It's not a conspiracy, it's an observation. Can US and un-barred foreign manufacturers sell semi-auto rifles for more here, without an extra glut of SKSs, AKs SVTs, etc. ? It's been proven time and again that tariffs and trade restrictions accomplish nothing but the transfer of money from consumers to domestic businesses and governments--one of the few places economists agree.
Much like the bills barring import of Saturday Night Specials (like the 380 Glock
, and Five-seveN sans magazine disconnect), 922r was passed to make it difficult for companies (that were
not big domestic players like S&W, Colt, and SA, but more like Century) to import parts/parts kits and assemble "US Made" rifles not subject to import duties or previous arms trafficking agreements. These parts kits were far cheaper than newly made US components, and the rifles could be assembled and sold for a profit far below US made offerings. It was done under the banner of bringing guns under the same scrutiny as other products billed as "US Made," which usually require some percentage of domestic parts --which is
also for the sole purpose of protecting domestic manufacturers at the expense of consumers.
922r was billed as a trade agreement, not a gun ban, and meant solely to increase the cost (and ostensibly the quality) of imported guns. Why would cheap guns be a problem for anyone but the Brady Bunch (who didn't exist and weren't involved in this?) Because cheap guns hurt US manufacturers. It is the height of naiveté to think big .mil contractors had nothing to do with its passage. The fact it is solely enforced against
corporations and very rarely (if ever) against individuals proves it had nothing to do with product safety, but rather muscling out the competition.
Granted, I did find it
very hard to find even cursory historical information on the law. Not even a Wikipedia entry for some reason
. I have a feeling this was one of those backroom under the rug things no one thought much of at the time, but has had huge ramifications since then (like the direct election of Senators
). There's a lot of myth and speculation, but that's not what I'm describing, rather the end result that makes it hard for cheaper imported arms to get here. In the case of the Russian agreement, it makes it impossible (protecting us almost entirely from the most prolific gun manufacturer on the planet, engaged in offloading heavily discounted merchandise; I'm sure US corporations had nothing to do with planting that idea
)
TCB
