I just returned from the MVPA BoD Meeting in San Jose, California.
The importation situation described on the MIL-VEH List was discussed. Be
assured the MVPA is working carefully at the highest collector levels and
with the appropriate governmental agencies and officials to see what can
be done.
Michael Carradine, Henry Cubillan, Mike Sommer, Alan Wise and others have
expressed themselves well: Don't panic or get mad; get organized and
present your case well when talking with officials. Don't be accusatory
and confrontational: That will just hurt the hobby in the long run.
The MVPA is well-placed because some MVPA officers and experienced
collector/members - those who have actually imported items like tanks
into the US - know personally some of the individual officials involved.
It is not going to be a case of simply writing a few letters; this will
be face-to-face discussions about what can be done and how we can do it.
This is a very serious situation that involves new policies that have
been passed down from the highest levels in the US administration.
Certainly, in the wake of events at Waco, Ruby Ridge, and the Oklahoma
Federal Center bombing is it going to be difficult for an individual to
ever bring a weapon - even deactivated - or an operating armored vehicle
back into the US.
The immediate emphasis must be on maintaining a flow of surplus items
such as jeep, Dodge, and GMC parts back into the US. Secondarily, we must
work to be able to bring back to the US "non-weapon" softskin vehicles
such as jeeps, trucks, and trailers. Finally, we want to make it possible
for the legitimate importation of historic combat vehicles such as
armored cars and tanks to be accomplished.
The MVPA can and should be involved in this situation. We are a
non-profit 501(c)10 FRATERNAL (i.e. social or club) organization, not a
501(c)3 CHARITABLE organization; this is probably to our benefit in this
case because we can be more involved in "lobbying" efforts in issues like
this. The big difference between (c)10 and (c)3 organizations is that
while an individual can make a donation to both types of groups, only the
(c)3 donation provides a tax deduction. The (c)3 organizations operate
under stricter controls as a result.
"Keep 'em Rolling!"
--jerry
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Jerry Cleveland
MVPA SUPPLY LINE Editor
www.mvpa.org
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