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Starting to sound like the story-line in “Unintended Consequences”…Obama agency busts
World Net ^ | Today | World Net

Posted on 10/13/2010 1:37:21 PM PDT by RandysRight

The Obama-run Washington bureaucracy has classified a common and reliable rifle, the M1 Garand, as a “threat to public safety in the U.S.,” and the State Department has canceled plans by the Republic of Korea to return tens of thousands of surplus rifles to the U.S. for sale in the consumer market.

The stunning classification of an ordinary gun that was used in the U.S. military for two decades and issued to thousands of soldiers and Marines during World War II and Korea as a threat came in a document by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

It is being publicized by Examiner gun rights writer David Codrea, who said the federal agency appeared alarmed that there would be “no more controls [over imported Garands] than any other firearm.”

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“If I read this right, what they’re saying is, every gun poses a threat to public safety in the U.S.,” he wrote. “This is the same rationale used in model-specific ‘assault weapons’ bans – the type of gun is somehow deemed relevant, even though untold numbers of such firearms are already peaceably owned in this country, and even though no supporting evidence for this conclusion exists beyond agenda-promoting speculation.”

A source who sought confidentiality because of his current status in the industry told WND that the document posted by Codrea is at least an accurate draft, if not the final version, of the document assembled by the ATF.

According to the document itself, it came about because of this scenario: The State Department in May 2009 approved a “request by the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to transfer 87,310 M1 Garand rifles and 770,160 M1 carbine rifles to U.S. private entities for subsequent commercial resale in the United States.”

But the ATF contacted the State Department and argued the stock of rifles “poses a threat to public safety in the U.S.” As a result, the State Department reversed its decision.

The transfer of such weapons would raise the number of guns available and, therefore, lower the price, making them more generally available, the agency found.

Tracking ability sought

“They may be legitimately sold, trafficked or otherwise transferred. The only controls are the ones in the [Gun Control Act of 1968] and, while these controls require federal firearms licensees to keep certain records and place some restrictions on their firearms sales, such as requiring a background check and limiting interstate shipments to licensees, very few records are required to be provided to ATF and ATF is specifically prohibited from maintaining any form of a firearm registry,” the argument said.

The ATF also expressed concern that anyone who can purchase seven separate parts for the gun and install them correctly – or those individuals who can machine their own steel parts for guns – probably could convert the carbine into a machine gun.

The Garand, once praised by Gen. George S. Patton, arrived as a service rifle in the military in 1936 and was issued routinely until 1957, when it was replaced.

The gun expert who acted as a source for WND said the implications of the case are significant for several reasons. One is that a “5-year-old” could figure out that if the government classifies one type of rifle as a “threat,” there could be similar designations for other kinds of firearms.

Further, he said a team of ATF managers actually took the initiative in writing the agency’s condemnation of the Garand. He noted the agency from 2003-2009 traced an estimated 1.8 million guns for various reasons.

But of those, only some 1,900 were Garands.

“It’s a very select core of old-school ATF narcissists who have just become too powerful and too arrogant,” the source reported.

‘No comment’

Officials with the ATF declined to comment to WND, but a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State explained that the permission had been granted for the rifles to be shipped to the U.S., then it was rescinded.

The decision, explained Karl Duckworth, was prompted because of “concerns that such large numbers” of weapons would be brought into the U.S. and they could be “exploited for illicit purposes.”

However, he said he could not elaborate on just exactly who expressed the concerns.

Codrea told WND the classification was a “beachhead” for gun control. The WND source said it was just a symptom of the larger problems at the BATFE, citing a CleanupATF website that describes the work of “returning integrity, accountability and decency to the management of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive.”

The site explains that there have been some 400 employee complaints in the agency in just the last two years.

According to Codrea, “This is the grave threat to the republic? This is nothing less than legislation by unaccountable bureaucrats with an agenda that has nothing to do with legitimate delegated authority.”

