Blackwater Uses Local Sheriff To Skirt Ban on AK47s

[babylonsister]

Blackwater using cache of AK-47s
Rifles given to sheriff in deal that skirts law

Joseph Neff, Staff Writer

The private military company Blackwater has found an unusual way to skirt federal laws that prohibit private parties from buying automatic weapons. Blackwater bought 17 Romanian AK-47s and 17 Bushmasters, gave ownership of the guns to the Camden County sheriff and keeps most of the guns at Blackwater's armory in Moyock.

Tiny Camden County -- population 9,271 -- is one of the most peaceful in North Carolina. In the last 10 years, there have been two murders, three robberies and seven rapes reported. The sheriff has just 19 deputies.

Sheriff Tony Perry said his department has never used the 17 AK-47s outside of shooting practice at Blackwater. None of his 19 deputies are qualified to use the AK-47s, Perry said, and his department's need for automatic weapons is "very minimal."

In the summer of 2005, Blackwater CEO Gary Jackson signed two agreements with Maj. Jon Worthington of the Sheriff's Office. Worthington has worked as a firearms instructor for Blackwater.

"Blackwater has financed the purchase of 17 Romanian AK-47 rifles for the Camden County Sheriff's Office for use by Sheriff's Office," the agreement says. "The Camden County Sheriff's Office will have unlimited access to these rifles for training and qualification, and state of emergency use." Worthington and Jackson also signed an agreement for the purchase of 17 Bushmaster XM15 E2S automatic rifles.

more...

http://www.newsobserver.com/917/story/1116379.html

[Echo In Light]

1. Things just keep on looking up for this sinister outfit

[Squatch]

2. Private parties CAN buy fully-automatic weapons

provided they:

1) Are 21 years old or older with no felonies, violent misdemeanors, or dishonorable discharges
2) Fill out an BATF Form 4 (and pay the $200 transfer tax)
3) Submit 2 passport photos to the ATF
4) Get fingerprinted