A Call to Action:
President Clinton recently sent a memo over to the State Dept. expressing his
concerns about U.S. citizens buying and importing old military vehicles to
collect and restore. He wants it stopped and it looks like he got his way.
The State Dept. took this Presidential request and contacted BATF who used a
technicality called a "Form 6" requirement to stop such imports. Right now
there is a moratorium on issuing a Form 6 by the BATF. As a result the mil-
vehicle collectors are effectively out of business. No public debate, no
change in the law.... just a dictatorial style decision. Poof! More rights
down the drain again!
Hey, this has nothing to do with you, right? You don't own a half-track or an
old tank do you?
Wrong! It has everything to do with you. This is a further erosion of your
personal choice and freedom. It' about you're right to own legal property for
legitimate purposes. It's also about preserving history.
The MVPA, Military Vehicle Preservation Association and it's law abiding, tax
paying members are being told they can't import anymore antique military
vehicles. Their own government fears them... but why? They have never done
anything wrong, never caused anyone harm, never done a thing except enjoy a
hobby. Is that irrational, paranoid fear by Clinton and is cronies in and of
itself enough to warrant an erosion of this groups rights and ultimately your
rights?
This kind of repression is serious and it must stop now! If you don't get
upset and get motivated to action now, you are like the preverbal frog in hot
water. Every day it gets worse by small increments and you barely notice.
Before you know it, you're lost.
Get some guts folks, don't go along to get along... we're talking about a
quality of life here, about property rights, about being free to be and do
whatever we choose so long as we don't infringe on the rights of others.
This hobbyist group is not widely represented nor empowered, but does that
make their cause any less worthy? They are a 501 (3-C) nonprofit group and
can't even make a political protest lest they endanger their standing.
The government is being terribly dictatorial in this case. Won't you support
the MVPA and it's members? Please....write your Congressman, Senators and the
President... tell them it's not wrong to own and collect antique military
vehicles, no more than it is to collect swords. Speaking of swords, there is
now legislation to restrict knives in the UK ... is that what you want here?
Where does it all end?
Here is a sample letter of what we need; won't you help preserve freedom?
Send this to your President or write your congressman and senator.
Dear Mr. President,
It has come to my attention that you have directed that no collectable
or antique grade, foreign or domestic military vehicle may be imported into
the United States for
private ownership.
I strongly feel this is a further abuse of our Constitutional freedom.
It directly effects our right to own and enjoy otherwise legal property that
fully complies with all existing laws.
Further, those many legitimate private collectors, clubs and especially
the public that supports them, have every right to enjoy and preserve such
items of history for the benefit of our future generations. I respectfully
request that you rescind this order now imposed by the Dept. of State and the
BATF.
Sincerely, (your name and address)
===
To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word
UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.