Wednesday, April 22, 2015

The Devil prowls about, seeking whom he may devour -- and it helps if you're greedy or stupid.

See that US logo and the DOD description with National Stock Number and other relevant details? If someone offers you a deal on one of these, run the other way.
Weapons seized during ongoing investigation
SCMPD's Undercover Narcotics Team was working in support of a federal Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms operation when they recovered 54 rifles, including a belt-fed automatic weapon and parts, 11 pistols, various military scopes, and ammunition.
Officers also recovered 158 Small Arms Protective Inserts and 19 military vests to carry them. The plates, which are used to devise bullet-proof vests, are highly guarded by the U.S. Army and are never to be taken out of military areas.
The probe was launched by ATF against Wesley Defreitas and his company, Warriors Gear, on the 5500 block of Montgomery Street, just outside a gate of Hunter Army Air Field. Defreitas was charged with illegal sales of weapons by federal agents last year, and was out on bond after a federal indictment when ATF, UNIT and SCMPD Explosive Ordnance Device (bomb) Unit officers raided a storage building on April 2.
There, they recovered nine High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) 40 mm rounds; weapons powerful enough to destroy a light-armored vehicle and capable of penetrating two inches of steel.
A lesson I learned in the 90s by observing other people's screw-ups: if somebody makes you a "can't miss deal" on military property -- miss it. And for the purposes of this discussion, there are a lot of SAPI plates circulating around out there. Be aware of what this story says -- "The plates, which are used to devise bullet-proof vests, are highly guarded by the U.S. Army and are never to be taken out of military areas." Some people think that just because they're not firearms or explosives, the military won't mind. They do -- big time.

6 comments:

AJ said...

Sensationalism is alive and well in America.

Anonymous said...

Not all SAPI plates are military.

Anonymous said...

Actually a store owner I know was buying these from GIs. Since the Gis were financially liable for them the CID officer ate the base said it was ok. The let the store owner buy them and gave him a letter so stating.

Eventually the ATF got involved and convinced the base CID command not to allow it and the officer issued another letter saying no.

Here is the thing, I have a AN PVS 4. It is a military item has the ID plates on it and the like but they were sold off to civilians. Of course I acquired a Litton Mil Spec Gen III image intensifier tube and up graded it to a Gen III. All legal like.

Some folks have no clue and spill their words and show their IQ all at once. I imagine it was some belief and not real. Remember tanks were sold at one time as well as field artillery. That is why there are legal one's out there.

Use your brains folks, that's why we have one, well some do...

Anonymous said...

At the very least - remove the labels!

The Greater Military Looting Bird inhabits every military base ...

:-(

Anonymous said...

If you have them and lose them, you pay for them on a "Statement of Charges". If you later locate them again, they are yours to keep because you paid for them.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 11:35,

I do not know where you got the notion that just because you paid for it it ceases to be the property of the U.S. gubbmint. Ask any CIF employee or CID agent and they will tell you. All of the stuff that you would want, NODs, Scopes, plates, etc. are in the posession of the Army, etc., until they are either disposed of (i.e. destroyed and thrown away) or resold through an approved venue.

Check out www.govliquidation.com for the stuff that will keep you on the right side of the big house. Like Mike said, it just aint worth it to buy "warm" military equipment. Especially when there are so many good or better civilian alternatives.


- Not a Supply Sergeant but Been Around a Time or Two