[BurningDog]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20051 ... -5253r.htm

Steyr is mentioned on page2 of the article.

The sanctions were imposed under the Iran Nonproliferation Act, which Congress passed in 2000 to deter international support for Iran's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and missile-delivery systems.

I fail to see how selling rifles supports nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs.

However, it doesn't look like it'll directly affect us.

The penalties, which will last until December 2007, bar the companies from doing business with the U.S. government and prohibit U.S. firms from obtaining export licenses to sell sensitive products to these companies. The details of the transfers to Iran were not disclosed.

 

[alagator]

It's all politics-- it's easy to whip up on an Austrian company that doesn't do much business in the US-- none of the big boys will be hurt by this. Maybe they got word that the Ayatollahs plan to use AUGs to arm the guards at the WMD sites. I know my mind has been fuzzed by time and the abuses of a misspent youth, but isn't this Congress run by the same party that made a hero of a President who illegally sold arms to Iran? You kiddies in diapers could Google "Iran-Contra" for some insight into how the world works. I hope this doesn't put a damper on Steyr's timid re-entry into the US civilian market. Hey, does that ban on Norinco mean no more bargain-basement SKS imports? :wink:

 

[ministerofdeath]

WAY OUT OF LINE!

Ok,

I don't see how the executive branch has the authority to place sanctions on an Austrian firearms company under that 2000 law. Seems like a stretch to say that firearms are related to nuclear, missile, or chemicals weapons. However, the Bush administration seems to be making a habit out of interpreting laws in a matter that serves anything they wish to do.

I'll have to search for this exact law and read the fine print, but I seriously doubt that such government acts would stand-up to Judicial Review. Am I alone in thinking that the Bush administration was pissed off that Steyr Mannlicher didn't bend to their will about those .50 caliber sales and this is punishment for that? Or maybe they simply needed to include a white European corporation in their sanctions for PC reasons.

I just hope that Steyr Mannlicher attacks these sanctions through the federal courts. Steyr Mannlicher has the money to hire an excellent DC law firm that could fight these sanctions and I hope they do it. Steyr is looking for government sales as all firearms companies tend to do and I think they need to challenge this through the courts.

Just my Two Cents.

 

[madecov]

This has something to do with selling 50BMG to Iran.