Report: Austria approves export of 30,000 handguns to Iran

International Herald Tribune ^ | Deb 16, 2007

[John Jorsett]

VIENNA, Austria. Austrian authorities have approved the export of 30,000 handguns to Iran, local media reported Friday, days after a report that sophisticated Austrian rifles were finding their way into the hands of Iraqi insurgents.

Austrian media reported the pistols had been sold to Iran's interior ministry, which is in charge of the police force.

Austrian economic ministry officials told state radio that their ministry had approved the sale of the "Glock" pistols last month, saying Iranian authorities had provided documentary evidence that they would not be passed on to others.

Another request for the weapons from the Iranian army was denied after it refused to give such assurances, said the officials, adding such sales to police were allowed under legislation governing the export of weapons.

The sales were first reported by the Austria Press Agency Friday, citing a story in preliminary copies of Saturday's edition of the daily "Oesterreich." After-hours phone calls to the ministry were not answered.

[John Jorsett]

Austrian economic ministry officials told state radio that their ministry had approved the sale of the "Glock" pistols last month, saying Iranian authorities had provided documentary evidence that they would not be passed on to others.

They had the same documentary evidence for those Steyr-Mannlicher sniper rifles that are turning up all over Iraq. That's certainly worked well, hasn't it?

[Dogbert41]

We need to remember this.

[colorado tanker]

Just like old times. Iran and the German-speaking world are best buds.

[Brilliant]

Don't bring a handgun to a missile fight.

[samadams2000]

Smith and Wesson where are you?? SWHC.

[xcamel]

yeah, right.

[Brad from Tennessee]

We need to start a Glock boycott in the U.S.

[MARKUSPRIME]

I dont use glock at anyhow.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.

So is this a ploy to get Iranians to shoot themselves in the leg?

Michael Frazier

[SolidWood]

WTF!? Earlier today I read the same story, but it reported 30,000 Glock pistols are being delivered to the IRAQI POLICE!

[Atlas Sneezed]

LOL!

[SolidWood]

Something is very fishy! All German-speaking sources, including the original Austrian report the 30,000 handguns are destined for the IRAQI Police. The English-speaking sources say IRAN.

[Emmett McCarthy]

I didn't need another reason not to buy a "low-bid" piece of crap Glock, but OK, I guess I've got one more reason.

[ExpatGator]

Just another reason not to buy a glock. After having gunsmithed some of them I did not really need another reason.

[DocRock]

bttt

[colorado tanker]

Hmmm.

[tranzorZ]

Wow, no love for Glock? My knowledge of guns is minimal, but I thought it was a great gun, aside from the country it hales from is asshat.

[endthematrix]

I do, but that's not the point. I didn't use "slim-fast" but that didn't stop my protest against their spokeswoman Whoopi, who trashed our POTUS.

Don't fall into the, "it doesn't effect me...right now" because when it related to arms shipments to Iran, or say an anti-gun law that affects "hunters" when you don't hunt, it does effect you

[ansel12]

This is a link to a Feb 9th 2007 article from StrategyPage

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20070209.aspx

Excerpts;
"Perhaps the most notorious nine-millimeter pistol is the Glock 17. This pistol was designed by Gaston Glock and has spawned a family of over twenty pistols in various sizes. The Glock 17 is in service with Austria and Norway, and Glock has a huge following among law enforcement agencies around the world, albeit not all of them use nine-millimeter (the FBI, for instance, uses the Glock 22 and Glock 23 in .40 Smith and Wesson). Aside from its polymer frame, the Glock's other feature is its ability to function like a revolver – to operate it, one just has to aim and pull the trigger."



"The best of these nine-millimeter pistols is probably the Glock. It is a simple pistol, and very reliable. Glock has done some pretty extreme torture tests on the pistol, and it has continued to perform. The Glock is also widely used, so in the case of a failure, spare parts can easily be acquired. It has worked well in its twenty-two year history for numerous military and law-enforcement customers. It has arguably become the standard by which other pistols are to be judged. – Harold C. Hutchison (haroldc.hutchison@gmail.com)