American AK-47 owners can breath a sigh of relief: Sanctions imposed upon Russia for its actions in Ukraine will not create a Second Amendment debate over the popular rifle.
While Kalashnikov Concern will be one of the firms targeted by the U.S., the Department of the Treasury released the following information to AK-47 owners:
• If a U.S. person is in possession of a Kalashnikov Concern product that was bought and fully paid for prior to the date of designation (i.e., no payment remains due to Kalashnikov Concern), then that product is not blocked and OFAC sanctions would not prohibit the U.S. person from keeping or selling the product in the secondary market so long as Kalashnikov Concern has no interest in the transaction. New transactions by U.S. persons with Kalashnikov Concern are prohibited, however, and any property in which Kalashnikov Concern has an interest is blocked pursuant to OFAC’s designation of Kalashnikov Concern on July 16, 2014. If a U.S. person has an inventory of Kalashnikov Concern products in which Kalashnikov Concern has an interest (for example, the products are not fully paid for or are being sold on consignment), we advise that U.S. person to contact OFAC for further guidance on handling of the inventory. [7-16-2014]
• If a U.S. person has an inventory of Kalashnikov Concern products in which Kalashnikov Concern has an interest (for example, the products are not fully paid for or are being sold on consignment), we advise that U.S. person to contact OFAC for further guidance on handling of the inventory. [7-16-2014]
In short, AK-47 owners who purchased their weapons before today are free to sell the rifles, but new sales with Kalashnikov Concern are prohibited, Business Insider reported Wednesday.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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