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Man Claims Arsenal Of Weapons Is A Hobby
wftv.com ^ | August 11, 2009 | unattributed

Posted on 08/11/2009 4:29:48 PM PDT by smokingfrog

A man, who was one of four people arrested in connection with having an arsenal of dangerous weapons hidden inside a Poinciana home, said the weapons were just a hobby. The four suspects in the case face some very serious charges.

The incident started with a discovery made behind a medicine cabinet and a secret compartment full of weapons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) will help Osceola deputies determine what laws may have been broken.

Jett Cramer, his fiancée Gayle Justice, and their friend and roommate William Scott Clark all made appearances on drug-related charges before an Osceola County judge Tuesday.

"Do you understand the nature of the charges against you?" a judge asked.

"Yes sir," responded Clark.

However, the most serious charge Clark faces is for having an explosive device. Deputies found what they described as a bomb and a stash of weapons in a secret compartment in Clark's Osceola County home, including a mortar launcher, mortar shells and automatic weapons.

The explosives were found during the course of a marijuana investigation. None of the weapons found on Nicholas Court appear to be stolen and Clark, who described himself as a hobbyist, told deputies he has a Florida concealed weapons permit as well as a federal permit to own automatic weapons. Eyewitness News learned owning fully automatic weapons are legal under certain circumstances.

"There's a very vigorous background check done by local authorities," said Larry Anderson of Shoot Straight Gun Range.

In a phone interview from the Osceola County jail Tuesday, Jett Cramer said that Clark is a collector.

"It's a hobby, he wouldn't hurt a fly," Cramer said.

(Excerpt) Read more at wftv.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: atf; banglist; hobbies
Video at link.
1 posted on 08/11/2009 4:29:48 PM PDT by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog
Eyewitness News learned owning fully automatic weapons are legal under certain circumstances.
2 posted on 08/11/2009 4:32:50 PM PDT by fso301
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To: smokingfrog

th having an arsenal of dangerous weapons hidden inside a Poinciana home, said the weapons were just a hobby...

You say that like it is a bad thing.


3 posted on 08/11/2009 4:33:51 PM PDT by Hang'emAll
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To: Hang'emAll

Every true American Patriot should have an arsenal of weapons, ammunition and accessories hidden well enough NOT to be discovered by yahoo deputies, federal hacks or other fascist jackboots.


4 posted on 08/11/2009 4:37:29 PM PDT by mkjessup (Hey Comrade 0bama? No documentation = No eligibility, ok? Now GTF out of OUR White House!!!)
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To: smokingfrog

The video is about one inch wide on my monitor. She what is included in the “arsenal.” And what exactly is an arsenal? I’d like to know if I have one yet.


5 posted on 08/11/2009 4:41:58 PM PDT by BykrBayb (Damn the naysayers. Full speed ahead. ~ Þ)
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To: smokingfrog
If he owned them legally then it ceases to be a dangerous cache and becomes what gun nuts call "a nice sized collection."

My prediction, no charges on the weapons unless they nail him for drug trafficking. If he gets nailed for drug possession, does anybody know if ATFE can pull your tax stamps on your class III toys?

6 posted on 08/11/2009 4:42:05 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: smokingfrog

“Eyewitness News learned owning fully automatic weapons
are legal under certain circumstances.”
-
No, duh!


7 posted on 08/11/2009 4:43:24 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (I AM JIM THOMPSON!)
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To: USNBandit
If he owned them legally then it ceases to be a dangerous cache and becomes what gun nuts call "a nice sized collection."

There used to be a guy on FR with the signature line: "I am not a 'gun nut'. I am a 'firearms enthusiast'."

8 posted on 08/11/2009 4:49:40 PM PDT by wideminded
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To: smokingfrog

The media is aghast over the guns. I’m stupified as to why a legal gun owner is stupid enough to get involved with drugs.


9 posted on 08/11/2009 4:50:33 PM PDT by umgud (Look to gov't to solve your everday problems and they'll control your everday life.)
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To: BykrBayb

http://www.clickorlando.com/slideshow/news/20347381/detail.html


10 posted on 08/11/2009 4:51:43 PM PDT by smokingfrog (No man's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session. I AM JIM THOMPSON)
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To: mkjessup

Yes, indeed.


11 posted on 08/11/2009 4:57:37 PM PDT by Hang'emAll
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To: smokingfrog

That’s all it takes to make an arsenal? Hmmm.


12 posted on 08/11/2009 4:59:33 PM PDT by BykrBayb (Damn the naysayers. Full speed ahead. ~ Þ)
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To: USNBandit
"My prediction, no charges on the weapons unless they nail him for drug trafficking. If he gets nailed for drug possession, does anybody know if ATFE can pull your tax stamps on your class III toys?"

