Congressman Mike Rogers from Alabama’s 3rd congressional district included his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2016 to allow the Army to transfer its surplus vintage firearms to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).
The NDAA passed out of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and is expected to come up for debate on the House floor later this month.
“As a gun owner and strong believer in the Second Amendment, my proposal is a common-sense approach to eliminating an unnecessary cost to the Federal government while allowing the very capable CMP to handle the sale of these vintage firearms that otherwise would just sit in storage. This amendment is a win – win for the taxpayer. I was pleased the amendment passed the committee and appreciate the support my colleagues on this proposal,” Rogers said.
The M1911A1 was replaced by the Beretta M9 as the service pistols for the U.S. Armed Forces in 1985. Besides the 8,300 pistols that have been sold to law enforcement, the rest of the M1911A1 pistols are now being held in storage costing the taxpayer around $200,000 a year according to Rogers.
Transferring these vintage pistols to the CMP would allow them to inspect, grade, prepare for sale and sell these pistols.
Mark Johnson, CMP COO, optimistic about the new prospect. “We are every pleased with that legislation, it basically changed one word in our enabling legislation, it changes the word rifle to firearms. That would give the Army the ability, if it passes, to send us pistols and shotguns.”
Johnson said that if the bill passes and the Army chooses to send surplus pistols and shotguns, it would be two years before the CMP receives any shipments.
After that, affiliated CMP club members would have the opportunity to purchase a pistol or shotgun the same way that CMP M1 Garand rifles are purchased.
The purchaser must complete these steps:
1. Proof of U.S. citizenship
2.Be an affilated club member of the CMP
3. Participate in a marksmanship activity approved by the CMP
4. Pass an FBI background check.
If pistols do become available, they would be sent to an FFL licensed dealer in the purchaser’s home state to make sure all state laws are followed.
http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/05/civilian_marksmanship_program.html
I’d like to get my hands on one of them.
They are not “FIREARMS”, they are arms, guns, pistols, rifles only. A FIREARM is defined as (1) a shotgun or rifle with a barrel of 18in or less and over all length 26in or less, (2) a fully automatic machine gun, and (3) a silencer.
That is found in the 1934 national firearms act and in the U.S. STATUTES at LARGE, see: http://legisworks.org/sal/48/stats/STATUTE-48-Pg1236.pdf
Also see title 26 U.S.Code section 5845
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/5845
Make you wonder how many people are in jail/prison for some firearms charge and they really did not have a firearm.