Former congressman warned of gun control

Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo, now running for governor in his state, wrote some months ago about guns becoming endangered under Obama.

“A U.N. resolution adopted in October calls upon member nations to negotiate the matter and finish writing a [gun control] treaty by 2012. The United States voted for the resolution, which was adopted almost unanimously,” he said in a commentary. “President Bush, for all his mistakes and miscalculations, never allowed his U.N. representatives to participate in such negotiations. But Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reversed course and agreed to join the negotiations.”

He said it is such treaties that offer serious threats to the U.S.

“What conventional arms treaties do is constrain the actions of law-abiding nations and law-abiding citizens while allowing outlaw nations and leftist guerrilla groups to build their arsenals,” he said. “If you think such international treaties apply only to sales and exchanges among nations and not to individuals, you have not been paying attention to the Obama administration’s agenda and to what activist judges have been doing in American courts.”

States already rebelling

States already have begun rebelling against federal rules for guns, with eight formally adopting laws that exempt guns made, sold and kept within the states from federal regulations.

A court case over that law now is headed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The description of guns as a “threat” recalls the themes in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report in 2009 that characterized “right-wing extremists” as opponents of abortion and illegal immigration and supporters of gun rights and third-party political candidates.

WND reported on a Department of Homeland Security report that warned against the possibility of violence by unnamed “right-wing extremists” concerned about illegal immigration, increasing federal power, restrictions on firearms, abortion and the loss of U.S. sovereignty and singled out returning war veterans as particular threats.

The report, “Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” dated April 7, stated “threats from white supremacist and violent anti-government groups during 2009 have been largely rhetorical and have not indicated plans to carry out violent acts.”

However, the document, first reported by talk-radio host and WND columnist Roger Hedgecock, went on to suggest worsening economic woes, potential new legislative restrictions on firearms and “the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.”

The report from DHS’ Office of Intelligence and Analysis defined right-wing extremism in the U.S. as “divided into those groups, movements and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups) and those that are mainly anti-government, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”

Most notable was the report’s focus on the impact of returning war veterans.

“Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to right-wing extremists,” it said. “DHS/I&A is concerned that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize veterans in order to boost their violent capacities.”


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: banglist; batfags; batfe; bootthebatfe; cmp; democrats; donttreadonme; garand; liberalfascism; obama

1 posted on 10/13/2010 1:37:25 PM PDT by RandysRight
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To: RandysRight
Words cannot describe. . . steel yourself and prepare. . .
2 posted on 10/13/2010 1:41:01 PM PDT by Art in Idaho (Conservatism is the only hope for Western Civilization.)
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To: RandysRight
A house is just not a home without an M-1 or five.

m-1>

3 posted on 10/13/2010 1:44:57 PM PDT by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know .F Trp 8th Cav)
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To: RandysRight

Listen new guy, this story has been posted here from several different sources at least a dozen times already. Do us a favor and learn to use the Search function.

Thanks.


4 posted on 10/13/2010 1:48:04 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: Lurker

You may want to see about getting your meds adjusted.


5 posted on 10/13/2010 1:51:40 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: kbennkc
A house is just not a home without an M-1 or five.

I just bought my fifth (a Winchester, hooray for me!) this morning. :)

That's a great picture, BTW - thanks for posting it.

6 posted on 10/13/2010 1:52:30 PM PDT by TonyInOhio ( Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.)
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To: RandysRight
The report from DHS’ Office of Intelligence and Analysis defined right-wing extremism in the 13 Colonies as “divided into those groups, movements and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial,ethnic groups or obedience to the Crown) and those that are mainly anti-government, rejecting Crown authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion, immigration, or rebellion against Taxation and The Crown.”

Most notable was King Gearge III's focus on the impact of the new patriot movement:

“These new patriots, so called, possess hunting skills and experience that are attractive to right-wing extremists,” it said. “The Royal DHS/I&A is concerned that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize citizens in order to boost their violent capacities.”

Time warp to 1773 and this 'decree' just came off the boat from England. . . You hear the 'Hear yee, hear yee,' and it's just posted on the tree. . . What would our founders think? What would you think?

7 posted on 10/13/2010 1:54:32 PM PDT by Art in Idaho (Conservatism is the only hope for Western Civilization.)
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To: Mr. Lucky
Why? Some newbie blog pimp wanders through, posts a dozen or so links to his lame ass blog all over the forum, half of them to stories he's ripped off from other sources without proper attribution, and I'm the one who should change my behavior?

I don't think so.

8 posted on 10/13/2010 1:58:08 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: Lurker

I see.


9 posted on 10/13/2010 2:04:23 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: RandysRight
I remember in the late 50s and early 60s how soldiers who statisfactorily completed their term of service were allowed to purchase their M-1 and take it home with them.

The M-14s were coming into the inventory.

Of course, that is back when the government was of, by and for the people and trusted the people.

That isn't the case today!

10 posted on 10/13/2010 2:13:23 PM PDT by Redleg Duke (RAT Hunting Season started the evening of March 21st, 2010!)
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To: Art in Idaho

“These new patriots, so called, possess hunting skills and experience that are attractive to right-wing extremists,”

Don’t forget Frenh and Indian War experience.


11 posted on 10/13/2010 2:19:38 PM PDT by ebshumidors ( Marksmanship and YOUR heritage http://www.appleseedinfo.org)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: Shooter 2.5
doesnt that beg the question as to where the single issue clout of the NRA is on this issue and why they are impotent to force the return of OUR rifles ???

seems only a handful of people with any connections or public voice are even covering this theft of US property...

13 posted on 10/13/2010 4:17:43 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
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To: 300winmag; Ramius; g'nad

This administration is a buncha weenies!


14 posted on 10/13/2010 4:54:19 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; ...
Thanks RandysRight.
The Obama-run Washington bureaucracy has classified a common and reliable rifle, the M1 Garand, as a "threat to public safety in the U.S.," and the State Department has canceled plans by the Republic of Korea to return tens of thousands of surplus rifles to the U.S. for sale in the consumer market. The stunning classification of an ordinary gun that was used in the U.S. military for two decades and issued to thousands of soldiers and Marines during World War II and Korea as a threat came in a document by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

15 posted on 10/13/2010 5:57:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: SuziQ; g'nad; Ramius; TalonDJ; osagebowman; JenB
This administration is a buncha weenies!

Would that they were just weenies. They're utterly illogical, too. So all of this is done in secret until it's time to spring it on us. 0bama is still looking to use his "deeming" power on something.

There are already millions of M1 Garands and M1 carbines in civilian hands already. And yes, one nearly-impossible-to find M2 carbine part is the key part of the seven needed to make it full-auto. Dealers know that, so they don't carry it, unless they're Class 3 dealers. BATFE also knows it, which is why if you have that one part in your posession (even if you have no carbine), it's a type of felony they devised called "presumptive conversion". Ten years in the pen, because they can "presume" that someday you'll buy a carbine, and convert it then. These are new felonies devised by paper pushers, and are not created through legistlation.

They're trying to issue a ruling to prevent the Garand and Carbine from being imported because they presume that one might, some day, be used in a crime. They could presume the same thing about a Toyota, too. It's a ballet for them. Issue a ruling pulled from their ass "presuming" something. If the president can "deem", I guess the bureaucracy can "presume". Get another government agency to recognize that. Then find some schmuck that the "right" judge will convict based on the memos these agencies sent back and forth. Call in a "legal expert" that will cite some UN crap that the regime supports, even if not ratified.

Use that to build a bigger net, rinse, repeat. Do not allow any defense that cites the Constitution, common logic, or even prior BATFE policy.

16 posted on 10/14/2010 12:24:42 AM PDT by 300winmag (Overkill never fails)
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To: Shooter 2.5

Cool it with the language.


17 posted on 11/07/2010 11:10:37 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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