Officials Seize AK-47s At SoCal Pawn Shop

[funnybone]

knbc.com
Officials Seize AK-47s At SoCal Pawn Shop
Merchant Cites 'Gray Area' To Legality Of Weapons

POSTED: 11:06 am PST March 8, 2008
UPDATED: 11:06 am PST March 8, 2008


GLEN AVON, Calif. -- Local and federal law enforcement officers seized 10 AK-47-type assault rifles at a Glen Avon pawn shop and said the weapons were illegally imported into California, authorities said Saturday.

No arrests were made Friday at Bright Spot Pawn in Glen Avon, but authorities said they would seek charges against the owner of the weapons.

A man who identified himself this morning as the owner of Bright Spot Pawn said the weapons seizure was based on misguided legal assumptions.

Deputies had received information that illegal AK-47s were being sold at the shop, sheriff's Sgt. Steve Brown said in a release. Deputies and officers with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms executed a search warrant Friday morning at the pawnshop, in the 9000 block of Mission Boulevard in Glen Avon.

AK-47 knockoffs are popular in the assault rifle market, in part for claims that gas-operated original models are capable of firing up to 600 rounds a minute on full automatic. But such weapons are not legal for most Americans, say gun control proponents who feel there is no reason for hobbyists to own such potentially-destructive guns.

AK-47 enthusiasts say the weapon and its knockoffs make excellent hunting rifles.

The case will be forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney, seeking charges against the owner of the weapons for 10 counts of possession of an assault weapons, and 10 counts of importing or offering assault weapons for sale, sheriff's officials said.

The ATF is continuing an investigation of the assault weapons, authorities said.

In spite of the weapons seizure, Bright Spot Pawn owner Jeff Russo said he thinks the weapons will be returned.

"There's a very gray area in the law as to whether they are legal," Russo said of the weapons. "I think there were assumptions being made and they were being overzealous. In this country, it's supposed to be we're innocent until proven guilty."

Russo said Bright Spot Pawn has operated at the same location in Glen Avon for nearly 20 years.


http://www.knbc.com/news/15539100/detail.html

 

[TexasRifleman]

But there are beaches, and the weather is nice.....

You know, we pick on California but seriously, is there no end to the things that

a) will be done out there and
b) that will be tolerated out there?

 

[.cheese.]

The correct answer is: no.

do I win a prize?

 

[doubleg]

This might be the most bias article i've ever read.

 

[keeleon]

Most likely RAA Saigas. I've been wanting one for a while and have read of a few confiscations and investigations in them in so cal. I hate how everything is an AK47 to the media.

 

[.cheese.]

But such weapons are not legal for most Americans, say gun control proponents who feel there is no reason for hobbyists to own such potentially-destructive guns.

AK-47 enthusiasts say the weapon and its knockoffs make excellent hunting rifles.

They don't bother to mention that the weapons were probably semi-auto and that AK-47 advocates are talking about the semi-auto variety.

 

[ServiceSoon]

Local and federal law enforcement officers seized 10 AK-47-type assault rifles at a Glen Avon pawn shop and said the weapons were illegally imported into California, authorities said Saturday.

No they didn't.

 

[Zoogster]

Oh no! Quick que the video of full auto AK's destroying reactive targets, then cut to the 'evil' semi auto clones. That is all this story is missing.

 

[Treo]

QUOTE: "But such weapons are not legal for most Americans, say gun control proponents who feel there is no reason for hobbyists to own such potentially-destructive guns."

I agree W/ this statement 100%. If you're a "hobbyist" ( whatever that might be) there is no reason for you to own this weapon..

If ,on the other hand, you are an American who wants to be able to keep his government honest. There's every reason in the WORLD to own one ( maybe 2 or 3) of 'em!

 

[Quiet]

The guns that were confiscated were "off-list" AKs.
They did not take any of the Saigas or "off-list" AR15s that were there. Just the "off-list" AKs.
No federal charges and no arrests were made.
It's up to the Riverside County DA's Office to determine if they want to go ahead and prosecute.

 

[matt87]

Question: Why only the AK-type design's suitability towards mention hunting, alongside non-related full-auto dangerous-sounding statistics?

Answer: Because the Second Amendment is about deer, ducks and doves of course.

 

[geophysicishooter]

But they are legal for most Americans to own...

This appears to me to be the LE equivalent to "shoot first, ask questions later". So they go into a gun shop and confiscate a load of what appear to be legal weapons without any real due process from what I can see.

Now this shop owner is going to spend the next six to eighteen months (if not longer) and an untold amount of blood and treasure to reclaim his property and his name.

What would be a true irony: if that was the same shop that LA County Sherrifs and LAPD went to arm themselves when the BOA robbery went down.

