Administration Blocks Importation of M-1s

Garands and Carbines, that is:

The South Korean government, in an effort to raise money for its military, wants to sell nearly a million antique M1 rifles that were used by U.S. soldiers in the Korean War to gun collectors in America.

The Obama administration approved the sale of the American-made rifles last year. But it reversed course and banned the sale in March – a decision that went largely unnoticed at the time but that is now sparking opposition from gun rights advocates.

A State Department spokesman said the administration’s decision was based on concerns that the guns could fall into the wrong hands.

“The transfer of such a large number of weapons—87,310 M1 Garands and 770,160 M1 Carbines—could potentially be exploited by individuals seeking firearms for illicit purposes,” the spokesman told FoxNews.com.

“We are working closely with our Korean allies and the U.S. Army in exploring alternative options to dispose of these firearms.”

Concerns that the guns could fall into the wrong hands?  Like the roving bands of criminals who prefer a heavy-ass rifle that kicks like a small mule?  Or criminals who go for the lighter carbine and it’s weak-ass, non-standard, expensive ammunition?

Why can’t they just be honest and say the real reason—“we don’t like guns”?

These guns are of great interest to collectors because they’re historic.  It’ll be a shame when the administrations comes up with its inevitable solution and scraps ‘em.