AP Claims Federal Charges for Transporting Rifle from Pennsylvania to Connecticut

Gun Watch ^ | 10 January, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In a story about the student with a concealed carry permit that was arrested in Connecticut because someone saw him shift a rifle in his vehicle, AP claims that he has been charged with  "unlawful transport into Connecticut of a semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle":

Federal prosecutors say 23-year-old William Dong is charged with unlawful transport into Connecticut of a semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle that he bought in Pennsylvania in September.

It is probably just bad reporting on the part of the AP, but I do not recall any unlawful transport offense in Federal firearms law.

William Dong's attorney has said that he will likely plead not guilty to state charges.    I wonder if the "federal charges" are to exert more pressure to get him to do a plea bargain.   The case seemed a bit weak with the initial reports.

 He told police that he had it because he was going to the shooting range the next day, said Nivakoff, who was involved in the West Haven investigation.

In this era of "Three Felonies a Day", it appears that charges can be found for anyone.   I hope that this is not one of those cases.   Eric Holder's Justice Department and the BATFE have not done anything to increase trust in their veracity.

Dong does not seem to fit the profile of a rampage killer.   There have not been an reports of psychological problems, he had a job, and was well liked, at least from the early reports.

It's not clear what Dong's intentions might have been, but friends have called the incident a "huge misunderstanding" and said Dong was often confused about where he was allowed to carry guns.

"It was a shock," said Thomas Wething, who went to high school with Dong and watched police search his home from across the street. "I was questioning it at first."

Dong's best friend, Manuel Pallares, said Dong carries weapons every day to protect himself while working at an armored truck company that delivers money.

The rifle may be illegal in Connecticut. I have not seen any evidence to indicate that the rifle was purchased illegally.

©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[Vermont Lt]

Hey redneck...

I wrote that I didn’t agree with the laws. But when you want to take on the legal systems in MA and CT, I am right behind ya. I did some work in the prison system. I don’t want to live there.

So, until I can move, I am stuck here. So go yell at someone else. Or go to Cambridge and walk around with your AR15 on Harvard Yard.

[KosmicKitty]

And another aside - UNH faculty, Staff & students collected money over the Holidays for the woman who called the cops because she's homeless.

http://www.wtnh.com/news/new-haven-cty/23k-donated-for-caller-who-warned-of-conn-gunman_23652411_

[OneWingedShark]

This guy had a fully loaded, illegal rifle (in Ct) sitting on the back floor of his car.
On or near a college campus.
This kid is an idiot.

So then are you saying that traveling on an interstate, or other road, that passes next to a college campus is an arrestable offense?
Or are you saying that college campuses are legitimately gun-free zones?
Or are you saying that it's stupid to exercise the right to keep and bear arms?

[Vermont Lt]

Where the hell do you get that from.

This clown had a loaded, unsecured rifle on the floor of his car.

That is against the law. You can spout out all of the patriot bullshit you want. It doesn’t matter whether you or I like the law, it’s the law. And if he had a gun license in CT he KNEW that was the law. And, you know what...it’s not safe.

This kid is an idiot. You and I both would not leave a loaded rifle, in plain view on the floor of your car. It’s just stupid.

Drawing any other conclusions about what I think is stupid too. I have not voiced an opinion other that his being stupid. And just because you don’t agree with a law, doesn’t make it less of a law.

[OneWingedShark]

This clown had a loaded, unsecured rifle on the floor of his car.
That is against the law. You can spout out all of the patriot bullshit you want. It doesn’t matter whether you or I like the law, it’s the law.

That's not quite true; just because something is presented as law does not mean it is law.
CT's Constitution says this:

ART. 1^st, SEC. 15. — Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.

How can one bear arms if he is prohibited from transporting them? Moreover, how can one defend himself [or the state] if such transport is illegal?

And if he had a gun license in CT he KNEW that was the law. And, you know what...it’s not safe.

Who said anything about safe? We're talking about legal/illegal.

This kid is an idiot. You and I both would not leave a loaded rifle, in plain view on the floor of your car. It’s just stupid.

You've never seen the floor of my car; for all you know I could have landmines, firearms, maybe even a USN Battleship hiding in that mess.
(It's bigger on the inside, I swear.)

[Vermont Lt]

Ok.

Having been in a CT carry class, I can tell you that there are several laws regarding the proper transports of firearms in CT.

Aside from that, you are arguing to make yourselve feel smart. I will not oblige. I don’t care about what you think.