Mystery Lynx

[RHClarke]

Do you think that the feelings of a few (and we are a rare lot in Canada) restorers outweighs the consequences of annoying our economically and militarily stronger neighbour, who by legislation (theirs mostly) owns the distribution and end user rights for the kit that is being destroyed? Hypothetically, the cost of not destroying them properly could be measured in sanctions that could affect our economy.

Yes, it is a shame that individuals are not permitted to play with these surplus armoured vehicles. However, our military heritage is being preserved through the Canadian War Museum. Hopefully they can squeeze a few more armoured and other vehicles into the bunker as they reach the end of their life cycles.

Now if you really want to pick a battle, do some research on the tendering process that led to the APCs being trucked all the way out to the west coast. That will probably be worth some ire.

[chris vickery]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

Yes, it is a shame that individuals are not permitted to play with these surplus armoured vehicles. However, our military heritage is being preserved through the Canadian War Museum.

Rob, I hear what you are saying but as per your quote above, it kinda sounds reminescent of the Liberal gun control initiatives does it not????
Maybe if the CWM is in charge of preserving all our military heritage, then private citizens and restorers should also be licensed or revoked of our rights to be in possession of ex-military vehicles and equipment...

Food for thought.

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Rob, I hear what you are saying but as per your quote above, it kinda sounds reminescent of the Liberal gun control initiatives does it not???? Maybe if the CWM is in charge of preserving all our military heritage, then private citizens and restorers should also be licensed or revoked of our rights to be in possession of ex-military vehicles and equipment...

Food for thought.

Chris,

The only difference being that the gun control horseshit was a self inflicted wound. The ITAR issue is something we cannot control. We can get rid of part of the gun control problem (and I still hold hope that Mr. Harper and company will follow thru), but there is no way we can get rid of the terms and conditions of the US legislation if we continue to by US military kit.

Your suggestion to license collectors makes me shudder...let's not give the policy wonks here in Ottawa any ideas (PS, I now work in that policy world...).

[chris vickery]

Rob, it was not my intention to suggest that we license collectors; rather it was YOUR wordage with regards to the CWM being Guardians of OUR History...

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Rob, it was not my intention to suggest that we license collectors; rather it was YOUR wordage with regards to the CWM being Guardians of OUR History...

From a governmental due diligence point of view, yup! That is what the CWM is supposed to do. If you look at it from a black and white point of view, if the CWM has one of whatever we used in the military in the museum, that does the trick.

I too get emotional over inanimate objects and believe that we should be able to live in a "free" environment, but sometimes one gets organic stuff all over one's rose coloured glasses.

In this case, the world's most powerful nation is calling the shots, and we as ordinary Canucks have no recourse. Perhaps if a former government of Canada had played by the rules in the past, we wouldn't be in this pickle.

BTW, having logged more miles in M113s than I wish to remember, I won't miss them. Others will, but lamenting the effects of iron-clad legislation will only result in making the Guinness dissappear faster.

Alternatives? Howsabout a nice Brit 432? They almost smell the same on the inside...

[Gordon Yeo]

Rob has a good point, the U.K. and Europe are awash in surplus military equipment that can be had by throwing money at it. If people really want armour they could buy some and we wouldn't have to listen this constant angst about what we can't have.

[chris vickery]

OK, so we agree to move on... Has the collector community at large come to realise that what mvs we do have in private hands are now going up in value?
Case in point; over the years the collector market has had a constant influx of vehs to satisfy our hunger. Take any WW2 milsurp right up to the Iltis. It seems now that many of the "less desirable" mvs will surely find fashion once guys wake up and find that getting into the hobby will be increasingly more difficult. I would hazard a guess to say it is just a matter of time before the bureaucrats decide to tighten things up with regard to imports....