Drew Peterson's gun card revoked

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Neo-Luddite

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I am NOT trying to sow the seeds of an ugly thread--just interested about the legallity and procedure of Mr. Peterson's FOID revocation.





http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-drew-peterson-both_28feb28,0,3012687.story

State police revoked Drew Peterson's firearm permit Wednesday, just hours after a Will County judge ordered officials to return guns and other items to the former Bolingbrook police sergeant.

State's Atty. James Glasgow sent a written request Tuesday to Larry Trent, state police director, for the revocation of Peterson's Firearm Owner's Identification card, officials said. By Wednesday evening, the state's attorney's office confirmed the card had been revoked.

The move put a damper on an otherwise victorious day for Peterson. For months he sought the return of vehicles, guns and other items seized by investigators probing the Oct. 28 disappearance of his wife, Stacy, and the 2004 homicide of his ex-wife, Kathleen Savio.




"I knew that was coming," Peterson said from New York City, where he was scheduled to appear Thursday on the "Today" show. "Just another pain in the [rear]."

Judge Richard Schoenstedt earlier ordered police and prosecutors to present to Peterson documents, photos, copies of computer hard drives, firearms tests and other evidence generated by investigators by March 12.

Peterson would need to agree that if those items were used at a future trial, he would not deny they were produced from his belongings.

Schoenstedt said he would decide on March 17 whether the two sides have issues to iron out and to admonish Peterson in person as to his responsibility. If both sides are in agreement, the property would be returned by March 28.

State's attorney's office spokesman Charles Pelkie, who called the judge's order reasonable, would not elaborate on reasons used to revoke Peterson's FOID card. He has not been charged with a crime and could have legally bought firearms to replace those held by investigators.

Attorney Joel Brodsky said Peterson poses no danger and he believes police are simply trying to irritate his client.

"I've called the state's attorney, and Drew has specifically said to the state police that if there's ever a warrant out for him, that they should call me and we'll walk in," Brodsky said. "I think it's more vexatious behavior. I don't think it's the state's attorney, but rather the state police, and I think it's a fairly sad commentary that they're trying to avoid compliance with a court order for no valid reason. I mean, if there was a reason to revoke Drew's FOID card, you figure they could have done it a long time ago."

Under the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act, a card may only be revoked for specific reasons, such as a conviction for a felony or domestic battery within five years, admittance to a mental health facility, providing false information on an application for the card and being subject to an existing order of protection.

A card also may be revoked if the cardholder's mental condition is found to present a clear danger to the person or other people.

Some denials or revocations occur automatically when a person is convicted of a crime or committed to a mental facility, but others can be granted at the request of law enforcement, a family member or doctor, said state police Master Sgt. Luis Gutierrez. Last year, the agency denied or revoked 26 FOID cards.

Meanwhile, while Brodsky and Peterson flew to New York for his third appearance on the NBC show, Brodsky's law partner, Reem Odeh, questioned the way the case was being managed.

"I'm concerned that there's more emphasis and more of an effort to cater to the media frenzy than there is to looking into the issues surrounding the investigations," Odeh said. "It just seems to me that when there's nothing going on with the investigation and things are quiet in the media, it seems like sometimes either Joel or Drew says something to start the media frenzy all over again."

Brodsky has mounted an aggressive campaign for media coverage.

Asked whether she discussed those issues with Brodsky, Odeh said, "Absolutely. I don't think it's appropriate. I think it is in the client's best interest to keep it quiet and focus on the case. But he just says the case is going to make us famous and we're all going to get book deals."

Odeh said she plans to meet with Peterson and tell him that she believes he should behave in a more professional manner, and if that doesn't happen, she will push to have him dropped as a client.

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True, but he can't have a single .22 bullet now in IL or he would be breaking the law. Could he carry out of state--likely I guess.

I just don't like the apparent cavalier timing and secrecy surrounding his FOID revocation. The lack of transparency and the timing makes it seem like the ISP is acting to sidestep a court-ordered return of his weapons.\

I'm no cheerleader for this guy, believe me--but he either is in a prohibited catagory or he isn't.
 
Absent actual charges against the guy, I have a hard time understanding this revocation to be anything other than harassment. Again, I can't say that Mr. Peterson comes across as somebody with whom I would choose to be associated, but if he isn't a convicted criminal, the man retains his rights.
 
It seems the ISP has gotten more and more political of late. Used to be they pretty much stayed out of that arena, but I am guessing the latest guy in charge was hand picked by the horridly anti-gun governor (who has recently been outed by the feds as being public official "A" - an unindicted co-conspirator in a corruption case) and given his marching orders to hassle gun owners as much as he can.
 
If he's not a convicted felon and still retains his rights then I suppose he should still be allowed to exercise those rights. No matter how shady the guy is taking away someones right to carry or even own a gun just for that reason alone isn't really something I can wholeheartedly agree with.
 
"I've called the state's attorney, and Drew has specifically said to the state police that if there's ever a warrant out for him, that they should call me and we'll walk in," Brodsky said. "I think it's more vexatious behavior. I don't think it's the state's attorney, but rather the state police, and I think it's a fairly sad commentary that they're trying to avoid compliance with a court order for no valid reason. I mean, if there was a reason to revoke Drew's FOID card, you figure they could have done it a long time ago."

Under the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act, a card may only be revoked for specific reasons, such as a conviction for a felony or domestic battery within five years, admittance to a mental health facility, providing false information on an application for the card and being subject to an existing order of protection.
Some denials ........can be granted at the request of law enforcement, a family member or doctor, said state police Master Sgt. Luis Gutierrez. Last year, the agency denied or revoked 26 FOID cards.
I'd ask everyone to tell me what crime I committed, or ask him to clarify exactly who requested it or why?

