Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

RI ACLU says Cranston police illegally took a man's weapons
publicbroadcasting.net ^ | 12 June, 2012 | FLO JONIC

Posted on 06/13/2012 4:33:16 AM PDT by marktwain

PROVIDENCE, RI (RIPR) - The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Cranston Police Department, charging it with illegally seizing a man's weapons.

The ACLU says the Cranston Police Department violated Robert Machado's due process and Second Amendment rights when they seized his lawfully obtained guns and samurai swords back in September. Police took the guns when they were called to Machado's home on a potential suicide call initiated by a concerned friend. Machado says the friend misinterpreted his comments.

A mental health evaluation cleared Machado of any suicidal tendencies but Cranston police have refused to return his weapons which they say they took for safe keeping. They're telling him he needs a court order to get them back.

The ACLU lawsuit seeks a court order declaring the police department's actions unconstitutional and ordering the return of Machado's weapons.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@wrni.org.

(Excerpt) Read more at publicbroadcasting.net ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: aclu; banglist; constitution; ri
Perhaps the national ACLU will now add the Second Amendment to the other nine listed at their headquarters in D.C.
1 posted on 06/13/2012 4:33:25 AM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain
The ACLU feels it MUST backfill their common-sense constitutionality creds once or twice a year....

Especially if their donations are down a couple of notches in a tough economy...

Just sayin'

2 posted on 06/13/2012 4:38:15 AM PDT by Wings-n-Wind (The main things are the plain things!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wings-n-Wind

It must be opposite day in RI ..


3 posted on 06/13/2012 4:42:50 AM PDT by Col Frank Slade
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
ACLU defending the 2nd Amendment? Don't "jump the gun" on this before getting the details!

Is the person involved an illegal alien, Communist, Anarchist or member of any other of what the ACLU sees as "protected groups?"

4 posted on 06/13/2012 4:44:52 AM PDT by drpix
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

A p[ersonal note to my friends.:

I am not suicidal, please do not notify police even if you think I am.

There is no sucidal patient so bad off that the police cannot make his situation worse. In many cases they end up killing the person themselves.

If you think I am suicidal please-—please-— Mind your own damned business.


5 posted on 06/13/2012 5:28:06 AM PDT by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

“Police took the guns when they were called to Machado’s home on a potential suicide call initiated by a concerned friend.”

Not only is this unconstitutional, but it’s just plain dumb. Did they take all his kitchen knives, belts, shoelaces, and impound his car too? If they were really concerned he was suicidal, a better course of action would have been to get him to a hospital for an evaluation and counseling, not this half-assed move.


6 posted on 06/13/2012 6:35:40 AM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

“Not only is this unconstitutional, but it’s just plain dumb. Did they take all his kitchen knives, belts, shoelaces, and impound his car too? If they were really concerned he was suicidal, a better course of action would have been to get him to a hospital for an evaluation and counseling, not this half-assed move.”

You don’t think for a moment that the Cranston Cops give a $hit about this guy do you ? It’s always about the weapons. The cops hate the idea that an ordinary citizen has any means to protect himself from them.


7 posted on 06/13/2012 9:23:05 AM PDT by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

“You don’t think for a moment that the Cranston Cops give a $hit about this guy do you ?”

No, I don’t. It’s pretty plain that most cops would love to disarm us all.


8 posted on 06/13/2012 4:17:19 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson