MOYOCK - Private security contractor Blackwater Worldwide has been able to keep 17 AK-47s at its armory under a deal that sidesteps federal laws prohibiting private parties from buying automatic weapons, a newspaper reported yesterday.
The Raleigh News & Observer found that Blackwater bought 17 Romanian AK-47s and 17 Bushmasters -- and then gave ownership of the guns to the Camden County sheriff.
Sheriff Tony Perry said that his department has used the AK-47s only in shooting practice at Blackwater.
Blackwater CEO Gary Jackson and Erik Prince, the company's owner, told the newspaper that Blackwater has used the weapons in training for police officers and military members.
"As long as I have contracts, I can buy fully automatic weapons," Jackson said.
The 34 weapons are registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record to the Camden County sheriff. Seventeen AK-47s and five Bushmasters are stored at Blackwater. The 12 other Bushmasters are assigned to Camden County deputies, Perry said.
Perry said that the county was putting together a SWAT team at the time of the purchase. Blackwater suggested that the company did the deal for the sake of the sheriff's office.
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