The ’94 Norinco Ban is Backdoor Gun Control.

Let’s take a look back at the situation in the early 1990s that led to smuggling and sting operations, and the end for Norinco in the United States. Photo:Rock Island Auction Company. On August 20, the Biden administration announced that new sanctions would be placed against Russia. These sanctions would prohibit the importation of Russian-made ammunition and arms into the United States. Officially, the new sanctions were imposed in response to the Russian government’s alleged poisoning Alexei Navalny. Critics of President Biden quickly pointed out that his recent decision to lift sanctions on the Russian company behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will benefit the Russian economy more than any ammo ban could. Many believe that the real reason behind the ban was to punish law-abiding American firearm owners, not the Russian government. This would be consistent with the promises President Biden made when his campaign began. In a June 23rd speech, he reiterated his position. He stated that while his administration would encourage Congress to pass more gun controls, they would also be pursuing their goals in whatever way they can. This would include the use of other means than legislation. However, this is not the first time that an administration has opted to ignore Congress in order to pursue a gun control agenda. In the early 1990s, President Clinton took similar measures against Chinese arms companies. This created a situation very similar today.Norinco BanIn 1994, President Clinton extended China’s Most Favored Nation trading status. The notable exception being most ammunition and arms produced by the leading Chinese defense conglomerates Norinco, Polytech, and Norinco. Similar to Biden’s recent sanctions against Russian arms and ammunition, Clinton’s critics argued that the harm caused by the sanctions on China’s economy will pale in comparison with the benefits they’ll receive from renewing their MFN status. Biden’s recent sanctions were not transparent, but President Clinton was more transparent about his decision. He claimed that the decision was made to punish China’s human right abuses and to combat the growing crime rate in the United States. According to reports, cheap Chinese arms and ammunition were often found in the hands criminals during this period. This concern was present since President Bush Sr. had banned the importation “assault rifles” from China in 1989. Despite not receiving any mention in their respective news stories the effects these bans had upon American gun owners were more than the impact they had on the Chinese or Russian economies. Even Clinton supporters claimed that the 1994 decision would be a net benefit for the Chinese economy, and that Norinco had nothing to worry about. Many of them were concerned, as the ban led some Norinco employees taking drastic measures. In December 1994, a U.S. customs agent informed the ATF of the discovery that Hammond Ku, a man with thousands of Chinese weapons, had been hiding in his San Francisco warehouse. The ATF launched Operation Dragonfire, an 18-month-long sting that resulted in weapon seizures, arrests, and the indictment Norinco for their participation in weapons smuggling. Undercover agents posing to be organized crime representatives were able to arrange the purchase of 2,000 fully-automatic AK rifles. Further deals were being made to smuggle rocket launchers and armored vehicles. Ku was arrested and claimed that Chinese officials and key Norinco officials were aware of the deal and were complicit. They were apparently only interested in recouping lost profits due to Clinton’s sanctions. There was no chance Norinco would return to the American market prior to this. Their Hollywoodesque smuggling attempt ensured their ban was permanent. Although they weren’t the first AK rifles imported, they were the cheapest. Norinco was able single-handedly to lift the AK from its niche commie obscurity, make it a mainstream choice for American shooters, and increase its availability at low prices. Although the ban on Chinese rifles was devastating, it was also a significant blow to shooters. However, the most important impact on shooters was the removal from the market of their cheap and plentiful ammunition. Between 1984 and 1994, millions of Chinese AKs or SKSs were imported into the United States. This left many Americans without rifles and no shooting options. The good news is that life does not end there. Russia began to fill the gap after China was removed from the American arms market. For decades, American stores were filled with cheap and plentiful Soviet calibers until the latest round of sanctions. This pattern will continue for many years, until a new country, Turkey, begins to fill the ammo gap. In the meantime, their arms companies may be sanctioned for political reasons in ten to twenty years. All of this shows that American gun owners are too dependent on Executive Orders and Actions. Many of the most important things that affect the gun community are not laws passed by Congress, but decisions made at the Executive level. There is almost no chance of them being repealed. If this continues, Second Amendment rights will continue to be violated and it will make it harder to exercise them freely. Although legislation such as Clinton’s 1994 Assault Weapons Ban was repealed in 2004, the sanctions placed on Russian and Chinese defense conglomerates are now in effect permanent. Now it’s time for you to empty your last box Tulammo. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets