Three years ago I was seated as a juror in the Federal Court in Ft. Myers, FL.
The defendant was on trial for falsifying information on the DEA form you fill out when purchasing firearms.
We convicted her after a two day trial.
She had purchased 5 AK-47's from a large gun dealer, and 5 more from a Mom and Pop store in the same community. The owner of the small business smelled a rat, and contacted the Feds.
At no time during the trial was the term "straw purchase" used or inferred. Turns out she used and old address that was no longer current, ergo, lying on the form.
The NRA is so powerful that a 28 year old "dancer" could legally pay cash for 10 weapons designed to kill humans, not hunt animals, over a 2 day period.
Everyone there for two days saw how and why access to weapons of mass murder is easy in this country.
(2) Was she shopping for a Mexican cartel, or what? All the gun owners I have ever met rarely buy more than one of any type, they like the variety. 10 of the same weapon is highly suspicious to me, especially considering it’s 10 AKs. There weren’t any other crimes involved here? Supplying FARC or something?
I share your pain and frustration. However, I have given up hope that any positive change will happen. Hell, in my state of Tennessee, we are about to sign a bill allowing permitless gun carry. Why? No reason. It is not going to get better. It will continue to get worse.
A powerful statement. Recounting the senseless murders, and stating the obvious, contrasting that these weapons legally sold to Americans to kill each other are forbidden to be sold to enemies of Americans...because weapons of war might be used to kill Americans.
Unite to right the senseless killing. Present Mitch McConnell and others opposed to banning the sale of machines that murder Americans the ultimatum that they do not represent US, and their time in office will be finished. Research and publish the companies and agencies that support them, and economic boycott. Register new voters. What else?
How about A LOT of GOP Congress members, both male and gun-loving female, getting shot to death? A biblical variant: those who live by the gun die by the gun.
I understand the anger. But, I don't wish anyone dead. And I don't think this intelligent, caring forum should be used to promote death, especially when protesting death. Again, I do understand the anger.
We will have to agree to differ: I DO wish a lot of GOP lawmakers would die by gunshots— for me, that would be a just fate in return for their worship of guns.
Lucian, you unleashed everything I have been feeling in my bones. We cannot have the GOP, as a minority party, run the show. They are more than likely paid Russian assets/agents. McConnell is throwing out words like he’s still in charge. Chuck, I am praying, becomes more aggressive and just gives them the proverbial finger and gets S.1 passed plus emergency gun control bills. We do not have time to waste! I, for one, am so damn sick and tired of the ugly red tape that we have to go through to get common decency bills enacted!
(1) Russia money and (2) the old social order of racism and sexism.
Mitch has his own Russian aluminum factory, with Deripaska laundering the money on behalf of Putin. Every rich Russian is in bed with Putin and takes orders from him, I'm sure. So you combine this corruption, this bribery of Mitch by the Russians, with Mitch’s (working for his constituency) desire to keep the old white social order intact (no power to women or to POC, thank you very much), and there’s your red tape.
Isn’t it interesting that Vladimir Putin, using his cronies, has targeted the NRA and the Republicans for funding and for his “introducing misinformation and chaos“ campaign? Weak, easily corrupted politicians like Moscow Mitch and the Moscow Butt-Kissing Excursion July 4 Gang of Traitors and Rohrabacher and the rest of the Republican corruptibles are all easy marks.
Has anyone cross-referenced the known members of the recipients of Russia PAC money with the Jan. 6 Sedition Caucus and everyone who voted in favor of acquitting Grease45 at the impeachment trial?
Since the NRA has moved headquarters to Texas, let the State of Texas secede from our union. They’re on their own with their own but if their citizens go to other states to carry out crimes against others - no matter the crime - then they are foreign enemies and face life imprisonment or death penalty.
Trump pulled the “Don’t tell me what to do” scab off much to the glee of millions of Americans. The abnormal affinity to guns grows every day and the politicians are more than willing to accommodate that twisted view. If history is any indicator, meaningful gun reform is too big a hill to climb.
Our appetite for guns is indeed extraordinary. Demand is such that the extensive U.S. gun manufacturing industry cannot keep up. Popular models of items such as bolt action hunting rifles with five round magazine capacity --- hardly a gangsta's dream --- are on months-long backorder. Ammunition shelves are mostly empty in sporting goods stores and gun stores. And we have not even begun to ascertain the permissible limits of gun control after the tortured Heller decision because it is so difficult to pass any sort of gun control measures.
A small minority of Gun activists has hog tied and thwarted anything meaningful to reduce firearms proliferation since the last real legislation in 1929 regulating ownership of full automatic firearms. Cops were always out gunned by gangs like Bonnie and Clyde. Hell will freeze over before Police knock on doors to confiscate semi auto firearms. like the AR15. The GOP gets money and votes from gun enthusiasts. What is legislatively feasible? Not much. It is rather embarrassing.
Well said. And BTW, it's not Congress, it's the GOP that has blocked meaningful progress on gun control.
agreed!
Three years ago I was seated as a juror in the Federal Court in Ft. Myers, FL.
The defendant was on trial for falsifying information on the DEA form you fill out when purchasing firearms.
We convicted her after a two day trial.
She had purchased 5 AK-47's from a large gun dealer, and 5 more from a Mom and Pop store in the same community. The owner of the small business smelled a rat, and contacted the Feds.
At no time during the trial was the term "straw purchase" used or inferred. Turns out she used and old address that was no longer current, ergo, lying on the form.
The NRA is so powerful that a 28 year old "dancer" could legally pay cash for 10 weapons designed to kill humans, not hunt animals, over a 2 day period.
