press release
Nov. 29, 2011, 5:17 p.m. EST
Occupy Port of L.A. - MF Research Group Reveals Small Businesses Being Crushed by US Customs
IRWINDALE, Calif., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Though we live in a country where American citizens are entitled to
unalienable civil privileges such as the right to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, but we can't have it all. The laws and policies
we live by are strictly regulated by the government. Recently, certain
agencies have overstepped boundaries and abused power in the facade of
protecting the country. MF Research and Publications has researched the
matter of recent import seizures by the CBP and DOC and reveals abuse
and negligence.
The government has been making it difficult for small businesses in the
airsoft sporting goods industry to operate. Airsoft is a recreational
sport in which plastic pellets (airsoft BBs) are shot out of realistic,
non-lethal shooting replicas of actual firearms. Presently, the
Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been seizing
shipments of airsoft guns from businesses such as AirSplat, Tac City and
many others for the reason that they are incompliant with our country's
policies.
According to the policy, imported airsoft guns must have a blaze orange
tip affixed to the barrel of the gun to clarify it is not a real
firearm. Though all shipments have been compliant with the policy, the
CBP would find ways to disprove it. They have claimed that the tips of
the airsoft guns were painted on, though all orange tips are made with
solid orange plastic. They also claimed that the tips were not
permanently affixed to the airsoft guns. Their examination was by way of
using power tools, which resulted in merchandise being broken into
pieces.
An estimated $250 million in pending seizures has been pilfered from
small businesses this year. It can take as long as 18 to 36 months to
sort out the issue due to delayed responses from the CBP. It costs an
estimated $150,000 in fees to retrieve a shipment of merchandise worth
only $100,000. $50,000 is lost. No one is held accountable for the lost
funds nor have any repercussions been established. As of November 2011,
we've gotten word that the CBP is further preparing to seize more
airsoft shipments in the near future.
We can see palpable evidence demonstrating ways the government has
abused their power to bully unwary targets. While the CBP plays the role
of defender, small businesses in the airsoft industry - and all import
businesses - are suffering.
Contact: Mario Francisemail: mariofrancispublications@gmail.com
SOURCE MF Research and Publications
Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
There is no other credit reference of MF Research Group other than this particular report. Strangely only Airsplat and Tac City is named. What happened to other retailers like Evike, AirsoftGI, Airsoft Extreme etc. I kinda find this article a bit fishy. Maybe someone decided to make news than actually reporting news.
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