[templar]

What is the basis for this? Anyone?

I think it goes back to the original bans put in place by Reagan (or maybe it was Bush Sr.). The ones that banned importing genuine military configuration fireams as long as they were in semi auto configuration (no pistol grips, flash hiders, bayonet lugs, etc. But it was only on imports, I think, not domestic manufacture. so d*mn many different laws now, it gets hard to remember exactly which is responsible for what). The ones that resulted in those clunky MAK 90 thumbhole stocks to comply for legal import status.

[xm177e2]

I think it was Daddy Bush. He was a big WIMP.

[wjcsux]

What is the basis for this? Anyone?
This was done by Bush SR in 89. It basically prohibited the continued import of firearms such as the FN-FAL, H&K 91, H&K 93, AKM, etc. Domestic firearms were not affected.