The fact that your rights depend on people's moods--i.e. if you have a family member that hates you says you shouldn't have firearms, they could revoke your card--is complete crap.

EDIT: And no, I don't like the guy, just so no one thinks that.
 
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Absent actual charges against the guy, I have a hard time understanding this revocation to be anything other than harassment. Again, I can't say that Mr. Peterson comes across as somebody with whom I would choose to be associated, but if he isn't a convicted criminal, the man retains his rights.

Ditto. Talk about someone whose side I don't want to be on, but the law seems pretty clear here.
 
I to have a hard time with this action. Hey, I understand sooner or later this guy's getting charged with something, but either the constitution and our rights are real or they're just privlidges subject to the whimsy of the special people....
 
The ISP's new legal position seems to be that their actions are justified until the Illinois legislature's committee on executive rules (I can never get the name right, but the acronym is JCAR) puts out a ruling that they're not justified--at which point the ISP can simply stop the behavior with no consequence.

We see the same thing with issuing FOID cards to children. There's no age limit in the statute, and the FOID is shall-issue, but after a reporter had a FOID issued to his infant son, the ISP decided to start denying all applications for anyone under ten years of age (but not to return the enclosed payments, and NOT to make a public announcement of what they were doing.) Their answer to the mild controversy involved is that they asked JCAR to rule that they have the power to deny such applications, so until JCAR rules, they have to keep on denying them.

It's a little unclear how much power JCAR has in Illinois because it's a committee of the legislature that controls large parts of the executive branch. Various governors strengthen or weaken JCAR as best they can. Current Governor Blagojevich has done both in his career.
 
Reading this crap makes me happy I left that corrupt state.

It's a shame cause I still love it (and my family live there). Great memories growing up, excellent opportunities for the outdoors.

Of course I knew nothing of the seedy underbelly that (ironically) exists on the top of the state.
 
Mr. Peterson is not someone I want in my "Circle of Associates", but until at least charged, he should retain his RKBA.
 
Regardless of what any of us think of the guy, this is obviously corrupt.

Innocent until and unless proven guilty.

We all know O.J. did it. However he was found innocent in the murder.

There is also many innocent men who have been wrongly imprisoned and many even executed prior to being cleared of charges.
Our system is designed on the principle that it is better to let a guilty man go free than to wrongly convict an innocent man.
So it is "beyond a reasonable doubt" not just likely or unlikely.

That is one of the key differences in our system versus many burdens of proof throughout the world.
Freedom and liberty, sometimes it comes at a price, but it is a sweeter life.


This man was not found guilty, and punishments by the government based on how they feel are wrong. So is special treatment either negative or positive.
 
BUSTED

Looks like he had a 5.5" flash suppressor on a 10.5" barrelled AR and the ISP was able to remove it...instant illegal SBR.

atek3



http://www.suntimes.com/news/peterson/962393,052108peterson.article

Drew Peterson was charged Wednesday with unlawful use of a weapon by Illinois State Police and Will County authorities.

The charge alleges that Peterson -- a suspect in the disappearance last year of his wife Stacy Peterson -- “knowingly possessed a rifle, namely a Colt model Sporter Lightweight, 223 Remington rifle, Serial #SL025365 with attached EOTech electronic sight, with a barrel less than 16 inches in length” in violation of state law, according to a release from the Will County State's Attorney's office.

» Click to enlarge image

Drew Peterson (inset) was charged Wednesday with unlawful use of a weapon by Illinois State Police and Will County authorities. Pictured is Peterson's Colt model Sporter Lightweight, 223 Remington rifle.
(Courtesy/STNG)



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Peterson was arrested by State Police on Wednesday morning in Bolingbrook without incident after the warrant was signed by Chief Judge Stephen White, the release said. The warrant carried a bond of $75,000.

Unlawful use of a weapon is a Class 3 felony that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison upon conviction.

The rifle was one of the guns seized during the execution of a search warrant on Peterson’s home on Nov. 1, 2007, the release said. The length of the weapon’s barrel is in violation of state law.

A court date for Peterson has yet to be scheduled.
 
While I will refrain form commenting on my personal thoughts about Mr. Peterson, I do think this FOID revocation is harassment. If they can do it to him, they can do it to you! :cuss:
 
As I understand it he was a LEO when the guns were seized and LEO's were exempt from that little piece of legislation.
 
It looks like his flash hider wasn't permanently attached (ATF measures with the flash hider removed, unless it's permanently attached).

Short-barreled rifles need to be registered with ATF, whether they are owned by a law enforcement agency, law enforcement officer, or a regular citizen, so I suspect he's looking at federal charges as well.
 
Im sorry, 10.5" barrel and 5.5" flash hider combos are dumb as hell.

You get all the negatives and none of the benefits. Performance lost, noise increased and no length reduction. They strike me as "mall ninja" configurations.

-T
 
Do any of you think for one minute that you'd even have heard of Drew Peterson if his younger, attractive wife hadn't disappeared and her family found a sympathetic ear in the national media? The ISP is spending millions to come up with something they could charge Peterson with, just so they can look good to Nancy Grace and Greta Van Sustren.

With all of the national press, they were going to charge him with something.

Jeff
 
Do we know for a fact that his flash hider was pinned and welded? I don't see any signs of silver solder on the threads either.
 
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