Aren't patents only good for 17 years or so?
The US adopted the M249 in 1984 (31 years ago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M249_light_machine_gun ), and it is based upon the FN Minimi which was introduced 10 years before that. (1974 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Minimi )
I still think a $10,000 gun with five round capacity is stunningly stupid, especially when Soviet era PM1910 Maxims could be bought and rebuilt into semis for FAR LESS.
(<<<< See avatar)
And NOT be limited to five rounds either.
Just saying...
What about ITAR?
Listen, and understand. That Liberal is out there. It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse- only fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until your guns are gone.