Congress Asks Rumsfeld
to Prevent Demil Controversy
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"...[M]any of us heard more from our constituents on this issue than on any
other under discussion..." |
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-- Letter from 40 members of Congress |
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Sen. Smith (R-NH) |
Rep. Miller (R-CA) |
Two letters - one carrying the signatures of 16 U.S. Senators, the other
bearing the signatures of 24 U.S. Representatives - have been sent to
Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, asking the
Secretary to ensure that budget language similar to Section 1062 of last
year's "National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2002" is not submitted
this year. Section 1062 would have given the Secretary of Defense the
authority to require "demilitarization" of any "significant military
equipment" that has ever been owned by the DoD, which 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.
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"...[G]ranting the Secretary of Defense
such a broad new authority raised serious concerns over a number of
property rights issues..." |
"Demilitarization" is the term for rendering such items permanently
inoperable, and Sec. 1062 would have provided 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.
Both letters echoed the warning that granting the Secretary of Defense
such a broad new authority raised serious concerns over a number of
property rights issues, including fair compensation and due process in
seizing private property, and cautioned that it could "readily have
become grounds for bureaucratic over-reach." The letters also
emphasized the fact that the pro-gun community reacted to Sec. 1062 with
an overwhelming grassroots uprising, and both declared, "As a result,
many of us heard more from our constituents on this issue than on any
other under discussion" during last year's debate over spending for the
DoD. The letters were signed by both Republicans and Democrats, and
requested from Rumsfeld "assurances that this provision will not
resurface this year in the Administration's proposals for the Department
of Defense."
We will be sure to post any developments on this front, and if you would
like to know which lawmakers signed these letters, please call the
Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683. While we appreciate the efforts
of all who took part in this effort, our special thanks go out to
U.S.
Senator Bob Smith (R-N.H.), who took the lead in the Senate, and U.S.
Representative Gary Miller (R-Calif.), who took the lead in the House.
Related Stories...
More About Federal Issues
Section 1062 Eliminated! (Dec 2001)
Congress Considers "Demilitarization" Requirement (Oct 2001)
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