FINLAND: BLUE LANTERN - 05-050033654 AND

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000255 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC FI SUBJECT: FINLAND: BLUE LANTERN - 05-050033654 AND 05-050020784 REF: SECSTATE 28891 ¶1. (SBU) In response to the Department's Blue Lantern request, Econoff worked with Mr. Timo Turunen, Sales Director and Proprietor of Armoria about recent purchases from U.S. firearm manufacturers, specifically pre-license end-use check on license 05-050033654 and post-shipment check for license 05-050020784. RSO contact Liisa Timonen, Chief Superintendent with the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, confirmed that Armoria is a legitimate company in good standing with the Finnish government and that it has the necessary licenses and permits to sell firearms in Finland. Armoria independently provided electronic copies of these permits that annually require a Police visit to the company,s premises, a review of their accounting records, a visual inspection of stock on-hand, and that their inventory is stored in a secure area. According to Armoria, their storefront is located in a basement without any windows. The storage facility has reinforced double lock doors with four pivot bars per door, a security system with video surveillance, infrared motion sensors and doors sensors. Alarms are sent via landline, with back-up mobile connection, directly to a security company as well as the Finnish Police. Armoria has been selling firearms in Finland since September 2002, with its importation business from the U.S. beginning in 2003. ¶2. (SBU) Turunen confirmed the contents of the order it placed with RSR Group Inc. under license 05-050033654 with a total value of $232,826.00. Armoria has not yet received any of the firearms ordered from Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC under license number 05-050020784; however, it expects to receive this merchandise during the next few weeks. ¶3. (SBU) As required by Finnish law, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior controls the importation of all firearms into Finland and it mandates that all firearms are only sold through licensed firearms dealers to individuals with the necessary resident gun permits. As such, Armoria maintains exact records on its customers, all of whom are Finnish citizens with the necessary gun permits. According to Turunen, its customers are either in the Finnish Military Reserves and/or they belong to practical shooting organizations (i.e. IPSC). Finnish law requires a demonstrated "need" for a Finnish citizen to receive a permit for any type of firearm. Specifically, the Finnish law states, "a license or permit(may be granted if there is an acceptable reason for granting the license or permit, and if there is no reason to suspect misuse of the license or permit or the objects acquired or possessed under it." Individuals interested in obtaining a firearm must apply in person at the Police station in their jurisdiction and provide a written statement detailing the purpose for acquiring a firearm and the type of firearm they wish to obtain. Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to the demonstrated need as determined by Finnish law. If an application is approved, the Finnish Police initially grants an "acquisition permit" (good for up to six months),that enables an individual to acquire a specific type of firearm. After a firearm is purchased, an individual has 30 days to obtain a "possession permit" by applying in person with the Police. The Police then inspect the firearm and check the validity of the previously issued "acquisition" permit before issuing a "possession permit". To receive a permit for a high-powered rifle such as a semi-automatic AR15, a Finnish citizen must be able to demonstrate a clear and specific need to the Finnish Police (such as being a member of a practical shooting organization),a case which is evidently rarely approved. ¶4. (SBU) Finnish legislation does not separate "Military and Law Enforcement Markets" from "Commercial Markets". Hence firearms such as AR15 semi-automatic rifles and accessories (collapsible stocks, high capacity magazines, muzzle brakes, and silencers) are not categorized differently for the two markets by the Finnish government. As a member of the EU, all imported firearms must be individually inspected and receive a CIP-stamp prior to being delivered to a customer. Turunen confirmed that they abide by the restrictions attached to U.S.-origin defense articles, such as the prohibition on unauthorized re-export or re-transfer to any country including EU member states. Turunen said they have never re-exported any U.S.-origin defense articles to any country. Finnish law also requires a special permit for re-exporting any firearms. ¶5. (SBU) Turunen stated that "sales on the basis of orders is not possible as ordering, license processing and all necessary import activities altogether may take as long as 6 months." Due to the length of the process, Armoria typically has buyers for all of the firearms it orders well before the firearms actually arrive. In the case of the AR15 rifles from Bushmaster (05-050020784),Armoria has advance payment on 10 of the rifles with additional sales queries pending. Armoria plans to sell all 50 of the AR15 rifles before June. In addition to the firearms Armoria imports directly from the U.S., it also purchases firearms from other firearms dealers in Finland. Approximate U.S.-origin firearms sales by year are as follows: 2006 -- 270; 2005 -- 200; 2004 ) 90. In 2007 Armoria plants to sell 350 U.S.-origin firearms. ¶6. Armoria has two offices in Finland, one in Jyvaskyla at Tapionkatu 20, 40200 and one in Kuopio at Tulliportinkatu 27, ¶70100. The company,s principal officers are Mr. Janne Tiainen, Managing Director and Proprietor and Mr. Timo Turunen, Sales Director and Proprietor. Other employees include Mr. Veli-Matti Iskanium, Co-owner (responsible for firearms registration and licensing) and Mr. Jonni Marttila, Co-owner. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: Econoff found officials at Armoria to be cooperative and helpful with this inquiry. We have no independent reason to doubt Armoria,s compliance with Finnish laws and procedures regarding these imported firearms. Armoria is eager to do whatever is necessary to make the current licensing procedure quicker. End comment. WARE