AlexanderA Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 An M1 Thompson was presented as a personal gift to the outgoing Greek Minister of Defense, Dimitris Avramopoulos, from the Ministry on his last day on the job, today 10/31/2014. He's going to Brussels to become the European Commissioner for Immigration. At the presentation ceremony, comments were made that this was like the weapon he was issued as an enlistee some 30 years ago, and that now he gets to keep it as his own. This raises a couple of obvious questions. First, private ownership of fully automatic weapons is strictly prohibited in Greece. How was he able to be exempted from this? Second, the weapons provided to Greece as American aid (and this is one of them) are on loan, and ownership remains with the U.S. government. When the Greeks no longer need them, they have to be returned to the U.S. So it's hard to see how Avramopoulos can get clear title in this transaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Those that make the rules can change the rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrylta Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 RT is correct.Socialism is not for the socialist, it's for the masses.About what's happening here in America?-Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeport28A1 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 If it did come back to the US Government it would most likely just be de-milled into little pieces. At least this way it stays in one piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexanderA Posted October 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I've been following this story in real time on the Greek TV news. In one segment, the Chief of the General Staff is heard telling Avramopoulos that the gun has been "deactivated." But there's also a discrepancy -- one TV segment clearly shows the gun in question as being an M1 Thompson, while another TV segment shows a presentation of what is clearly an M3 Greasegun! They must have staged this event twice for the cameras. I have a feeling that Avramopoulos will not actually be taking the gun -- whatever it is -- home with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkel Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Laws are for little people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzz Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 prob. be deactivated, BUT about the prohibition of FA weapons in Greece...... well as most will know, England has about the strictest gunlaws in Europe, but i know from a Belgian collector that he has sold several FA weapons to a Brittish collector....of course legal, while normal English mortals have a hard time getting anything else than a 2 barrel 12 gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexanderA Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) I saw on the Greek news today that Avramopoulos just resigned his seat in the Greek parliament, so as to assume his new duties in Brussels. Members of the Greek parliament are automatically given licenses to carry concealed handguns (something that is difficult if not impossible for ordinary citizens). And they are known to pass "private laws" that benefit themselves. So yes, there is definitely a double standard. Greek gun laws are a perfect example of the legislative overreaching that's endemic in that country. It's said that in Greece, "everything is forbidden, yet everything is allowed." The key is lack of enforcement, or selective enforcement. Smoking in public buildings, for example, is outlawed, but practically everyone smokes in public buildings. The parliament passes laws knowing that they will not be enforced, and in fact they are never enforced. Or, more correctly, draconian laws merely provide pretexts for graft and corruption, so that the enforcing officials look the other way. Edited November 3, 2014 by AlexanderA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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