Please tell me you're not that dumb. Have you ever filled out a 4473 let alone a form 4?

13 posted on 08/11/2009 5:02:59 PM PDT by Trinity5
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To: smokingfrog

After viewing this man’s collection all I can say is, he’s not very neat and he has more room for more guns.


14 posted on 08/11/2009 5:03:29 PM PDT by Recon Dad ( MARSOC DAD)
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To: smokingfrog

After viewing this man’s collection all I can say is, he’s not very neat and he has more room for more guns.


15 posted on 08/11/2009 5:04:26 PM PDT by Recon Dad ( MARSOC DAD)
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To: smokingfrog

There are some unanswered questions.

For instance:

What were the marijuana charges? If the charges are possession without intent, then, I’m not sure the police or ATF can legally seize the weapons. (although, with ATF’s track record, good luck getting the weapons back in working order)

Another question is the mortar and, I suppose, ammunition for the mortar.

ATF is known to stretch facts to make things look worse than they actually are.

Is the mortar in working order? Or, is it a de-milled version? Same with the mortar rounds.

I can see it now, the so-called “bombs” are mortar rounds, which were described to the reporter as being a sort of “bomb.”


16 posted on 08/11/2009 5:07:42 PM PDT by stylin_geek (Greed and envy is used by our political class to exploit the rich and poor.)
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To: smokingfrog

The guns may have been legal at one time, but when he got into the illegal drug business, all of his guns became illegal. That is the law.


17 posted on 08/11/2009 5:07:56 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (The beginning of the O'Bummer administration looks a lot like the end of the Nixon administration)
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To: smokingfrog
all made appearances on drug-related charges

Sounds as though they had more than one hobby.

18 posted on 08/11/2009 5:19:27 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: smokingfrog

For what it’s worth, the 1919 in the crate appears to be a semi-auto version. Considered an ordinary rifle under Federal Law. You can tell by the hand crank-fire mechanism where the trigger is located.

The mortar is probably deactivated and as such a non-gun. Pictures don’t show much detail. It’s possible to have been rebuild as a black powder muzzle loader. If so, still not a firearm under Federal Law.

Don’t know about the “mortar-bombs” as there wasn’t much detail. If he did build some explosive rounds for the BP mortar, that’s what will hang him.


19 posted on 08/11/2009 5:29:17 PM PDT by sjmjax
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To: smokingfrog

There is no such thing as a “dangerous weapon”. There are only dangerous people. . .


20 posted on 08/11/2009 5:48:02 PM PDT by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border: I dare you to try and cross it. . .)
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To: Trinity5
Please tell me you're not that dumb.

Gee, you are friendly, and oh so helpful.

21 posted on 08/11/2009 5:52:08 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: smokingfrog
Eyewitness News learned owning fully automatic weapons are legal under certain circumstances.

Eyewitness News is in dire need of other learning as well.

22 posted on 08/11/2009 5:59:48 PM PDT by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|Neda Agha-Soltan - victim of murdering regime)
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To: USNBandit

I’m thinking he will need to find a new “hobby.”


23 posted on 08/11/2009 6:00:44 PM PDT by smokingfrog (No man's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session. I AM JIM THOMPSON)
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To: smokingfrog
How many weapons constitutes an arsenal?

The "explosives" accusation is somewhat bothersome.

24 posted on 08/11/2009 6:02:32 PM PDT by meyer (It's 1938 all over again - the democrats are the new NAZIs and conservatives are the new Jews.)
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To: meyer

According to this story...

- a fully automatic MAC-11 submachine gun, timing fuses, a binary explosive compound and numerous other high powered semiautomatic weapons were also found at the home.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/20347410/detail.html

Unless he has an explosives license, I think the timing fuses and binary explosive compound is going to be a problem.


25 posted on 08/11/2009 6:08:59 PM PDT by smokingfrog (No man's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session. I AM JIM THOMPSON)
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To: smokingfrog
Yeah, even the local police rarely show up at your house for simple possession. The source article is poorly written, as usual. The original article for the arrest says they found a pot plant in a resident's car. Was that the gun owner? There was a grow house also raided in connection. Was that grow house on the same property as the house?

Way too many questions to predict the outcome. It looks like everybody was arraigned on drug charges, but it will be interesting to see if those charges stick to the gun owner.

26 posted on 08/11/2009 6:16:12 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: editor-surveyor

Oh noes a laws was broken, what are we going to do????????

(runs around like a little girl looking for her daddy to protect her from the big bad monsters.


27 posted on 08/11/2009 6:23:38 PM PDT by ronnietherocket2
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To: smokingfrog

He was stupid to hide them in his home. Never put all your eggs in one basket.


