Sniper tips to aid hunt for firearms

Washington Times ^ | 1/03/03 | Arlo Wagner and Matthew Cella

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

     Though police say the tips could help solve cases and get illegal guns off the street,
     "We are still getting a lot of tips as a result," Mr. Bouchard said, and those tips are being examined for possible violations of Maryland and D.C. gun laws.
     Though the task force will focus on handgun owners convicted of violent felonies, Mr. Bouchard acknowledged that some tips already have led to persons who had no idea they owned guns illegally.
     "We are not looking to take away any guns or ammunition that are legally possessed," he said.

KT, More gun laws that make criminals out of formerly law abiding citizens. AND steals their previously legal property. While affecting criminals and/or terrorists very little if at all. EVIL!! Peace and love, George.

[Sid Rich]

"In the interest of helping our readers avoid becoming incidential victims sacrificed on the altar of Doug Duncan's anti-gun ambitions, we asked Howard J. Fezell, a lawyer practicing in Maryland, to give us a quick summary of how to respond if police come to your door looking for your rifles."

I thought all lawyers were evil?

[Nebr FAL owner]

People need to realize that your neighbors will call the cops on you just to f**k with you, of course that can go both ways also. the snitch neighbor finding his car a blazing hulk a day or two after you get visited by the cops will also send the message of don't be an informant

[af_vet_rr]

These MD Stasi idiots are snooping around in the dark dynamite factory by lighting matches.

It's not just MD idiots, it's federal government idiots :

The mission will be carried out by a task force of county and state police officers, as well as federal agents of the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Just remember, they are doing it to protect you, the whole war on terrorism and all that (and no, I don't know why the Secret Service is involved).

[Vigilantcitizen]

About that time, bump.

[ArrogantBustard]

The "Free State" ! Blackbird.

That's the "Fee State". Also known as the "F*&k You" State. And the "Land of the Voting Dead".

[dd5339]

Looks like it's TTFTH in MD.

Cav, let me know when you want to borrow Unintended Consequences.....

Semper Fi

[white trash redneck]

This is not unbelievable. It was predictable (cf. "assault weapon" registration rolls being used for confiscation in CA).

[Stand_Up]

Montgomery County is the liberal proving grounds for the rest of the state. Baltimore and Prince Georges counties are also just as bad!
Anything you say can and will be used against you. I'll bet the task force developed quite a database of tips and tipsters!

[LRRP 69]

That is Kalifornia.

[primeval patriot]

bump to the top

[CDHart]

Yes, John Ross is the author.

Carolyn

[snopercod]

Couching your idea in "what if" doesn't conceal the idea that you are advocating violence against the police.

I understand that everyone with a brain is upset about this, but have some consideration for Jim_Robinson and his forum. Even though clinton is gone, there are still many people who would love to shut down FRee Republic.

You might want to reread the rules.

Examples of inappropriate posts are those that are off-subject or contain advertising, pornography, obscene material, racist material, Nazi (or other hate group) material, materials promoting violence, threats or illegal acts, etc.

[Fixit]

SSDD from PRM

TAG -- YOU MIGHT BE IT!

(September 1, 1999) We've made reference to TAG in recent newsletters, and some of our newer readers have asked for background on it. (Good!) TAG is one of the ways police are "getting tough on crime," the highway's equivalent of stop'n'frisk. We have tracked several cases where an individual's first encounter with the law is at a traffic stop, at which a technical firearm violation leads to his disqualification for owning firearms ever again. This can happen anywhere in the state, but nowhere is it more likely than in Prince George's County. There you may meet TAG -- Take Away Guns.

Unlike in Anne Arundel County, where we have credible reports of police setting up traffic operations just outside of gun ranges, TAG works with the University of Maryland to identify "hot spots," corridors over which likely targets may travel with guns. Officers then profile drivers and make traffic stops for whatever reason is open to them (e.g., failure to use seatbelt.) They do a computer check of occupants, then find a reason to search the car. (Initially they will simply ask for permission, but if a motorist declines, the officer will seek other reasons for a complete search.)

What happens if a motorist admits to transporting a gun or one is found during an involuntary search? A spokesman for the PG County Public Information Office says the firearm's identifying information is immediately recorded, and then run through a computer check to see whether it is stolen. What happens then is up to the officer on the scene. A gun that can be tied to the driver (via the State Police firearms registration database) and transported in what may be lawful circumstances (to or from the range) may be returned to the driver, who can be sent on his way with a ticket.

But what if you have a lawfully owned handgun, legally transported, that isn't tied to you by the State Police? This is entirely possible, since many of us own firearms from the days before private transfer was banned. According to spokesman Cpl. Meterko, at that point the officer is free to confiscate any firearm that he doesn't believe you should have. I asked him whether any are returned; apparently this doesn't happen. "If we take it, we're going to keep it."

As with most such programs, TAG has yielded successes even as it raised red flags to civil libertarians. In 1998, it records 33,601 traffic stops, 12,402 issued citations, 77 DWI arrests, 351 criminal arrests and 29 seized guns.

[Rodney King]

If you haven't read, "Unintended Consequences," please do.

Yes, it is a must read.

[Fixit]

Here's the book:

Unintended Consequences

[Fixit]

I blew my bolding in this post, but it bears repeating:

But what if you have a lawfully owned handgun, legally transported, that isn't tied to you by the State Police? This is entirely possible, since many of us own firearms from the days before private transfer was banned. According to spokesman Cpl. Meterko, at that point the officer is free to confiscate any firearm that he doesn't believe you should have. I asked him whether any are returned; apparently this doesn't happen. "If we take it, we're going to keep it."

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Great tips, thanks!

Also, I'm glad that I read the Times article otherwise I wouldn't have known that there was a gun show this weekend at the Montgomery County fair groungs. Even though it will be my first one, I'll have to go and buy something as a show of support. I was thinking Glock 27...