OK, so now how about raiding the homes of the other militia leaders (Al Qaeda cells and sympathizers) who also live in Michigan (can you say "Dearborn"?)
If he is a prior felony, then being in posession of firearms would be illegal.
"Inside they found a stash of guns and ammunition"
Just how does the law define the word stash?
Do the firearms and ammo in my Sentinal brand gun safe constitute a "stash"??
I cringe at the use of the words stash and stockpile
Other than that, the article is inconclusive.
Suppose you were a leader of a Muslim terrotist organization trying to disrupt the United States. Your main native born allies are American blacks who have become Black Muslims. (Given John Muhammed's access to large amounts of cash and frequent travel, I suspect that he was recruited into the network of Middle Eastern terror.) Yet, with the exception of a handful of converts like Jose Padilla or John Walker Lindh, Islam has not significantly penetrated the white and Hispanic communities. The most natural ally for the Middle Eastern terrorists among whites would be disaffected white racists and anti-Semites who are enthralled with conspiracy theories that paint powerful Jewish interests at the center of webs of worldwide intrigue. Their theories are basically the same as those espoused by radical Islam, having the same roots in such late 19th Century works as The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. For these white racists to ally with the non-Aryan Arabs is no more contradictory it was for the Nazis to ally with the non-Aryan Japanese.
I am opposed to governmental restrictions on private ownership and possession of firearms and radio equipment. I recognize that the Feds regard the militia groups as the primary enemies of the State and have dealt with them far more harshly than they have with Muslim terrorists, eco-terrorists, or minority group militants. However, this raid on the home of an already imprisoned militia leader may be prompted by legitimate national security concerns.
Depending on the service, standards for allowable speech vary widely. The standards for allowed speech are very strict for the Public Service, Amateur, Aeronautical, and Marine Services bands. More lenient standards are inplace for the Broadcast Services and commercial land mobile services. No standards for speech exist for the telecom (Cellular and Cord Less telephone) service, and all speech is allowed. Incidentally, the Citizens Band service was also tightly constrained along these lines, but the commission failed to regulate conduct on these frequencies, and it degraded into Chaos.
FYI, I'm not up on weapons laws, what kind of firearms would cause federal charges? Unlicensed?DIRECTLY from the story we have:
Federal authorities went to the Dexter home of Mark Koernke (pictured, left) to serve a warrant for illegal use of radio equipment.WHY are you bringing up the subject of 'firearms charges'?
Federal Agents Raid Militia Activist's Property
Reported by John Klekamp
Web Produced by Christiana CiolacFederal agents got more than they bargained for when they raided the home of local militia activist Mark Koernke.
Mark Koernke has been in prison for more than two years.
U.S. Marshals were out Wednesday at his Dexter property from reports from a pirate radio operation and when they were out there, they saw something and alerted the ATF.
Deputies shut down Dexter-Pinkney Road as authorities searched the property of jailed militia member Mark Koernke. ATF agents said they found weapons, but they would not say how many.
"So far we found a large number of guns and a large quantity of ammunition," said ATF Special Agent Gregory Holley.
The federal search warrant was executed after U.S. Marshals had entered the home to confiscate a low powered transmitter used for a pirate radio station, 90.7FM.
"The local deputies in this area said there isn't much range to it. You can hear it somewhere within the village area which is somewhere within maybe two mile or so, but it's very short," said Washtenaw County Sheriff Daniel Minzey said.
All that can be heard on the frequency now is static. Deputies say Koernke the FM station is used to spread his message about the Michigan militia. Koernke is in state prison doing time for a high-speed chase back in March 2000.
Authorities say they have had many encounters with Koernke in the past, even though he is behind bars, they are not done with him yet.
"We don't want to say it is illegal or legal, but some of these weapons will be going to the lab for determination to see if they are in violation of the federal laws. At that time if it is so, we will file federal charges," said Special Agent Holley.
Authorities say Koernke's wife and two sons live at the property in Dexter. It is not clear who owns the weapons or who was running the radio station.
Automatic weapons that have not been taxed. Of course, Mark is a convicted felon, as well...
Wonder what he was doing with the radio that was illegal. With free speech it shouldn't be something he said, right?
There is a wide range of things you're not supposed to do on the airwaves. First off, if you're not licensed for shortwave, you're not supposed to be transmitting, period. If you're licensed, you're only supposed to use those frequency bands that your license class allows. You're not supposed to use an amateur license for commercial purposes. You're not allowed to engage in deliberate interference with other legitimate broadcasts. You're not allowed to exceed certain effective radiated power levels. If someone comes on with a distress call, you are not supposed to interfere with that call.
In Michigan, Class III firearms are illegal, even with the BATF paperwork in order.
Koernke's been a "guest" of the State of Michigan for a while, after a pursuit in 2000.
There was an unlicensed radio station transmitting on 90.7 MHz, smack in the FM broadcast band, in his family home. This station's programming was mostly talk, taped messages from Mark, etc. It was a fairly low power transmitter; I was never able to receive it here south of Detroit along the river.
Actually, believe it or not, for many years not it has been the case that you do not need a radio operator's license to operate an aircraft radio unless you plan on flying internationally. Anyone can order a handheld aircraft radio from Sporty's.
IIRC, and don't quote me on this, but I thought that the FCC had subsumed a station/operator license into the pilot's certificate. That is, if one has the pilot's license, then one is also considered to have the radio license. That doesn't work in other nations, though, so a separate FCC license is required (write a check, fill out a form, wait a while, etc.) before international flights.
Carolyn