"Uh, thanks for helping us out ten years ago. We're here again to take your rifles"

 

[fireflyfather]

BTW, this was not a California issue. This was a Riverside Sheriff's Office issue. Matt Corwin just ended his legal battle with the LA DA's office over his off-list rifles. He won. California gun owners helped him pay the legal costs (I donated a very small amount...I'm almost broke). More and more California counties are finding out the hard way that these guns are legal becaues the CA DOJ isn't doing their job (telling the DA's that these are legal). Nothing grey-area about this. Case law makes it clear. The DOJ just doesn't want to admit it, so it is leaving it up to regional DAs. They are slowly but surely getting the message. The Riverside LE/DA types are about to be in for a huge s***storm of an awakening when it comes to these weapons. Cal NRA and the guys that just successfully fought Corwin's defense will be on Riverside like stink on a skunk.

 

[fireflyfather]

What would be a true irony: if that was the same shop that LA County Sherrifs and LAPD went to arm themselves when the BOA robbery went down.

"Uh, thanks for helping us out ten years ago. We're here again to take your rifles"

Nope, different county. Not even part of LA. Riverside is pretty rural compared to LA county. The RSO did TWO WEEKS of research before determining these rifles were evil, *cough*, I mean a good PR move, *cough*, I mean, not illegal at all, but since most people don't KNOW they're legal, maybe we can prosecute anyway.

 

[Mot45acp]

The ATF is continuing an investigation of the assault weapons, authorities said.

I thought the ATF was federal. Why are they investigating a state or local matter?

 

[Zoogster]

....

 

[Pilgrim]

I thought the ATF was federal. Why are they investigating a state or local matter?

Part of their marching orders is to make sure FFL holders comply with all state laws.

Pilgrim

 

[Leanwolf]

GEOPHYSICISHOOTER - "What would be a true irony: if that was the same shop that LA County Sherrifs and LAPD went to arm themselves when the BOA robbery went down."

The incident that came to be known as the "North Hollywood Shootout," occurred in North Hollywood, which is part of Los Angeles, and is under the jurisdicition of the Los Angeles Police Dept., not the Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept. That shootout at the No. Hollywood Bank of America on Laurel Canyon Blvd., was handled by the L.A. Police Dept.

Because the Chief of Police, and the extreme left wing liberals on the L.A. Police Commission were very, very politically correct, the only officers who had AR 15s, were the dedicated SWAT Teams. The officers in their patrol cars were not allowed to have any weapons other than their sidearms and the patrol car shotguns.

In addition, the stations were also forbidden to have AR 15s, in the event of such an emergency. Therefore, one of the North Hollywood Division Sgts., who was friendly with Bob and Barry Kahn, owners of a very large gun store named "B & B Gun Sales," located only about a mile from the shootout, drove there and asked Bob Kahn for some AR 15s, mags, and ammo, which Bob gave them.

Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputies were NOT involved in that shootout.

In fact, every L.A.S.D. station has had for many years, AR 15s in their stations, plus, in some areas of L.A. County, Deputies routinely carried, in addition to their shotguns (Ithaca 37s), AR 15s in their cars, and were qualified in their use.

Shows the difference between the administrators who ran the L.A.P.D., and the realistic, non-politically correct administrators, including the Sheriff, who ran the L.A.S.D.

FWIW.

L.W.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

This is just scary and a sign of things to come if we allow the antis to seep into every facet of government throughout the country. Make sure to vote. Get out your assault ballot

there is no reason for hobbyists to own such potentially-destructive guns.

Not nearly as potentially destructive as you driving down the road in a 7000lb SUV at 70mph yapping on your cell phone in condition white a couple feet from many innocent people weilding more kinetic energy than any small arm known to man.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Sorry fellas, I didn't mean to get a **** storm started. I was just attempting a bit of irony driven levity.

It's interesting insight on the post history of the North Hollywood incident, though. Thanks for resetting that for me. I had no idea they lost their license and livelihoods over that deal..

I guess good guys don't prosper.

 

[DiN_BLiX]

What would be a true irony: if that was the same shop that LA County Sherrifs and LAPD went to arm themselves when the BOA robbery went down.

The irony is the very thing that saved those cops lives you cant buy in cali anymore, better luck next time LAPD.

 

[ptmmatssc]

AK-47 knockoffs are popular in the assault rifle market, in part for claims that gas-operated original models are capable of firing up to 600 rounds a minute on full automatic. But such weapons are not legal for most Americans, say gun control proponents who feel there is no reason for hobbyists to own such potentially-destructive guns.

Umm , unless "most Americans" are felons etc , they ARE legal to own . Exceptions being certain states .

Funny they always seem to get it wrong when it comes to full auto . Somehow they think they are illegal to own by the mere "civilian" .

 

[TexasRifleman]

BTW, this was not a California issue..............More and more California counties are finding out the hard way that these guns are legal becaues the CA DOJ isn't doing their job

Sounds like a California issue to me. When the state is giving false or no info to counties how do you not have a state problem?

 

[foghornl]

About B & B Gun Sales:

It is indeed true that "No Good Deed Goes Un-Punished".

Most of the MainSCREAM Media wouldn't know an AK-xx from a US Rifle Cal .30 M1

 

[Halo]

Wow, I had no idea that the store that helped out the LAPD got put out of business for doing so. Doesn't that just summarize the whole situation with "gun control"?