I stand by what I wrote in My original letter that I e-mailed. I made no
disparaging remarks about the office of the President. If they chosse to
court marshall me for what I said. Fine!
I am proud of my military service. I have not refused a legal order as
of yet.
Nor have I committed any violation of UCMJ. I will remind you the post
was not an official communication and my reference to my rank was solely
to show the point that unlike our commander in chief, I have some
experience with the vehicles in question.
Gordon W. Bell
Richard Van Hoomissen wrote:
> I understand it is a violation of UCMJ for a serviceman to make
> disparaging remarks about the commander-in-chief. If you have not yet
>
> sent this letter might check with JAG. Most of the letter could go
> without insulting the office of President and might be more effective.
> I
> certainly understand. I've copied the list in case there are other
> military personnel who might be tempted to copy the letter. Richard.
>
> Gordon W. Bell wrote:
> >
> > Guys,
> >
> > I got up this morning and read all the posts on this thread and I
> cannot
> > say that I am proud to be an American when we have a President
> pulling
> > this crap.
> >
> > I really don't care if the Secret Service puts me on their damn list
> of
> > wackos.
> >
> > Maybe part of the problem in this country is the fact we all have to
> be
> > politically correct and can't speak the plain truth anymore.
> >
> > Bubbua is just the most obvious example of "leaders" who have never
> had
> > a real job and couldn't survive in the real world the way the rest
> of us
> > poor suckers have to but wants to tell use how to live.
> >
> > I'm sorry, I just don't have faith in our current set of governemnt
> > "leaders".
> >
> > Here's what I wrote and sent just a few minutes ago. I am snding
> copies
> > of it to all my congressmam and senators this afternoon. I got to
> get
> > some work done.
> >
> > 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. The State Department
> took
> > your 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 military 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!
> > I for one do not understand and would like an explanation. Most of
> us
> > who are involved in this hobby are not radical militants. We are
> serious
> > hobbyist with a deep respect for our military heritage. In many
> cases we
> > are veterans ourselves and this is our way of remembering those
> who’s
> > last ride was in one of these vehicles and ensuring that others
> remember
> > too. 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
> > you Mr. President and your cronies, in and of itself enough to
> warrant
> > an erosion of this groups rights and ultimately your rights?
> Maybe
> > you should come to a military vehicle preservation convention
> sometime
> > just to see how “dangerous” we and are old vehicles are. A majority
> of
> > the members are veterans who like to reminisce and share their
> > experiences.
> > Having never served in the military, I do not expect you to
> understand
> > the emotion that some of us attach to the vehicles we worked we in
> some
> > conditions far less glamorous than cruising the streets of Little
> Rock
> > for chicks in a GTO. Most of us are dedicated to the preservation of
>
> > history. With our vehicles we do just that. This well meaning edict
> has
> > done nothing but limit a hobby engaged by good law abiding voters.
> > I wonder if this same edict is going to apply to airplanes? There
> have
> > been a lot of warbirds, to use the vernacular, which have been
> de-milled
> > an brought back and used for the same purpose, to preserve history.
> I
> > don’t think anyone would want to put an old WWII Spitfire or Mustang
>
> > against an F-16, but that seems to be what you are afraid of Mr.
> > President. Us old facts facing off against the national guard in our
>
> > WWII half-tracks. Your fears are irrational.
> > As an officer in the Army Reserve, I am fully aware of the dangers
> posed
> > by militia groups in this country. Again, do to YOUR lack of
> military
> > knowledge and experience, I do not think you realize that most of
> the
> > vehicles being imported by our group are WWII and Korean War
> vintage.
> > Technology has greatly changed and these vehicles posse little if
> any
> > threat in a military capacity, that is why third world countries are
>
> > disposing of them. They realize what you Mr. President do not. These
>
> > vehicles won’t stand up to today’s weapons.
> > 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. If any of these vehicles
>
> > have cannons or other weaponry, it must be demilitarized and made
> > inoperable before import now. Who are we protecting by this policy?
> It
> > appears to me that this is just another political ploy cooked up by
> your
> > spin doctors.
> > 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.
> > I fully realize that this letter will never be seen by You Mr.
> > President. It will be read by some little staff wiener. I will
> probably
> > never be given the courtesy of a response and certainly not by you,
> you
> > don’t have the guts. If I do get a response, it will be a visit by
> the
> > Secret Service to scare me back into silence or an entry into my
> > military personnel file. It is a sad state when one has those fears
> > about excising ones Constitutional rights of free speech. But, from
> you
> > Mr. President, I expect little more.
> > Sincerely,
> > Gordon W. Bell, Ph.D.
> > CPT, USAR
> >
> > 10766W CoRd 50N
> > French Lick, IN 47432
> > 812-936-9088
> >
> > ===
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