I am interested in petitioning the BATF (United States) to expand the 'Exceptions' to imports as cited in 447.53 of CFR referenced here:
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c= ... .3.447_155
The object is to include another Russian made match weapon to the exceptions list of
"§447.52 Import restrictions applicable to certain countries."
Has anyone here been involved in this process in the prior instances of developing these exceptions?
I am starting with a assumption that this process was driven by advocacy from collectors or match shooters.
Thanks all
Have any been involved in petitions to the BATF for imports?
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Re: Have any been involved in petitions to the BATF for impo
I have had some experience with trying to add an exception to this arbitrary-looking list. Here is some relevant information that was true about 5 or so years ago.
1. The list is administered by BATFE, but was created and is controlled by the U.S. State Dept. The BATFE cannot alter or make exceptions to the list without explicit instructions from the State Dept.
2. The State Dept. says that the list of exceptions to the blanket prohibition was given to them by Russian exporters; these were the "sporting" models in production at the time the list was created (1992?) and were the ones which would most benefit the exporters. The exporters had no interest in models which were no longer in production, e.g. MTs55-1.
3. There is basically no incentive for the State Dept. to add to this list. Any target gun has too small of a potential market to influence the State Dept., and any gun which would have a wider appeal (AK47 anyone?) is a non-starter under our present government. My impression was that it would take an act of Congress to make a change. The NRA would certainly not push for a change, because opening up imports of foreign-made guns would undercut U.S. manufacturers, arguably their primary source of funding.
4. AFAIK there have been no "prior instances of developing these exceptions". They were not added piecemeal, and there is no codified addition process.
5. It may be possible to obtain from the State Dept. a one-time, one gun exception to the restriction. There is no codified process for doing this either.
As I said, the above information was true 5 or so years ago. I don't know if it still applies.
FredB
1. The list is administered by BATFE, but was created and is controlled by the U.S. State Dept. The BATFE cannot alter or make exceptions to the list without explicit instructions from the State Dept.
2. The State Dept. says that the list of exceptions to the blanket prohibition was given to them by Russian exporters; these were the "sporting" models in production at the time the list was created (1992?) and were the ones which would most benefit the exporters. The exporters had no interest in models which were no longer in production, e.g. MTs55-1.
3. There is basically no incentive for the State Dept. to add to this list. Any target gun has too small of a potential market to influence the State Dept., and any gun which would have a wider appeal (AK47 anyone?) is a non-starter under our present government. My impression was that it would take an act of Congress to make a change. The NRA would certainly not push for a change, because opening up imports of foreign-made guns would undercut U.S. manufacturers, arguably their primary source of funding.
4. AFAIK there have been no "prior instances of developing these exceptions". They were not added piecemeal, and there is no codified addition process.
5. It may be possible to obtain from the State Dept. a one-time, one gun exception to the restriction. There is no codified process for doing this either.
As I said, the above information was true 5 or so years ago. I don't know if it still applies.
FredB
Re: Have any been involved in petitions to the BATF for impo
Fred- thank you very much.
I see the assumption I started with is not correct.
I see the assumption I started with is not correct.