US opposes Seoul’s bid to sell old rifles (M1 Garands and carbines)

Korea Times ^ | 8-12-10 | Jung Sung-ki

[dynachrome]

The U.S. government opposed South Korea’s bid to sell hundreds of thousands of aging U.S. combat rifles to American gun collectors, a senior government official said Thursday.

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.

The U.S. administration put the brakes on the plan, citing “problems” that could be caused by the importation of the rifles.

The problems the U.S. government cited were somewhat ambiguous, said an official at the Ministry of National Defense on condition of anonymity.

“The U.S. insisted that imports of the aging rifles could cause problems such as firearm accidents. It was also worried the weapons could be smuggled to terrorists, gangs or other people with bad intentions,” the official told The Korea Times.

[dynachrome]

Yup. Evil terrorists might trade in their AK 47's.

Anti-2nd Amendment thugs at work, IMHO

[e_castillo]

Shame.

[Vendome]

Stupid.

They would be worked by master gunsmiths and many would end up at CMP while others would be parted out to complete defective or incomplete rifles.

[DonaldC]

Frankly, I don’t see how this was our government’s business in any way. Clearly they are moving further and further against its own people.

[agooga]

What?!? These are beautiful antiques that SHOULD be kept by loving owners!

[2ndDivisionVet]

More guns for us to “cling” to, I suppose. Next he’ll suspend sales of the Bible.

[WarEagle]

My husband was wanting to buy one just last week.

What a shame that these will be allowed to rust away.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[microgood]

They should just wait 2 more years when Obama is out of office.

[Da Coyote]

Bull Obama.

If it comes from Obama, it’s bull.

Lies, lies, and (when they’re really hot) Harvard lies.

They’re afraid of the upcoming revolution.

And they damned well should be.

[Gabrial]

Let's ban cars first. They cause many more deaths and my fall into the hands of people with bad intentions.

[historyrepeatz]

If these firearms AREN’T sold to U.S. citizens, one can bet they WILL fall into the hands of the wrong people elsewhere. Maybe our idiot government will have the dubious distinction of someday sending our young soldiers to fight the people who’ve ended up with these things.

[STONEWALLS]

...I’d really like to have a Winchester made carbine in good shape.

[Charlespg]

can we get the names of the officials,I know some congressmen helped end the destruction of surplus brass

[smokingfrog]

The CMP would be glad to have them and would make sure they are in safe operating condition. Due to the qualifications involved, I doubt any of them would go to terrorists. Whether or not they could afford to buy all 86,000 of them is another issue.

[devane617]

i’m in line...

[Mariner]

I’d love to have 2-3 of the carbines.

[dynachrome]

I forgot to give a hat tip to the posters at

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com

For posting this in their forum section

(Lots of excellent info on military surplus rifles, reloading,accessories,etc. including a Garand forum)

[ronnyquest]

"US opposes Seoul’s bid to sell old rifles..."

I'll bet they do oppose that. Can't imagine why would-be tyrants would oppose arming the citizenry.

[PeterPrinciple]

The problems the U.S. government cited were somewhat ambiguous, said an official at the Ministry of National Defense on condition of anonymity.