28 posted on 08/12/2009 12:59:05 AM PDT by mojitojoe (All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for the people to remain silent.)
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To: smokingfrog

Regarding the explosives question - unmixed binary explosives are not illegal in most states. One brand, Tannerite, is a popular target for recreational shooting and legal in all 50 or is it 57 States.

http://www.tannerite.com/

Under most State laws it only becomes illegal if you mix it and put it in storage or transport it off site.


29 posted on 08/12/2009 8:55:45 AM PDT by sjmjax
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To: smokingfrog

Tannerite is a binary explosive used as a reactive target. You shoot it and it “blows up”. You can buy the targets out of Shotgun News and they are legal as fireworks and likely less dangerous.

Timing fuses could be cannon fuse cut to length or estes rocket ignitors...

I’m not sure at this point if anything he had would be illegal without a drug charge that would stick. And we all know there are no police out there that would plant drugs...


30 posted on 08/13/2009 12:35:18 AM PDT by El Laton Caliente (NRA Life Member & www.Gunsnet.net Moderator)
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To: USNBandit
"Gee, you are friendly, and oh so helpful."

Gee, my bad. Most people assume drug dealers and users are legally allowed to own full auto firearms.

31 posted on 08/13/2009 10:55:32 AM PDT by Trinity5
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To: smokingfrog

Must have brought them over from Mexico.


32 posted on 08/13/2009 10:59:29 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: sjmjax

Maybe his second hobby is making his own fireworks. Perfectly legal under certain circumstances.


33 posted on 08/13/2009 2:52:25 PM PDT by smokingfrog (No man's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session. I AM JIM THOMPSON)
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To: fso301

“Eyewitness News learned owning fully automatic weapons are legal under certain circumstances.”

At what point is ignorance willful ?


34 posted on 08/13/2009 3:00:52 PM PDT by PLMerite (Speak Truth to Stupid.)
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To: editor-surveyor

“...drug-related charges...”

Meaning, what exactly?

“The guns may have been legal at one time, but when he got into the illegal drug business, all of his guns became illegal. That is the law.”

So he doesn’t actually need to be convicted of anything to make having the guns illegal?


35 posted on 08/13/2009 3:30:42 PM PDT by PLMerite (Speak Truth to Stupid.)
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To: PLMerite
"So he doesn’t actually need to be convicted of anything to make having the guns illegal?"

That's what the courts have been letting them get away with. The statutes don't say anything about conviction; just possession of both guns and drugs.

36 posted on 08/13/2009 7:56:42 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (The beginning of the O'Bummer administration looks a lot like the end of the Nixon administration)
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To: smokingfrog

Once again, they’ll never ban firearms, they just call you a terrorists or drug dealer first and take them from you.


37 posted on 08/13/2009 8:16:37 PM PDT by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: PLMerite
"So he doesn’t actually need to be convicted of anything to make having the guns illegal?"

That's correct. Congress and the State legislatures have decided that that the possession of illegal drugs is a crime. They have also passed laws that forbid the possession of firearms during the commission of any felony and some other crimes. Do you think the 2nd Amendment forbids any legislative body from forbidding the possession of firearms by a perp during the commission of a crime?

38 posted on 08/13/2009 8:30:34 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: spunkets

“Do you think the 2nd Amendment forbids any legislative body from forbidding the possession of firearms by a perp during the commission of a crime?”

The 2nd Amendment doesn’t say one way or the other.

As for this case, I’d have to hear what the “drug-related charges” were, and how/if his having these weapons were related. If the guy is making/moving/selling drugs and the guns are a part of that then I’d say it’s a good beef.

But I was on a Grand Jury some years ago, and I know the State’s Attorney loves to pile on charges, most of which are later dropped or bargained away. This guy’s probably dirty, but I’ll withhold judgement until I hear more facts.


39 posted on 08/13/2009 9:19:29 PM PDT by PLMerite (Speak Truth to Stupid.)
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this is utter bs we NEVER said the leaf came from the house .By the way the same officer that lied to get a warrant also tackled me while i was handcuffed for no reason.My fiance had a seizure i stated please help her after she was twitching unconcous on the ground. he then tackled me i kept pleading on ground to help her they then called her a druggie and did NOTHING. minutes later a superior officer walked outside and ordered them to get us inside the station.They gave her a tiny cup of water and thats all.If he didnt come out i could only imagine what more negligence could have happened.NO DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED STATING WHAT HAPPENED.Just more fuel to get something on us.


40 posted on 09/08/2009 12:06:14 AM PDT by jett cramer
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To: jett cramer

Welcome to FreeRepublic. It’s good to hear from the “horse’s mouth”.
We’re watching and wondering.
I hope you have a good lawyer.


41 posted on 09/08/2009 12:15:04 AM PDT by WVKayaker (Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. -Arthur C Clarke)
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