This week, the U.S. Senate passed S. 1438, the Department of Defense (DoD) annual authorization bill, which contains a provision that is of grave concern to hunters and sport shooters. Section 1062 of this bill provides the Secretary of Defense with the authority to require "demilitarization" of any "significant military equipment" that
has ever been owned by the DoD. This would include all firearms (such as the venerable M1, M1 Carbine, and Model 1911, as well as all Civilian Marksmanship Program rifles, even "sporterized" surplus bolt-action Springfields!), firearm barrels, ammunition, and gun powder. "Demilitarization" is the term for rendering such items permanently inoperable, and Sec. 1062 allows for this action to be carried out either by the owner or a third party, with the owner paying the cost, or by the DoD. However, if the DoD determines it should perform the demilitarization, it can also determine that the cost of returning the demilled item is prohibitive, then simply keep the item, and reimburse the owner only for the fair market scrap value of the item.
Furthermore, this new authority would require private citizens to determine for themselves if an item they own is subject to demilitarization, and face criminal penalties for non-compliance. The DoD would be under no obligation to notify law-abiding citizens that items they have lawfully owned for years, and perhaps that their families have owned for generations, are suddenly subject to forced demilitarization. This becomes extremely significant when one considers that U.S. military surplus has been regularly—and
legally—bought, sold, and traded for centuries. Countless Americans own items that could be subject to Sec. 1062. It is likely millions of law-abiding Americans would be affected, and could unknowingly become criminals overnight without having done anything or having ever been informed.
The DoD already has the authority and responsibility to demilitarize any item it sells as surplus, so there is absolutely no reason to seek new authority to confiscate and destroy lawfully sold and lawfully owned items that are now the property of private citizens.
posted on October 16, 2001 02:16:59 AM new
It's funny that you post this now. Just yesterday I was thinking that the government would soon be making a move to remove weapons from our private citizens. This looks like a first step in that direction.
posted on October 16, 2001 06:08:52 AM new
I don't have any military weapons but I have an aquaintence who has one of those little cannon they towed behind a jeep or a truck.
It must have about a 2 and a half or 3 inch bore. First time he shot it he did not peg the arms you tow it with into the ground and it rolled back and knocked his legs right out from under him.
posted on October 16, 2001 12:33:34 PM new
If they do do that there will be a lot of people take them out in the woods and bury them all greased and sealed up.
posted on October 16, 2001 05:40:04 PM new
The Anti-Personal Protection rats are always trying to sneak a little rider on the Bills like that. It was tried on numerous Bills during Slick Willie time (MHES&D).
Things like this always give new meaning to the phrase - 'When they pry it from my cold & dead fingers..... just when they hear the trip wire go off'.................
posted on October 16, 2001 06:21:32 PM new
Pistol h*ll, a SPA12 with extention tube mag, and a properly worn sear. Directional is much more fun. Or as it is said 'Double aught is what you wrought'.......
posted on October 16, 2001 06:42:43 PM new
You sound like you would appreciate a little trick - cut brazing rod with wire cutters to fill the plastic cup and load a bundle up instead of shot. They tumble and turn sideways and the ends are chisel shaped and sharp from the wire cutters and will puncture kevlar at short range, but few of them will go through drywall.
posted on October 16, 2001 07:52:51 PM new
Kidding aside, my grandpa was an avid historical gun collector with hundreds of guns. When I was a kid they covered every den wall from floor to ceiling. Sometimes (as during the bi-centennial celebrations) he would take them on "tour" to various events. Every gun was labeled with a tag. They said "used in civil war at battle of Vicksburg" or "identical to the gun that shot Kennedy" or "used in WWII", etc. When he passed this historical collection was his "legacy". It was split up among all the boys and men by a draw of lots and every one of them values their part of the collection for it's historical value as well as for the memory of my grandpa. He was a city alderman, business owner, church deacon, war veteran, law abiding citizen who was loved by many.
