Is it actually possible for individuals to purchase conventional weapons, tanks and warplanes, and all the other things that constitute a nation's military from the private defense industries or somewhere else?
Not that I want to (anyway, it would be way too expensive, costing in the millions and billions), but I'm just curious to know, seen as though I'm currently learning about the arms trade. .
2007-07-24 08:02:05 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Yes. What would you like to buy? Sales of sensitive items must be cleared by the government first. Top line items like fighter planes and tanks are available to governments only. Your company can buy just about anything else for security purposes.
There are restrictions to individuals. But you may be interested to know that you can buy RPG's, mines and grenades in the US. Part A is sold on one page, part B on another. Put together and it is a live working unit. Maybe not legal to own, but you can buy it.
2007-07-24 08:29:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not in a fully functioning form. There are laws that prevent the manufacturers of weapons from selling certain products outside the United States or to Private citizens in any form or in a fully funtioning form. Also the U.S. Government holds patents or rights to some weapons to prevent them being sold. As for weapons manufactured outside the U.S. it varies from country to country what they are allowed or will sell. Then there are the federal laws pertaining to what citizens are allowed to own in a country. For example in the United States you would need a Federal Weapons Permit to purchase large caliber rifles, Grenade Launchers, Artillery peices etc. Aircraft are usually covered by exclusivity clauses in the contract with the governement. The only way this is circumvented is by purchasing the aircraft from the military.
2007-07-24 08:16:20 · answer #2 · answered by dpanic27 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can definitely buy older vehicles (tanks, planes, etc) but you cannot buy the ammunition for them and the weapons systems on them must be dismantled. I have seen old tanks for sale but even old ones are very, very rare and cost $50K -200K plus it will be hard to get parts, service etc.
You may be able to buy functional tanks and ammo as well as planes, missles, boms etc from foreign countries such as china, etc where those items are made new. But the US gov't will probably not let you bring them into the US.
2007-07-24 08:16:34 · answer #3 · answered by Matt M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I've seen places that sell tanks and other military machines. They are completely decommissioned so they can't fire and much of the capabilities have been striped or taken out. But they are basically running tanks. There are even clubs that like to take old tanks around obstacle courses.
2007-07-24 08:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can buy most conventional weapons. You will need a Class III firearms license for most. Good luck getting that. Its pretty tough to get.
2007-07-24 08:33:30 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some cases, yes, but any weapons or classified technology will have to be stripped out. And yes it would cost millions, if not billions.
2007-07-24 08:07:56 · answer #6 · answered by Pfo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if you want Russian and Chinese equipment. A BMP will set you back $400,000.
2007-07-24 10:14:01 · answer #7 · answered by gregory_dittman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes!
How about that ?
If you have the money , you can overthrow any country !!!!
2007-07-24 08:12:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With enough money and power you can do anything you like. Laws are made to keep us commoners from killing the rich. The rich are exempt from the laws they create.
2007-07-24 08:07:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