The Civilian Marksmanship Program works with the U.S. Government to sell off its stock of aging firearms to the American public in an effort to promote the shooting sports and marksmanship training. The CMP is best known as the prime source for M1 Garand rifles and M1 Carbines, but thanks to a bill signed today by President Obama, the CMP may shortly begin to sell the U.S. Government’s stock of 1911 handguns. These firearms saw combat from WWI through Desert Storm. Who will be first to scoop one of these old war horses up?
The Full Story
On Wednesday, November 25, the President signed S. 1356, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 into law. Included in the bill were some very important pro-gun provisions that represent the culmination of long-term efforts by your NRA to advance Second Amendment rights at the federal level.
The first of these provisions clarifies an exception in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that pertains to ammunition. Although TSCA clearly exempts “cartridges” and “shells” from the Act’s jurisdiction, radical environmental groups like the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) have for years been trying to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate lead projectiles under the Act. Splitting the finest of legal hairs, CBD has tried to claim that the exception applies only to assembled cartridges, not to their individual components. CBD characterized the effort in a fundraising appeal to supporters as “a once-in-a-lifetime campaign … to ban all lead bullets everywhere in the United States.”
Section 315 of the NDAA makes explicit the clear intent of the exception, which was to conclusively remove ammunition from the scope of the TSCA. Thus, the exception now includes not just shells and cartridges but “components of shotshells and cartridges.”
Section 526 responds to the ongoing issue of terrorist violence against America’s men and women in uniform on military installations. Ironically, individual service members are generally prohibited from carrying firearms for self-defense while on base, leading terrorists to view them as soft targets. This language would require the Secretary of Defense to “establish and implement a process by which the commanders of military installations … and such other defense facilities as the Secretary may prescribe” could “authorize a member of the Armed Forces who is assigned to duty at the installation … or facility to carry an appropriate firearm … if the commander determines that carrying such a firearm is necessary as a personal- or force-protection measure.”
Rounding out the list of pro-gun provisions is section 1087, which restores authorization to the Secretary of Defense to transfer to the Civilian Marksmanship Program surplus M1911 and M1911A1 .45 ACP pistols for sale to the public. The component of the CMP that dispenses the pistols would be required to obtain a federal firearms license and abide by all requirements of the Gun Control Act pertaining to licensed sales and transfers. Currently, the military has some 100,000 such pistols that it no longer needs and that are being stored as taxpayer expense. These historically-significant firearms can now be transferred to law-abiding owners at a net gain to the government’s heavily-indebted balance sheet.
The NRA thanks those pro-gun members of Congress who sponsored and voted for these provisions. They are a win for America’s law-abiding gun owners and for the nation’s gun-owning heritage.
Use one when i was in VIETNAM and carried one the whole time i was in Vietnam hope to eather win one or try and by one at a later date.
Im glad he signed the bill. Would like to know how to acquire one through the CMP. Researched it couple times but couldnt find a clear process of doing it.
Kenny Gibson
Carried one and used a 1911 in Vietnam. A great hand gun to have with you at all times. I was lucky to get one.
I was thought how to break it down inspect all parts oil it and put it back together. I learned how to do this at bootcamp ,(at Paris Island).
It never let me down, If you took care of it would take care of you. When will CWP start selling the 1911?
Unless I missed it some where in the article, when is this going to start? At what date will CMP start selling these 1911″s. ?
A date hasn’t been set yet, as the legislation has to finish up. We hope to provide updates as it develops. https://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/
Great to hear this. Hope it really happens! Finally Obama does something sensible concerning firearms…
Great if it happens, but there has to me more to this than meets the eye. I don’t believe he would all of a sudden do a reversal and now support second amendment rights. Time will tell…….Don’t start the applause until the fat lady sings and the curtain closes.
it sounds like u may be A. H. got supporter !!all of those A H GOPs want to shut down the VA !!!!!!!
Will you let me know when and where I can buy one or more of these Historic firearms
“If you want your 1911’s. You can keep your 1911’s”
A nice and easy to use pistol.
Sure am interested. Been shooting CMP for a while and it would be awesome to be able to get one of these.
let me know if they are released,always wanted a 911 model.
No sense for me to wish for one. I also used one when I was in the army but since I’m not very luck I might as wish for the free trip to the moon
US Army Military Police Veteran Korea 72-74
I carried a .45 nearly every day of my tour.
I would like to get info on how to get hold of one these original gems .
That would be great to have a shot (no pun intended ) at getting a piece of history. Thanks for the info Midsouth shooters.
Excellent way of telling, and pleasant paragraph to take information on the topic of my presentation subject, which i am going to deliver in college.
Now if only they let them reimport the M1 Garands and Carbines back into this country that he stopped.
As a young Army Ordnance Officer stationed at Erie Ordnance Depot , Port Clinton, Ohio, I was assigned as Weapons Sales Officer by the Depot Commander. My job was to sell surplus M1911’s to the shooters at the adjoining Camp Perry matches.
It’s been a long time since that summer of 1963, but I still remember the requirements for purchase–an NRA membership and $25 in cash!
Owned and still own 1911s. But would love to own a piece of history. Pls let me know when and where I can acquire a military 1911. Thank you.
Like I commented before. I would love to buy and own a military 1911. I own a Colt Officers and a Para Ordinance 1911. But I’m hoping to get a Colt Government Military 1911. Pls let me know when I will be able to purchase a piece of history. Actually I collect and cherish 1911’s. My email is: (Lkim007@hawaii.rr.com). Thank you and will be waiting for your notice.