Nahant Library would like to sell historic WWI machine gun (ATF recommends destruction)

The Daily Item ^ | Monday, April 23, 2007 | David Liscio

[amchugh]

NAHANT - The Nahant Public Library wants to sell one of its most valuable possessions: a German machine gun captured by Army Sgt. Alvin C. York during World War I.

[amchugh]

Username/password thissucks/thissucks from Bugmenot.com

Apparently, the ATF is recommending that the gun be destroyed, and the legislative route is the only way to save it.

[Argus]

I’d say it belongs in the Smithsonian, except that it appears that the PC types who run that institution probably want to destroy it too.

Yet one more reason Sgt. York’s probably spinning in his grave.

[Cicero]

Sgt. York is one of America’s greatest heroes. Every time I think the FBI and the ATF can’t get any stupider, I am proved wrong.

Shouldn’t the Smithsonian buy it? Or are they now too damned politically correct?

[Yo-Yo]

The only answer is to donate it to the Smithsonian, but that won’t raise any money for the library.

[Constantine XI Palaeologus]

The evil twits strike again. I honestly wonder what sort of people join the BATF.

[Sir Gawain]

Piss on the ATF.

[XRdsRev]

Hopefully there is some way that the Federal Government can purchase this historic weapon and house it at the Smithsonian or at the Aberdeen Ordnance Museum. To allow a weapon of this immense historical significance to be destroyed is unacceptable.

[LibKill]

It is my considered opinion that the BATF is a criminal organization much the same as the Gestapo or SS.

I think the BATF should be disbanded and its former members barred from government employment.

[muir_redwoods]

Donate it to West Point if the Smithsonian doesn’t want to do it justice.

[trickyricky]

"Piss on the ATF"

You do and they're liable to blow your head off.

They've murdered women and children for a whole lot less.

[PghBaldy]

I can understand the need for money, but the ATF is out of line. This gun is part of our national heritage. What has happened to my country?

[Centurion2000]

Good God there are a lot of people that would pay to have Sgt York's trophy.

[colorado tanker]

Leave it to ATF not to realize the Smithsonian has a fine weapons collection. So does the Army. Why can’t it be donated? Or is the library really out to make a “killing” at an auction???

[BenLurkin]

It should be displayed prominently — along with a larger Exhibit of WWI historical items and a tribute to Sgt York himself.

[holymoly]

Donate it to West Point if the Smithsonian doesn’t want to do it justice.

IMO The best place would be the Aberdeen Proving Ground Ordnance Museum.

The director, Dr. William Atwater, has stated:

"It is our moral and legal responsibility to preserve military assets,"

[mountainlyons]

I agree with the destruction of the ATF.

[Mat_Helm]

Quick! Somebody tell R. Lee Ermey that these idiots at the ATF are about to destroy some of our history! NUTS!!!!

[Wonder Warthog]

"The only answer is to donate it to the Smithsonian, but that won’t raise any money for the library."

Good grief---notify the NRA. I'm sure they would LOVE to have it in their firearms museum in Washington. I'd even bet they could find a sugar-daddy donor who would foot the bill.

And the BATFE wants to DESTROY this historical piece. What numbskulls.

[KoRn]

The ATF and DEA need to be shut down. I can probably think of a few other alphabet soup agencies, but those two first come to mind.

[supercat]

Good grief---notify the NRA. I'm sure they would LOVE to have it in their firearms museum in Washington. I'd even bet they could find a sugar-daddy donor who would foot the bill.

No amount of money would suffice unless either (1) Congress amends the NFA to allow the transfer, or (2) the Second Amendment is honored and the unconstitutional requirement for registration of pre-1934 weapons is revoked.