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Senators to Secretary Clinton: Backdoor Gun Ban Violates Americans’ Constitutional...
The U.S. Senate ^ | Oct 06 2010 | Senators John Cornyn et al.

Posted on 10/07/2010 11:48:07 AM PDT by neverdem

Senators to Secretary Clinton: Backdoor Gun Ban Violates Americans' Constitutional Right

Cornyn Leads Bipartisan Letter to Sec. Clinton on the Sale of Antique Rifles

Oct 06 2010

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today led a bipartisan group of Senators including Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), and others in sending a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging her to reverse the State Department’s reported decision to ban the sale of surplus antique rifles from South Korea to qualified buyers in the United States. The letter was also sent to Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting Director Kenneth Melson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE).

Recent media reports indicate the Obama Administration inked a deal with the South Korean government to bring home nearly one million American-made WWII-era surplus military rifles.  However, the State Department stepped in at the last minute and arbitrarily blocked the agreement. The rifles in question are the iconic M1 Garand and M1 Carbine rifles, which are popular among collectors and military historians. The letter to Secretary Clinton stresses that the sale poses no risk to Americans and the department’s decision violates law-abiding citizens’ constitutional right to purchase firearms for legitimate purposes. The full text of the letter is below:

 October 6, 2010

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, Northwest
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

We write today out of serious concern regarding recent reports indicating the State Department—in conjunction with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives—has arbitrarily chosen to ban the sale of surplus M1 Garand and M1 Carbine rifles from South Korea to qualified buyers in the United States.  We strongly urge you to reverse this decision.

According to recent reports, although the Obama Administration had approved the sale of these vintage, American-made rifles last year, your Department chose to reverse the decision because the firearms “could potentially be exploited by individuals seeking firearms for illicit purposes.”  A spokesman for your Department went on to say, “We are working closely with our Korean allies and the U.S. Army in exploring alternative options to dispose of these firearms.”  This decision amounts to no more than a backdoor gun ban that lacks any basis or justification under current Federal law and policy.  This decision violates law-abiding citizens’ constitutional right, protected under the Second Amendment, to purchase these firearms for legitimate purposes such as target shooting, hunting, collecting, and self-protection. 

As you may know, the M1 is the rifle that helped our American troops claim victory in World War II.  In Korea and Vietnam, our troops went into battle armed with this rifle that in the words of General George S. Patton, “is the greatest battle implement ever devised.”  Today, the M1 is lawfully used by American citizens for recreational activities and is also a highly collectible firearm for those interested in American history. 

Furthermore, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Guidebook on Firearms Importation, it is legal to import M1s because they are more than 50 years old and therefore qualify as “curios or relics.”  Moreover, any individual wishing to purchase one of these firearms would be subject to the National Instant Check System.  Essentially, the sale of these historic rifles—each a piece of America’s proud history—pose no greater risk than the sale of any other firearm legally sold in the United States.

To this end, we request an explanation of your reasons for blocking the importation and sale of American-made rifles from South Korea, and we strongly urge you to reverse your decision in the interest of protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights.  Furthermore, we encourage you to consider utilizing the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) as a means for the sale of these rifles.  Currently, the principal rifles sold today through the CMP—a federally chartered non-profit organization dedicated to training and educating U.S. citizens in the responsible use of firearms—are World War II-era M1 Garand rifles.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

John Cornyn, United States Senator
Mike Enzi, United States Senator
Tom Coburn, United States Senator
Jon Tester, United States Senator
Richard Burr, United States Senator
James Inhofe, United States Senator
Judd Gregg, United States Senator
Mike Crapo, United States Senator
John Barrasso, United States Senator
John Thune, United States Senator
Roger Wicker, United States Senator
Bob Bennett, United States Senator
Lisa Murkowski, United States Senator
Mark Begich, United States Senator
Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senator
Chuck Grassley, United States Senator

cc:  Eric Holder, Attorney General
Kenneth Melson, BATFE Acting Director


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: Spok
Another ‘backbone’ sighting in the Senate? Wow!!

They have one spine they share with the whole Republican Caucus. Each Senator is allowed to use it once in a blue moon to make them look good.

Gotta have it back by midnight though or they fear they could turn into a vertebrate. Can't have that...

41 posted on 10/07/2010 4:38:25 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (The presidential seal is the one thing Obama forgot to screw up.)
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To: neverdem

hmmmmmm......... one of the Senators that signed the letter is “Jeanne Shaheen” from NH. She voted for 0bamacare but seems to be pro-gun as she voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains.

Don’t know what to think of her yet.


42 posted on 10/07/2010 5:09:21 PM PDT by GeorgeTaylor
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To: Eagles6

I have several M1 Garands and they are DEFINITELY NOT the type of gun a gang banger or drug dealer would carry.


43 posted on 10/07/2010 5:17:09 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: napscoordinator

She would be worse, because she knows better how to do it.


44 posted on 10/07/2010 6:01:43 PM PDT by stevio (Freedom! -NRA)
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To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; blueyon; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; ...
Thanks neverdem.
45 posted on 10/07/2010 8:17:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: neverdem

Thanks for the ping!


46 posted on 10/07/2010 8:26:12 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: SatinDoll

Luther (Jerry) Parks is mentioned on several of the DSL files. Sadly there is something wrong with the host’s software so it’s not available online at the moment.


47 posted on 10/07/2010 8:45:55 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; blueyon; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; ...

Thanks for the ping neverdem (whoops) and GREAT selection of links again!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2603296/posts?page=26#26


48 posted on 10/07/2010 8:48:21 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: Alamo-Girl

Thank you VERY much for getting back to me so quickly.

If Hillary runs for President that would be a file to pull out and refresh folks minds. And there is no time limit pursuing murder cases.


49 posted on 10/08/2010 12:29:52 AM PDT by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!)
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To: stevio
FRiend, I'm a FReeper who thinks Clinton (either of them) would be(was) a better president than Mr. Obama. It does NOT mean I think that they were or could be a GOOD president. I do not display my certificate of retirement from the USAF because it has Mr. Clinton's signature on it. The only reason I still have that certificate is because I'm nearly certain its an Autograph(tm) and not his real signature.

WRM, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)

50 posted on 10/08/2010 2:50:59 PM PDT by Old Student
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