Did Michael Moore violate California gun laws?
Donald Kilmer
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Just came across an article that has Mr. Moore admitting that he had tried to give a handgun to Mr. Heston during his "interview" for the movie Bowling for Columbine. (The facts come from the April 2003 issue of America's First Freedom, Don Kates gave me this issue during my recent visit to his home, thank Don. The title of the article is "Sliming America" by James O.E. Norell)
Seems there might be a couple of crimes here, although SOL may have passed, but the action is tolled until the gov't did or should have learned of the transgression. So maybe someone can get a sympathetic DA to arrest this guy, or at least investigate the gun crimes listed below.
Mr. Moore claims he was "just in L.A." to track down the manufacturer of the gun that was used to kill the little girl in Detroit. He admits that he put a gun in a paper bag and offered it as a gift to Mr. Heston.
Now, everybody knows that an out of state resident cannot legally buy a hand gun. So Mr. Moore either had a California resident buy the gun for him, which is a straw purchase; or he falsified documents stating he was a California resident. (Unless he is a California resident, but I thought he was a resident of Michigan.)
The alternative, is that he brought a gun to California from another jurisdiction where he purchased it legally. But handgun importers must register handguns brought into the State of California; failure to do so within a specific time is a crime.
So Mr. Moore's lawful possession/acquision of the handgun he tried to give Mr. Heston is at least questionable.
A wholly different crime is committed whey Mr. Moore tries to give the gun to Mr. Heston. Firearm transfers in California - especially handguns - must go through a licensed transfer dealer. Do we have an attempt to violate CA Penal Code section 12072? Conviction of this misdemeanor, now carries a 10 year prohibition on the right to own a firearm in California. See Penal Code 12021(c).
Did Mr. Moore transport this concealable weapon in a locked container pursuant to Penal Code section 12025? Doesn't sound like it if he offered it to Mr. Heston in a paper bag. Unless of course Mr. Moore transported the hand gun in a locked container, then took out on Mr. Heston's property, then put it in a paper bag to give to Mr. Heston. That doesn't seem likely.
Finally, if Mr. Moore planned all these events with his producers, cameramen and various other toadies, they are all guilty of conspiracy to violate California's gun laws. Which, the last time I looked at the statute book, is a felony.
I am not aware of a First Amendment exception to our state's gun laws, although there are permits that film crews can get for the dramatic use of firearms in movies and TV productions. Want to bet Mr. Moore did not pull such a permit from the Beverly Hills Police Department for his little stunt at Mr. Heston's residence?
In my humble opinion, there is enough here to get a search warrant and a copy of the tape (which by the way did not make it into the film) of Mr. Moore trying to hand the gun to Mr. Heston.
And gee, if save just one child's life by making an example of Mr. Moore and his irresponsible use of a hand gun, won't you all just feel warm and fuzzy?
Donald Kilmer
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oooooooooooooooo!!!