I maybe should keep out of this mess, especially not being a US citizen. I
shall definitely not comment on the emotional gun aspect of this issue.
Take the following just as a sidenote to the discussion:
Since April 1999 we have a new legislation in Germany on civil registration
of former vehicles used by forces, police, fire brigades etc...It is a
nightmare !
It was always impossible here to put a tank on the road and any kind of
military hardware governed by strict law...e.g. a freind bought a former
East German PT Boat for his private Naval Museum. This item being of
historic importance, as it was the only ever naval vessel the East Germans
designed and built themselves...without any help or copying from USSR
designs...only three examples were left when the former East German Forces
were dibanded and the government offered them to the German Navy Museum as
well as to the German National Maritime Museum...both turned down the
offer. Two got scrapped and one remained and was eventually acquired by the
private collector, after it was demilled, concerning weaponry and military
radio equipment...the hull remained intact. After spending thousands of
Dollars on transport and concrete foundations for the display in the garden
of the private museum, several miles away from the sea...the authorities
turned up and thraetened the guy with procecution on the basis of the
German Law governing Military Equipment Control for posession and export of
same...and required the historic hull to be cut, so it could not be used
for export and used in a conflict somewere in the world...
Forgive me for qouting this story, I just wanted to give you an insight in
the handling of these issues in Germany and the official attitude
concerning historic military equipment...
Back to vehicles:
An "Artist" found a way to put a tank (no gun, APC but tracked) on the
road. He did this to annoy the authorities. Once legally registered for
road use, he parked it for weeks in front of the Government building to
make his point. Alledgedly this had all to do with your rights and freedom
as a citizen.
The Government acted...and the new legislation was put in force:
- no former military, police, civil defence, fire fighting and rescue
service vehicles will be allowed a civil registration, even if painted pink
and demilled...
The law is new and the handling not quite sure yet, but this is what is
known to have happened sofar:
- a building constructor aquired a military trailer with a pump and
generator for his business through a surplus sale...and was not granted a
civil registration for it, even if the same model was also built for civil
use...only on the basis that the documents showed the former military use
of the trailer !
- A friend of mine restored a WC 63 which had been in civi hands since the
1970ies...legally registered for years...during restoration the vehicle had
not been registered...the title and vehicle documents showed "Military
Truck" and when he finished his restoration he was denied a registration
due to that...
- a COCA COLA outlet wanted an old 1950ies fire engine to use it for
events...a no go since the new law
In Germany we have the saying "nothing is eaten as hot as it is
cooked"...but where does all this lead us to ? Be aware of the threat and
fight the beginning ! We have had it now and there is no such organisation
like the MVPA in Germany which has the potential to lobby...even if some of
the developments within the MVPA are questionable. Do not turn your back on
this organisation and start a new group lacking the structures the MVPA has
developed over the years. If you feel there is something wrong, work within
the group and solve the problem.
Sorry for this long message. I just felt I had to tell you about the odds
we are faced with over here...
Lars-Uwe Rudek
<RUDEK@SHH-HAMBURG.DE>
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