(TN) Music minister arrested in gun raid

[Gordon]

Tyme: how do you get Gremlin status? My best friend got unfairly popped on 10 counts of manufacturing full auto weapons inn 86. He was convicted on 3 even though their were 0 full auto weapons found.He had a drawer full of (10) auto sear kits and a complete gunsmithing facility and a gun store with ARs for sale. I was an expert witness for the defense until feds had me eliminated for knowing too much. Their contension was they were in the crime PREVENTION business.They completed the AR's that were on open display in gun shop with his auto sears. He got 0 time, $10000 fine, felony probation for 5 years and 1000hrs comunity service. Guy had to change his carreer path; he was a gunsmith/firearms instructor. He now is a successfull produce broker and city councilman. He was pardoned by some government figure(deleted) but does not have federal firearms rights restored of course.Oh did I mention this guy was highly decorated green beret captain in Vietnam and 10 year sherrifs deputy prior to conviction?

 

[BenW]

...or just trying to be good citizens?

John -- you seem to be missing the point. If I see a robbery taking place you'll have to race me to dial 911 and report it. If I see (check other threads here) money flying out of a car window, do you expect me to report THAT as a robbery? If I see a neighbor carry a firearm from their car into their home, should I report them because some people commit crimes with guns and who knows -- my neighbor just may be a criminal?

If they're carrying an AR15 into their home, should I report them because it may be actually be an M16? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. If they aren't threatening anyone with it and are not committing a crime in my presence it's none of my business.

Do you feel comfortable with a government, that during the DC sniper incident, was telling people to report neighbors with guns? Reporting people just because they had a firearm, not because they had done anything illegal with it?

So yes, I AM judging people's motives when they turn their neighbors and fellow citizens in. I'm judging them on whether they have an ounce of common sense or not.

We are indeed a nation of laws, and the SPIRIT of the law is just as important as the letter of the law.

 

[Byron Quick]

Personally, I don't follow laws as lemmings follow their leader...right into the sea. If your behavior does not involve interfering with the rights of others then it is no business of either me or my government.

Based on my observations of federal "law enforcement," this gentleman has exactly one chance to get sentenced to 1/3 of the statutory sentence: he has to know someone else who is in violation of F Troop's interpretation of the law and roll over on them. Otherwise he didn't cooperate.

 

[Seeker]

''We did bring an ATF negotiator,'' he said. ''We dealt with it very low key. He was very cooperative.''

Well sure, most folks are coopertive when the guy with the flame-thrower shows up.

 

[chaim]

Do you feel comfortable with a government, that during the DC sniper incident, was telling people to report neighbors with guns? Reporting people just because they had a firearm, not because they had done anything illegal with it?

Ohhh Ohhh, can I answer that one.

During the "sniper" situation I had a fun FBI encounter because I "had bought an awful lot of guns recently" (about a dozen in just over a year). Basically someone who knows me or someone someone who knows me talked to gave them a call "reporting" me as suspicious and a potential sniper suspect.

So, as uncomfortable as everyone else is with neighbors and acquintances feeling the need to turn people in who they don't even know if they are breaking the law (full-auto is legal in most states if you've paid your federal tax stamp), and an unconstitutional law at that, I am at least as uncomfortable. Is the USA 2003 or Germany 1943?

 

[JohnBT]

I didn't miss any points. He let some folks know he had full auto guns and they felt it necessary to turn him in. Why call them names just because you don't like the law?

Maybe they knew he was crazy. Maybe they knew something we don't. We don't know why they did it, but I still believe that calling them government informants is a misuse of the term. They appear to believed that they were doing the correct thing.

If you can't do the time...etc. HOW many machine guns did he have? Doesn't sound like an accident or simple case of ignorance of the law does it?

John