The Nahant Public Library wants to sell one of its most valuable possessions: a German machine gun captured by Army Sgt. Alvin C. York during World War I.
...Both Welsh and deStefano said at least two agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have listened to the story but offered no recommendations, other than to suggest the machine gun be destroyed.
...Negotiations with the ATF have put deStefano in a funk. He described a four-way conference call during which an obviously young ATF agent admitted not knowing the story of Sgt. York or much about WWI. “That’s the person the ATF has making the decision about this machine gun. It’s no wonder we didn’t get very far,” he said.
Yeah, that's about what I would expect.
Reader Keith D. sent me this story and wrote "I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done, but I am going to write my senators and representative about this anyway. If you have any ideas, I'd like to hear them."
That sounds like as good a place as any to start.
I'm going to contact the library and ask if there is any organized effort they would like public support for, and will report back on what they tell me.
UPDATE: That was quick!
Dear Mr. Codrea,
Those of us who care about American history should know that the Maxim gun has been placed under agreement between the Nahant Public Library and the Museum of Appalachia, in Tennessee. The Library should receive a monetary gift in consideration of its donation to the museum. The historic relic, which American soldiers fought to capture, will eventually be placed on exhibit for all to appreciate, as the Museum of Appalachia is constructing an exhibition around the machine gun. Transfer to the museum from the Library is awaiting paperwork from the BATFE.
Thank you for your concern. This issue seems to have been settled in favor of history and patriotism.
My Best,
Daniel deStefano
Director
4 comments:
The BATF could declare a registration amnesty like they did in 1986 which would allow the library to register the machine gun and sell it.
It wouldn't take an act of congress, just an act of God given the current BATF.
Young parasites who can't get a decent job in the real world, aka: the private sector. Are willing to please the higher ups by shitting on the history of the United States for a few coins of silver. Which pretty much tells you the degree of the parasite mindset these people really are all about. No respect to the rich history of this country. It's all about being a parasite and doing the best in that parasite world with no regard to the real world the taxpayers and the rest of the citizens live in.
HEY! That's what I get for not refreshing before commenting.
So the BATF will allow the library to transfer the machine gun. Great.
Did they just open up a can of worms by allowing the transfer of an "illegal" machine gun?
I will not feel comfortable until the macine gun is in the Museum of Appalachia and the ATF makes a public statement that the gun is safe from destruction.
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