Obama Administration Blocks Korean M1 Garands & M1 Carbines
Last week we reported that plans by South Korea’s Ministry of Defense to sell surplus M1 Garand and M1 Carbine rifles had been halted because of objections raised by officials in Washington, DC. To raise money for its defense budget, the Korean Defense Ministry hoped to sell 86,000 M1 Garands and 22,000 M1 Carbines to American collectors. Originally the import program enjoyed a green light from Washington, but now sources within the Obama Administration have confirmed that the U.S. State Department is blocking the importation of these old firearms. Curiously, the State Department now claims the Koreans planned to import a much larger number of firearms, 87,310 M1 Garands and 770,160 M1 carbines.
Yesterday, FoxNews.com reported:
The Obama administration approved the sale of the American-made rifles last year. But it reversed course and banned the sale in March[.] A State Department spokesman said the administration’s decision was based on concerns that the guns could fall into the wrong hands. “The transfer of such a large number of weapons — 87,310 M1 Garands and 770,160 M1 Carbines — could potentially be exploited by individuals seeking firearms for illicit purposes,” the spokesman told FoxNews.com.
Is the U.S. State Department inflating the number of arms to be imported as a scare tactic? Hard to say… getting solid answers about the Obama Administration’s opposition to the Korean import program has been difficult. FoxNews.com explained: “The State Department spokesman referred questions to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF representatives said they would look into the question Monday afternoon, but on Wednesday they referred questions to the Justice Department. DOJ spokesman Dean Boyd referred questions back to the State Department.” Sounds like a shell game….
Some gun bloggers have reported that the M1 Garands and M1 Carbines are not eligible to be returned to the USA and sold to American collectors given the military aid agreements under which the rifles were provided to Korea originally. Whether that is the case is unclear. The rifles are all over 50 years old, so they would qualify as Curious and Relics, which normally could be imported, absent other restrictions. FoxNews.com says the M1 Garands and M1 Carbines are in a class of arms that require U.S. State Department approval before they can be shipped back to the USA and sold here. Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist, says there are no definitive legal restrictions blocking the return of these arms to the United States, or forbidding their re-sale to collectors. Instead the Obama Administration is simply carrying out a “a de facto gun ban, courtesy of Hillary Clinton’s State Department.”
CLICK HERE to read full FoxNews.com story on Korean Gun Import Ban
Similar Posts:
- State Dept. Policy Shift May Allow Return of So. Korean Garands
- M1 Garands and Carbines Return from South Korea
- Feds Block Import of M1 Garands and M1 Carbines from Korea
- Ammo Protection and Korean Gun Import Bills Introduced
- Concerns about Federal Gun Laws — Lou Dobbs Report
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Tags: Korea, M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, State Department
They were really doing alright up until now when it comes to firearms…not the big gun grab that people have been fearing. But this is just stupid. There’s nothing about a Garand or a carbine that you can’t duplicate by getting another semi-auto. It’s not the end of the world, but is just dumb. The only *good* thing is if you happen to be selling a Garand. This will keep prices higher.
Lets just hope the voters who drank the Koolaide last time will wake up and block Obama next time when he is up for election. America may never recover from the Obama effect.
Nat Lambeth
this is ridiculous. we should write our congressmen and women about this!
Why doesn’t the NRA just get their buddy Harry Reid to help them out – LOL.
Sounds like a good subject for an NRA backed lawsuit. How about some support NRA?
Douche’ cost mart, douche’
Obama isn’t the first to do this. Bush did it during his administration too. Others before him.
None of this is verified and is probably another anti-Obama rumormake This is what Orest Michaels, the new head of CMP said.
Originally Posted by Orest on the CMP Forum
The rumors, reports, articles about Korea “selling” Garands and carbines have been circulating for at least ten years. About nine months ago the Korea Times once again reported that they would be selling Garands and carbines to a US importer. The CMP is not a firearms importer and we would not have any involvement of any kind in anything that may happen with these Korean rifles and carbines if they were “sold” to an importer.
The only way any rifle or carbine from any country can find its way to the CMP is if the country returns “loaned” rifles back to the US Army – at no cost to the US. When that happens, the CMP “may” possibly receive some of those rifles. According to the recent articles, Korea did not plan on returning (transferring) any rifles to the US Army, but planned to “sell” these rifles to an importer. We do not have any standing to investigate the reports from Korea or any actions the US government may have taken as a result of those rumors.
I (speaking for myself) do not know for a fact if the sale is being blocked, and more importantly why it is being blocked (if true). It may simply be a question of current ownership.
Thanks for understanding that we do not have any first-hand knowledge and why CMP will not get involved in this in any way. This issue will get sorted out in good time.
All Korean threads from now all will be merged into this thread. Up to you if you want to sort through the rumor mill. No reason to have this spread over 6 forums and 22 different threads.
I thank you all in advance for your understanding.
If I were a USA Arms manufacturer with lobbying ties, I would be pressing hard for a stoppage on such a large shipment of cheap arms coming into circulation in the USA market and possibly consuming a portion of an already difficult market.
Please let these guns in, these are not gang banger guns these are collectables that will most likely be sold to gun collectors who are usually very responsable people.
My father will turn 72 next year and this would be a great fathers day gift.
thats just my opion.
Cliff Bushman
Obviously this was hilary clinton at work.Forget fast and furious,atf can sell guns to drug dealers and get officers killed as well,but law abiding americans are called “the wrong hands” by the likes of holder,obama,clinton.
The democrats are the new english,and the republicans are the new hessians.
Maybe Fred is right! 10/14/2012.