Bill Would Allow Vets to Keep Their Battlefield Guns

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 8/28/02 | Jim Burns

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - Current federal law threatens veterans with possible prison terms and hefty fines if they keep the machine guns they used during their war service prior to 1968. But two congressmen are trying to change the law and a leading veterans' group says it's about time.

U.S. Reps. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) and Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) have introduced legislation that would allow veterans to keep the machine guns they brought home as souvenirs following their service in America's military.

Cannon the legislation would give veterans 90 days in which to register their firearms with the Treasury Department.

But there is a stipulation. In order to qualify, a member of the Armed Forces while stationed outside the continental United States must have acquired the firearms before October 31, 1968. The legislation would also allow family members to register firearms inherited from veterans.

"When they (America's veterans) returned home they focused on reuniting with their family, securing an education, and building a home-not on wading through the burdensome bureaucracy associated with registering a firearm," Gibbons said.

"Now the machine guns they brought back are illegal and cannot be registered, and veterans or their family members are required to surrender them to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for destruction," Cannon said. "In many cases these war relic firearms are worth thousands of dollars. But in all cases they are meaningful souvenirs for our nation's veterans."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had no comment on the legislation, according to a spokesman.

But AMVETS, one of the nation's leading veterans' organizations, applauded the legislation, calling it an effort to clarify the present federal law, according to spokesman Rick Jones.

"Veterans should not be considered criminals for having and holding these souvenirs," said Jones. "These type of firearms represent a moment in their lives where there was extreme danger. The bill deals appropriately with how veterans should be treated should they possess these firearms.

"We know that veterans sometimes decorate their halls with a firearm captured from World War Two. The machine gun should be declared inoperable to conform with the laws of the United States. But to declare these veterans as criminals for having these firearms, we think is wrong," Jones added.

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[Joe Brower]

CLICK HERE for a large assortment of powerful, pro-RKBA docs in PDF format.

[aha?]

Does this bill have any recourse for those of us who have had our weapons that fall within the bills guidelines confiscated and or destroyed by local, state of federal police?

[aha?]

Didn't Bob bring home a fifty? I would imagine he would love to hang it on his wall instead of keeping it buried.

[marktwain]

There should be a general amnesty to allow people to register any class three firearms that are currently illegal.

How can anyone object to that? Firearms that are currently illegal by fiat will be brought into the legal system and have the safeguards associated with that system. They will be registered and required to be transfered only to people who have a background check and are fingerprinted.

The anti-freedom types don't want even this mild reform of the system. They would prefer that the firearms remain illegal. It is a travesty that even if someone wishes to make an illegal firearm legal, he or she is not allowed to do so under the current law.

[Joe Brower]

Unknown. Probably not.

[Boonie Rat]

...the legislation would give veterans 90 days in which to register their firearms with the Treasury Department.

Uh-huh. That is register and pay the government imposed $250.00 "tax" for having a naughty weapon.

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[NorthGA]

I wish this bill would go even further and have every veteran bring home their weapon and 1000 rounds of ammunition, as Swiss citizens do.

[G-Bear]

From the headline, that's what I thought they were talking
about, you could bring your issue weapon home with you.
If every vet had an M-16 in the closet, this would be
a much better country!

[HogFixer]

I didn't know this was that big of a problem.

How many second chances do they want? If they won't give everyone a chance to register their "illegal" MG, then no one should.

I'm either on an equal rights kick, or sleep deprived. Sorry

[FenianOfEire]

"We know that veterans sometimes decorate their halls with a firearm captured from World War Two. The machine gun should be declared inoperable to conform with the laws of the United States. But to declare these veterans as criminals for having these firearms, we think is wrong," Jones added.

I'm all for a "declaration" of inoperability, but not for the actual dismembering of a firearm to render it useless... Times arise where items could be necessary... And a veteran that served under combat is not someone that some piss-ant tax agent is fit to address about a stamp or a license for a firearm...without getting some bootleather and spittle pressed into his face.

