VZCZCXRO0644
RR RUEHPT
DE RUEHBY #0990/01 3100346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060346Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2217
INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6759
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5025
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5024

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000990 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PM/DTCC JOUBERT-LINEEB AND EAP/ANP 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KOMC AS
SUBJECT:  BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE ON EXPORT LICENSES 050132093 AND 
050192341 
 
REF:  SECSTATE 103101 
 
¶1. (SBU) U.S. Consulate-General Sydney Regional Security Officer and 
two Detectives from the Firearms & Organized Crime Squad of the New 
South Wales Police Force conducted a site visit to USML item 
end-user Lawrance Ordnance on October 21.  The following information 
is provided in response to questions in reftel. 
 
--Is Lawrance Ordinance properly authorized to import and sell 
defense articles in Australia? 
 
A: Yes he is properly registered and licensed. NSW police had no 
issues or concerns.  NSW firearms law storage requirements were 
met. 
 
--Do you have any information on Lawrence Ordnance that would 
question their reliability as a recipient of U.S. defense articles? 
 
A: None. 
 
--When was your company established and who are its principals? 
A:  The company was formed in 1993 and Simon Lawrance is the sole 
principal. 
--What products and services does your company provide?  Who are 
your regular customers and where do they reside? 
 
A: Lawrance deals in military collectables and firearms. His shop is 
full of WWI & WWII uniform replicas.  Aside from Military 
collectors, regular customers of firearms are described as 
Australian farmers looking to shoot unwanted animals on their land 
and target shooters. 
 
--What are your annual sales of U.S.-origin firearms? 
 
A: Lawrance said that U.S. imports are only bolt action firearms, 
and his estimated annual volume percentage varies from 25-60% of 
firearm sales. 
 
--Do you sell firearms to customers that reside outside Australia? 
 
A: Lawrance said exporting firearms out of Australia required too 
much paperwork. 
 
 
--To whom do you usually sell Mosin M91/30 rifles?  What are they 
generally used for?  How many of these rifles do you generally sell 
per year? 
 
A:  Collectors/Farmers/ Target Shooters. Over the course of 16 years 
approximately 300 - 400 a year. 
 
--Did Century Arms notify you in writing that Lawrance Ordnance is 
required to obtain a signed DSP-83 Nontransfer and Use Certificate, 
including serial numbers, for each customer that purchases the 
Soviet Mosin M91/30 Bolt Action Rifle and is required to send that 
signed DSP-83 back to  Century Arms?  If available, please provide 
any correspondence you received from Century Arms explaining these 
requirements. 
 
A:  No. Lawrance stated that he had been told by Century Arms that 
it had been a point of discussion but he was under the impression 
that Century Arms and the U.S. State Department had resolved it, was 
not aware of the requirement upon him and had not received anything 
in writing informing him the requirement.  Lawrance stated that he 
believed that it had been resolved by Century Arms with their 
argument that he was importing the firearms into Australia and that 
Australian citizens could not be made to sign US Government Legal 
Paperwork in Australia.  He further eHhEHehEstated that he would be 
willing to share all of his documentation on the firearms and all 
Australian Government registration documentation (State & Federal) 
with U.S. Government authorities.  Lawrence stated that while he was 
unaware of the requirement, if officially informed he would comply 
with it for future transactions if officially informed that it is 
required and he receives assurances it is allowed by Australian 
authorities.  Lawrence stated that he was never provided a copy of 
the entire export license and that he was only provided parts of it. 
 
 
--Has Lawrance Ordinance obtained these signed documents as required 
Q--Has Lawrance Ordinance obtained these signed documents as required 
by the terms of U.S. export license 050132093?  Please provide 
documentation demonstrating your compliance with these 
requirements. 
 
 
A: No, see above. 
 
 
CANBERRA 00000990  002 OF 002 
 
 
--Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of 
U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on re-transfer 
or re-export? 
 
A: Yes.  Lawrance stated that Australian authorities are similarly 
restrictive.