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MILLER: D.C. arrests vet for unregistered ammunition (part 1)
The Washington Times ^ | 1 July, 2012 | Emily Miller

Posted on 07/02/2012 8:10:41 AM PDT by marktwain

Washington, D.C.'s restrictive gun laws are being used to persecute soldiers. The pattern is disturbing, as what follows is the third case I’ve uncovered of a veteran being unfairly prosecuted under laws that should not be on the books.

In September 2011, former Army Specialist Meckler was arrested at the VFW in the District because he happened to have a few long-forgotten rounds of ordinary ammunition in his bag. The veteran of both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was jailed and later accepted a plea deal, which he now regrets.

In May, a new law was enacted in the District make the ammunitions restrictions more reasonable, but it did not go far enough.

According to the National Rifle Association, there are only two states, Illinois and Massachusetts, and three major cities, D.C., New York City and Chicago, that have general prohibitions on possession of ammunition without a license, even if the accused doesn’t have a gun.

There is no legitimate public safety reason for criminalizing ammunition possession. It only serves to punish law-abiding gun owners doing normal activities, such as what happened to Spc. Meckler.

An errand at VFW

Spc. Meckler was only 15 days out of active duty and still living at Fort Belvoir when he had to go into the District to turn in his medical records. On Sept. 18, he went to the VFW, which is located inside the Veterans Affairs D.C. regional office, four blocks from the White House. The Army medic carried these paper loosely and created a mess going through the scanner conveyer belt.

The next day, the Kentucky native had to return with more documents so he took his first-aid backpack to keep the papers from flying around again at security.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: ammunition; banglist; constitution; dc
14 stray rounds of ammo in a bag that he used at the range. This gets one arrested in DC. I call it an infringement of Second Amendment rights.
1 posted on 07/02/2012 8:10:54 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

Isn’t it strange that an alleged “lack of intent” to hurt anyone keeps Jon Corzine from being prosecuted in NY — but an obvious “lack of intent” to harm anyone is being ignored in DC.

I guess only big-donor Democrats are allowed to play that “Get-out-of-jail-free” card.


2 posted on 07/02/2012 8:33:15 AM PDT by pfony1
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To: pfony1

I am prepared to give up my unregistered ammo when the time comes, one round at a time.


3 posted on 07/02/2012 8:40:40 AM PDT by Mouton (Voting is an opiate of the electorate. Nothing changes no matter who wins..)
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To: marktwain

Sadly not unbelievable.


4 posted on 07/02/2012 8:48:15 AM PDT by Eagles6
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To: marktwain
I call it an infringement of Second Amendment rights.

I agree. Having been slapped down by the Supreme Court over restricting guns, the gun grabbers are increasingly restricting the purchase and possession of ammunition. Imagine during the early days of our nations founding if a state out to suppress the freedom of the press were to have said, "OK the Supreme Court says you can have newspapers, but we are going to regulate the purchase and possession of ink."

5 posted on 07/02/2012 8:49:05 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: marktwain

How insane. Registering ammo? No wonder DC is full of all breeds of criminals from looting politicians to classless thugs. At least if there is ever war on US soil, that will be the first place to go.


6 posted on 07/02/2012 8:59:38 AM PDT by formosa (Formosa)
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To: marktwain

He did make a huge mistake.
Just wow on the the unconstitutionality of the DC laws.
The abuse by police. How sad!


7 posted on 07/04/2012 2:54:30 PM PDT by An American! (Proud To Be An American!)
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