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