Everyone there for two days saw how and why access to weapons of mass murder is easy in this country.
As Count Floyd used to say on SCTV:
Pretty scary...kiddies!!!
Hi Leigh, two questions (from a weapons naïf):
(1) DEA form? Not ATF?
(2) Was she shopping for a Mexican cartel, or what? All the gun owners I have ever met rarely buy more than one of any type, they like the variety. 10 of the same weapon is highly suspicious to me, especially considering it’s 10 AKs. There weren’t any other crimes involved here? Supplying FARC or something?
I share your pain and frustration. However, I have given up hope that any positive change will happen. Hell, in my state of Tennessee, we are about to sign a bill allowing permitless gun carry. Why? No reason. It is not going to get better. It will continue to get worse.
Great minds think alike. Lucian and Heather are on the same subject today.
Take a look at Heather Cox Richardson’s daily post, which just got released.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-23-2021
A powerful statement. Recounting the senseless murders, and stating the obvious, contrasting that these weapons legally sold to Americans to kill each other are forbidden to be sold to enemies of Americans...because weapons of war might be used to kill Americans.
Unite to right the senseless killing. Present Mitch McConnell and others opposed to banning the sale of machines that murder Americans the ultimatum that they do not represent US, and their time in office will be finished. Research and publish the companies and agencies that support them, and economic boycott. Register new voters. What else?
I heard that Rep. Bang-Bang Barbie from Rifle, CO sends her thoughts and prayers.
How about A LOT of GOP Congress members, both male and gun-loving female, getting shot to death? A biblical variant: those who live by the gun die by the gun.
I understand the anger. But, I don't wish anyone dead. And I don't think this intelligent, caring forum should be used to promote death, especially when protesting death. Again, I do understand the anger.
We will have to agree to differ: I DO wish a lot of GOP lawmakers would die by gunshots— for me, that would be a just fate in return for their worship of guns.
I wish the bullets had struck Scalia in the head.
I meant to write Scalise, but Scalia would do just fine for the same.
Lucian, you unleashed everything I have been feeling in my bones. We cannot have the GOP, as a minority party, run the show. They are more than likely paid Russian assets/agents. McConnell is throwing out words like he’s still in charge. Chuck, I am praying, becomes more aggressive and just gives them the proverbial finger and gets S.1 passed plus emergency gun control bills. We do not have time to waste! I, for one, am so damn sick and tired of the ugly red tape that we have to go through to get common decency bills enacted!
“Chuck, I am praying, becomes more aggressive and just gives them the proverbial finger and gets S.1 passed . . . “
From your lips . . .
That “ugly red tape” is Mitch McConnell.
(1) Russia money and (2) the old social order of racism and sexism.
Mitch has his own Russian aluminum factory, with Deripaska laundering the money on behalf of Putin. Every rich Russian is in bed with Putin and takes orders from him, I'm sure. So you combine this corruption, this bribery of Mitch by the Russians, with Mitch’s (working for his constituency) desire to keep the old white social order intact (no power to women or to POC, thank you very much), and there’s your red tape.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-a-mcconnell-backed-effort-to-lift-russian-sanctions-boosted-a-kentucky-project/2019/08/13/72b26e00-b97c-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html?outputType=amp
Isn’t it interesting that Vladimir Putin, using his cronies, has targeted the NRA and the Republicans for funding and for his “introducing misinformation and chaos“ campaign? Weak, easily corrupted politicians like Moscow Mitch and the Moscow Butt-Kissing Excursion July 4 Gang of Traitors and Rohrabacher and the rest of the Republican corruptibles are all easy marks.
Has anyone cross-referenced the known members of the recipients of Russia PAC money with the Jan. 6 Sedition Caucus and everyone who voted in favor of acquitting Grease45 at the impeachment trial?
Dayenu. Enough! And no more.
It’s madness for sure. And this was a powerful piece of writing.
Since the NRA has moved headquarters to Texas, let the State of Texas secede from our union. They’re on their own with their own but if their citizens go to other states to carry out crimes against others - no matter the crime - then they are foreign enemies and face life imprisonment or death penalty.
Trump pulled the “Don’t tell me what to do” scab off much to the glee of millions of Americans. The abnormal affinity to guns grows every day and the politicians are more than willing to accommodate that twisted view. If history is any indicator, meaningful gun reform is too big a hill to climb.
After the Boulder Colorado supermarket shooting, a boy gave flowers to workers at King Soopers stores near the attack
The 11-year-old said he wanted to make a tough day more bearable. Many employees were moved to tears.
By Sydney Page
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/03/25/king-soopers-shooting-flowers-colorado/
Our appetite for guns is indeed extraordinary. Demand is such that the extensive U.S. gun manufacturing industry cannot keep up. Popular models of items such as bolt action hunting rifles with five round magazine capacity --- hardly a gangsta's dream --- are on months-long backorder. Ammunition shelves are mostly empty in sporting goods stores and gun stores. And we have not even begun to ascertain the permissible limits of gun control after the tortured Heller decision because it is so difficult to pass any sort of gun control measures.
Preach. Preach like the heavens are crying.
A small minority of Gun activists has hog tied and thwarted anything meaningful to reduce firearms proliferation since the last real legislation in 1929 regulating ownership of full automatic firearms. Cops were always out gunned by gangs like Bonnie and Clyde. Hell will freeze over before Police knock on doors to confiscate semi auto firearms. like the AR15. The GOP gets money and votes from gun enthusiasts. What is legislatively feasible? Not much. It is rather embarrassing.