Bill would allow registration of old war-trophy weapons

[FWiedner]

Bill would allow registration of old war-trophy weapons

By Rick Maze

Veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War could legally register firearms brought home as war trophies under a bill introduced May 4 by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.
The bill, HR 2088, allows veterans and their heirs to register firearms that troops were allowed to bring home under U.S. military policy in effect at the time. It would not change existing policy for combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are barred from bringing back any captured weapons.

Called the Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act, Gibbon’s bill applies to firearms brought back to the United States between June 26, 1934 and October 31, 1968. The veterans who brought back the firearms or their lawful heirs would have 90 days to register the guns without fear of prosecution.

Similar amnesty was approved by Congress in 1968 as new and tougher firearms rules took effect, but Gibbons said many veterans never knew they needed to register their weapons. Now, because they didn’t follow the 1968 procedures, those who brought a firearm home in full compliance with military rules and federal law face confiscation of the weapon and possible criminal charges if they are found to own an unregistered firearm, Gibbons said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, when our servicemen returned home from battle, many did not learn about the registration regulations until the short registration period had passed and it was too late,” Gibbons said.

Veterans “are currently in jeopardy of being unjustly convicted of serious felonies because they possess war relic firearms that they were authorized to bring home,” he said.

Gibbons’ bill contains a second provision under which any firearms confiscated from veterans would not be destroyed, but rather would be made available to museums to add to their permanent collections.

Gibbons introduced similar legislation last year, but it never came to a vote. He reintroduced the bill on May 4 with 50 original cosponsors, a bipartisan mix that includes Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the House Armed Services Committee chairman.

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-840856.php

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*FW Note:  When you start thinking about the benefits of a proposal like this, you should also hear a little voice saying "You have the right to remain silent..."

If you fall for the "good intentions" behind things like this, find a mirror and make sure that you have your "SUCKER" tattoo  clearly visible on your forehead.

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[Shorty]

What's to be registered?  Soldiers of WWII and since have not been allowed to bring home any weapon that they could not own anyway.  Anything but full auto or "destructive devises" has been allowed.   :?
Are they talking about Nambus or Lugers?   :roll:

[Will Bison]

I'm going to call Jim on some other items and I'll inquire about this also. Jim has been a friend of mine for 30 some years and is pro gun for the most part.

I know when I was in Viet Nam we could bring back SKS rifles and a few other things. No full auto stuff. There wasn't much to pick from as I recall. I left VN in April 69 and I seem to remember some simple form for captured weapons and that was it. I think it was just to make sure no full auto or recaptured US equipment went back to the States.