[NorthGA]

The Swiss still close off roads periodically for marksman competitions. They take great pride in not only having the arms available, but being able to use them well.

When Switzerland was being threatened with invasion by the nazis during WWII, a German official told a Swiss official that the Swiss were out numbered 7 to 1. The Swiss official just sniffed and said, "So, each Swiss citizen will have to fire 7 shots."

[Born on the Storm King]

I wish this bill would go even further and have every veteran bring home their weapon and 1000 rounds of ammunition, as Swiss citizens do.

Ditto that! To me, that is the definition of civilization! And rephrase that to every honourably discharged veteran.

[Wurlitzer]

USA Government to USA Vets: "We have no use for your sorry asses anymore. We have younger people to send abroad and fight our battles. We trusted you with weapons when it served our need but now you cannot be trusted and you must surrender these weapons or be sent to jail"

USA Vets to USA Government: ........ Well they probably would not say what I would say.

[hopespringseternal]

More crap from the stupid party.

1) Once they register, they get to be on the ATF list of people to harrass. They better tell their teenage grand daughters to dress in something they don't mind being seen in when the ATF drags them out of bed at 3 a.m. while they are kicking grand dad in the ribs.
2) What is to stop the next democrat from turning this on its head and using the registration against them?
3) What is magic about 1968?

[coloradan]

1) Once they register, they get to be on the ATF list of people to harrass. They better tell their teenage grand daughters to dress in something they don't mind being seen in when the ATF drags them out of bed at 3 a.m. while they are kicking grand dad in the ribs.

This message is already being advertised to all gun owners, under Project Prison Rape Exile.

2) What is to stop the next democrat from turning this on its head and using the registration against them?

Why, how could they? Gun registrations have never, ever, not once in the history of the Earth, let alone America, been used for confiscations. Except for California, New York, Cambodia, England, Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Turkey, Rwanda ....

3) What is magic about 1968?

1968 is when the "Gun Control Act" was passed, which significantly changed the rules for gun ownership. Apparently they only want pre-those-rules guns to be registered. Note that the BATF was never granted to power to ban guns, only to collect taxes on them, by registration. But in 1986, they decided they wouldn't "accept" any more registrations, so all subsequent production of those guns became banned from private ownership - those are the Jackbooted Thug Law Enforcement Only firearms today.

[hopespringseternal]

1968 is when the "Gun Control Act" was passed, which significantly changed the rules for gun ownership. Apparently they only want pre-those-rules guns to be registered.

Given the way they pick these dates and use these laws (It is ok to have acquired an automatic before 1968, but you can't own one made after 1986) it is oh so obvious that these laws are just stupid jokes whose only purpose is political.

I just don't have any faith in any politician any more. Every election is just pick your poison. Every last one of them is stupid, corrupt, and power-mad. And the agencies that they father are simply insane.

The ultimate demise of this republic is coming as plain as night and day.

Republicans are like the guy who wins the lottery, descends into debauchery and dissipation and squanders it in a year.

Democrats are the guy who wins the lottery and ODs before he even gets the first check.

[Shooter 2.5]

It sounds like a couple of pols protecting what they have in the closet.
Oh, well, It's not like this law is even close to perfect but I'll support laws in the right direction.
Baby steps. That's how the dems took away our rights. We can do the same thing.

[Billthedrill]

Well, cool, but it would only seem to apply to folks who have had "illegal" full-auto firearms stashed away for more than three and a half decades. I don't see this group as being entirely eager to 'fess up, especially since this "right" has already been revoked once by their loving government.

Chris "Cannon" - I won't say it...

[archy]

Does this bill have any recourse for those of us who have had our weapons that fall within the bills guidelines confiscated and or destroyed by local, state of federal police?

Well, it certainly offers the bright possibility that if necessary, after a short war against those local, state of federal police, veterans of that conflict will be able to maintain possession of any trophies they acquire during that conflict.

Watch yourself, some of the iron the cops have gotten their hands on have been badly abused and not well maintained. But most of those flaws can be remedied.

-archy-/-