to release them from the terms of the MAP agreement that provided them the weapons. If they were to sell them now, they'd have to give the money from the sale over to the US government. They want to keep it. So, they want the waiver.

The current administration is continuing the policy of the previous administration and not agreeing. It must be snowing in hell because they're actually looking out for our (well, parent's and grandparent's) tax money. The BS about terrorists and gun safety is just that, and I suspect they know it.

I would like an M1 Carbine! This would really knock down the price!

No you wouldn't, and no it wouldn't. Korean returns are usually crap - they treat them like people usually treat free stuff. You'd be looking at needing a new stock and probably a new barrel, and probably other parts as well.

It wouldn't knock down the price because if they were to be allowed to sell the guns to a US importer, the importer would jack the price. You'd be looking at probably $800 for a worn out beater. If they simply returned them to the US government, they would most likely end up at CMP for significantly less.

[Jakeiscrazy]

If they simply returned them to the US government, they would most likely end up at CMP for significantly less.

Well the lets hope for that. Although I highly doubt it will happen.

[Esr]

The way I figure it is he thinks we have too many guns already.

[gunderwood]

No you wouldn't, and no it wouldn't. Korean returns are usually crap - they treat them like people usually treat free stuff. You'd be looking at needing a new stock and probably a new barrel, and probably other parts as well.

A CMP "special" like the M1 Grands would be awesome. New CMP stock/barrel and perhaps a few parts, but original receiver. Makes good restored shooters, but poor collectors items.

Obama doesn't care about the tax dollars as much as he cares about the political issue if he created an exemption. If the SK return them to the US, he can just let the nominal process occur and they end up at the CMP. Obama doesn't have to make a decision; he votes present. If he creates an exemption or blocks the CMP (upon SK return) that likely will cause him a headache. If he does nothing the guns will come back to the US, the CMP will sell them, no one raises a fuss (except the SK which can take a long walk off of a short pier for wanting to sell me something my grandparents already paid for and gave to them). The antis either never find out or know that fighting the CMP is a losing battle.

[OakRidgeStars]

I have this image in my head of M1's in their original crates, just waiting for someone to give them a good home. Maybe they will still be around in two years after Chicago Jesus is back in the Windy City where he belongs.

[Diomed]

I have this image in my head of M1's in their original crates, just waiting for someone to give them a good home.

There are doubtless some "canned" M1s and carbines, but not many - the ones that are would either get sold at auction by CMP (which they've done in the past for major money), or a commercial importer would come up with something similar (auctions, limited sales, I don't know).

[OakRidgeStars]

Update on Korean Garands

http://virginiashootingsportsassociatio ... rands.html