Despite the colorful language associated with the M-I Garand in this
posting, it is semi-automatic and not automatic. Its superiority over German
rifles in WWII was its semi-automatic nature over the German rifle's bolt
action.
nburlakoff

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Scott D. Peters
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 11:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: possessing weapons, 1984 & PC

The Ocean County Historical Society faced this problem a few years ago after
I pointed out the huge liability problem of having a small collection of
antique firearms and swords in unlocked, unsecured storage in a frequently
accessed part of our building that served as a) the archives, b) the
librarian's office, c) the Publications Committee's workspace, and d)
general storage of just about everything.
The biggest problem I saw was the presence of a WWII vintage M-1 Garand
carbine. Fully capable of being fired and fully capable of firing at full
rock and roll. (Fully automatic for those who've never been in the
military.)
Since the weapons were rarely going to be exhibited and no one was really
sure why they were accessioned into the collection in the first place, the
decision came to down to what was safest way to properly store these weapons
to eliminate any potential liability. For the most part, a quality gun safe
that could be located in a secured part of the building was preferred. But
we didn't really have the room. Plus there was the huge liability of having
a very capable automatic weapon in the building no matter how secure the
safe and the room in which it would have been located. We could have had the
receiver assembly removed from the M-1 and stored elsewhere, but this would
still not eliminate the danger if it was stolen. A knowledgeable criminal
could always get a new receiver assembly for it and there you go.
In the end (about two days later), the matter was handed over to one of our
trustees, who happened to be the number two man in the Ocean County
Sheriff's Department. All the weapons in question, from the M-1 to a
WWII-era Japanese Arisaka rifle with a bad bolt and receiver to a hopelessly
disheveled Brown Bess were removed to the County Armory where they were
inventoried and tagged for storage. They all remained the property of the
historical society and could be accessed for display purposes whenever
necessary. The M-1's receiver assembly was removed, tagged and stored
elsewhere in the armory so that the rifle itself could be exhibited, if
necessary, in display cases approved by the Sheriff's Department.
Of course, thinking really hard at the time, I was able to envision only one
really good reason to exhibit the M-1 and that would be in conjunction with
an exhibit that might focus in part on one of the recent trustees who is a
100% jen-you-wine certified actual bona fide war hero from WWII. (Most
highly decorated U.S. Army Ranger, winner of the Distinguished Service
Cross, Silver Star and Congressional Medal of Honor.)


Scott D. Peters
"Will do history for food..."
Historically Speaking
ALHFAM -FPIPN vice-chair for trivia, errata and miscellany
[log in to unmask]

"The ordinary distinctions in society are often vague, and imply no just
pre-eminence: rank and titles are
adventitious things and instead of designating merit or virtue, are
frequently the baubles of imbecility, or
the sparkling decorations of meretricious pageantry"

William Griffith, on behalf, and by order of the New-Jersey Society for
promoting the gradual Abolition
of Slavery, Twelfth Month (December) 20th, 1803
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Harvey" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: possessing weapons, 1984 & PC


> Greg,
>
> Musuems and collecting institutions must abide by the current laws,
whether they change at some point in the future is entirely moot.
>
> I know that we could all fantaize about our ideal worlds but when it comes
to weapons, firearms, and controlled substances, society takes all of those
things seriously - don't even think of having such potential legal
liabilites on hand without researching and acquiring the proper permits.
>
> I would suggest that anyone with questionable objects or materials in
their collections should contact their local state or federal prosecutor's
office who should be very willing to give you advice on the necessary
permits and actions you need to take.
>
> I doubt that in very few situtations that you would actually have to
surrender an object or material - though it may have to be modified (as in
the case of some weapons to render them non-firing).
>
> Cheers!
> Dave
>
> David Harvey
> Artifacts
> 2930 South Birch Street
> Denver, CO  80222
> 303-300-5257
> [log in to unmask]
>
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