Sad news from Springfield Sporters

[Brian Dick]

The $100 limit still applies as far as I know. Barrels, breech blocks, bolts, and receivers are not exportable without a DSP5 Export license from the Office of Defense Trade Control, US DOS. They aren't importable to the USA at all as of July 2005. An aftermarket scope mount isn't regulated for import or export to/from the USA so I don't know what went wrong there. Telescopes must be exported on a DSP5 for military types and a Department of Commerce Snap-R export license for commercial types including red dot sights. Certain scopes like the ACOG and other close combat and long range sniper scopes are not exportable at all unless they are going to a police or military end user. The fine for violating these rules here in the USA is $1,000,000.00 per violation. That's enough to make many companies prefer not to bother. The yearly ODTC registration is also VERY expensive. The U.S Dept. of Commerce Snap-R registration is free for the doing. Both ODTC, Dept of Commerce, and BATFE Imports Branch for that matter have been trying to do good/efficient work for the past few years so you can dispell the rumours of conspiracy or politics being involved. I work with these folks on a weekly basis, have been to the conferences and my examiners and the Chiefs are very good people trying to do a big job with small resources. Brian