U.S. Army Raising “Concerns” Over CMP Transfers

FPC Blog ^ | May 24, 2015 | Evan Gillespie

[OK Sun]

U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Alabama) made headlines recently when he introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 1735). The amendment allows for the transfer of surplus 1911A1 handguns to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) for sale to the general public.

Last week, in response, the U.S. army released a white paper voicing “concern” over this amendment and claimed that there would be “potential negative impacts on public safety from the large amount of semi-automatic and concealable pistols that will be released for public purchase.” These concerns included the traceability of the firearms after sale, and the applicability of the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Public safety concerns revolved around the fact that there is “no statutory requirement or record keeping obligation for CMP,” which could make it difficult for federal agencies to track some firearm transfers, once they are completed.

As John Richardson of No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money notes, though, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has stringent standards that must be met by an individual before they can acquire a firearm from this program. These firearms are not released to any person who inquires – they must be non-prohibited persons and meet CMP’s eligibility requirements. . . .

[elcid1970]

I’m a little taken aback. $600 is not expensive? What is the threshold for a handgun to be considered `expensive’?

Not talking Desert Eagles here, just service grade pistols.

I better hang on to my $250 Norinco’s.

;^)

[familyop]

Here's the original source of the file. You Ayatollah-hugging commies can KMA. And quit b****ing about Iranian interests getting killed by other Moslems. If you love the Ayatollah so much, get out of my country and move in with him.

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/CMPInfoPaper11May.pdf

Here's the source that Evan Gillespie and the FPC used.

Defense Bill Would Put 100,000 Untraceable Guns On Streets
by Michael McAuliff
Posted: 05/12/2015 10:41 am EDT
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/ndaa-guns_n_7265184.html

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

This is my big concern. Some of these military pistols have fired so many rounds through them that they are unserviceable.

I fired one that was so worn that a single trigger pull fired two rounds, which was extremely unnerving. A ranking officer didn’t believe me, so he tried the pistol and the same thing happened. I was very glad that I was not on the receiving end of that righteous snarl directed at the armorer.

[familyop]

Here’s a group that’s smarter (demands for proof of authorship of that “letter”).

Bill to Allow Sale of Surplus 1911 Pistols through CMP
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6078462

[Texas Fossil]

Yes, I saw that too. Headshake.

Pretty fuzzy thinking on part of DOJ, but like always, NO LIE is too BIG!

[familyop]

Scroll to comment #6, and read down from there.

Bill to Allow Sale of Surplus 1911 Pistols through CMP
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6078462

[bravo whiskey]

i’ll take one too.

[Chainmail]

Unbelieveable. A Norinco? Gimme a break. Biggest piece of junk since Raven Arms.

Those “horrible” 1911A1s you had trouble with function perfectly and always have. Combat isn’t the pistol range, it’s muddy, dirty, wet, and nasty and the stock government .45 always worked and killed reliability.

You use pistols at knife ranges. Nobody cares if they group well at 50 yards.

[Texas Fossil]

I already wrote the CMP telling them I wanted one, if and when they become available.

They replied that they weren’t aware of the Congressman’s legislation.

I’ve always wanted a 1911, but not enough to pay what a new one costs. Yes, I suspect these are not very accurate, but i would still love to have one of them.

[atomic_dog]

I read that letter. I have dealt with the CMP for years buying ammunition and various surplus rifles. That report contains demonstrable falsehoods. I also note that there is no signature or letterhead indicating the origin. In my 19 years in the military I *NEVER* saw such a document with no indication of its origination. Congress should immediately investigate whence it came as I suspect that some mid-level hoplophobe has taken policy into his or her own hands to write this.

Then I recalled that one can check document properties for a .pdf file and the author is identified as one "Natalie Abt"

Deep googlefu shows a Natalie Abt as a point of contact for "Feds Feed Families" deep in the bowels of the "Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller) Office of the Secretariat." That is basically Army budgeting. Why is a flunky in the comptrollers office weighing in on gun control??? Something does not smell right here and needs the light of day on it.

[Rodamala]

The white paper must have been written by someone ignorant of the actual implementation of the CMP.

[OK Sun]

The earliest copy I could find was from HuffPo--not exactly trustworthy--, and a scribd upload. Both on the same date; 11 May.

I'm not sure about military formats for white papers, but most other documents have at least a cover letter signed by the releasing official(s).

[Rodamala]

I’ll have an M1 Abrams and a side of fries.

[Billthedrill]

I'd love to have one, more as a curiosity than anything else. Every one I ever handled would need a full rebuild before it came up to minimum civilian standards these days. That's the bad news, the good being that they aren't very difficult to work on and I have most of the parts already. You'd want to keep the trigger (ugh) and the hammer, slide, frame and grips for authenticity. Original issue sights gotta go if I'm going to shoot the thing with these old eyes. Original issue holsters are still available. Fun stuff.

Yes, it is soul-chilling to think of 100,000 .45's marching through America's defenseless city streets. Scary stuff - it's sort of like trying to fill a swimming pool with an eye dropper. Somebody in D.C. is smoking crack again.

[Texas Fossil]

Bump!

Smoke em.

[tumblindice]

I’ll bet the slide/rail fit is as sloppy as Moochelle’s thong.
heh, uh, man I’m sending it but already want that one back ...

[OK Sun]

I see you already found about the same as I found researching an answer for familyop. Natalie H Abt seems to work for the Assistant Secretary of the Army. Someone needs to ask her in an official capacity what’s going on.

[Texas Fossil]

The article is on a firearm control site. Are we sure this actually went to Congress? But how I would love to see, like you suggested, for the sweet little lady who wrote it get canned.

[Spktyr]

1911-pattern guns can now be had for $400 and less due to the spread of CNC machining. RIA/Armscor sells theirs for the mid 300s wholesale, and they’re not bad.

[rlmorel]

Abt...Abt...where does that name sound familiar?

Ah. Communist party lawyer, Lee Harvey Oswald asked for him after being arrested.

Just coincidence, I’m sure...