Anti-gun program may mean more prison time for Macon man

The Macon Telegraph ^ | 20 Feb 03 | Sharon E. Crawford

[Ed Straker]

Anti-gun program may mean more prison time for Macon man

By Sharon E. Crawford

Telegraph Staff Writer

A federal program targeting gun violence could bring more prison time to a Macon man convicted Tuesday on weapons charges.

Ernst W. Kugel, 51, was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Macon on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He had previously been convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Kugel was prosecuted under the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a federal initiative to reduce gun violence in local neighborhoods.

This is the first time someone in Middle Georgia has been prosecuted locally under this program, U.S. Attorney Max Wood said in a news release Wednesday.

"This case serves as a model for future gun prosecutions," Wood said. "Private citizens provided anonymous tips to Crimestoppers about individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms. This information was relayed to officers assigned to the PSN Task Force, and within 24 hours, the defendant was arrested.

"Firearms such as sawed-off shotguns are some of the most dangerous weapons criminals can possess because they can be so easily concealed when used to commit crimes."

Kugel now faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison on each charge and a maximum of $250,000 in fines on each count. Kugel is expected to be sentenced next month.

In 2001, federal officials created the PSN program and pledged $558 million to reducing the gun problem across the nation.

Last year, officials in Bibb and Houston counties joined a PSN task force to identify the most effective local laws to use against gun-carrying criminals.

To contact Sharon E. Crawford, call 744-4384 or e-mail scrawford@macontel.com.

[Pontiac]

"Firearms such as sawed-off shotguns are some of the most dangerous weapons criminals can possess because they can be so easily concealed when used to commit crimes."

Unless you are a very large man I don’t see concealing a sawed-off shotgun on your person a practical reality.

This is just more anti-gun rhetoric masquerading as concern for citizen’s safety.

A sawed-off shotgun could be a great home defense weapon.

[Lion Den Dan]

Unless the shotgun was rather short===

I don't think you know what you are talking about, chief. The guy is a thug and needs to go.

[The Red Zone]

So if he's been thugging, it's not the gun that ought to be criminalized, it's the usage of the gun.

[Pontiac]

The guy is a thug and needs to go.

My comment is about the statement made by the LEO. These statements made by these professional spokesmen are simply made to justify restrictive gun laws.

There is no logical justification for a making a sawed-off shotgun illegal.

Unless the shotgun was rather short

The only shotgun that could be cut short enough to be easily concealed by an average sized man would be a single or double-barreled shotgun. Although it may appear intimidating it would not be very useful as a fighting weapon.

[snowtigger]

I don't know how to post a link but , obviously you have never been to Serbu Firearms site. They have a 12 guage pump, based on a Mossberg , that is only 12" long. This is a LEGAL shotgun which requires only a $5.00 AOW permit.

[Pontiac]

Your right never heard of this site or the shotgun. Is that total legth including the stock?

[THEUPMAN]

super shorty

[from occupied ga]

"This case serves as a model for future gun prosecutions," Wood said.

Note that the government prosecutor used the term "gun prosecutions" not prosecutions for violent crime

Wood said "Private citizens provided anonymous tips to Crimestoppers about individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms.

Wonderful! more arrests based on the famous "anonymous tip" What happened to probably cause? What happened to warrants? For that matter why are these "PSN Task Force" gestapo chasing this sort of stuff - not enough burglaries to go around? This is the stuff that defines a totalitarian police state. Arrests made on the "tip from an anonymous informant" for a malum prohibitum" law. Everything not mandatory is forbidden. Welcome to the new USA Komrad.

"Firearms such as sawed-off shotguns are some of the most dangerous weapons criminals can possess because they can be so easily concealed when used to commit crimes."

Another lie about guns from the government, and another lie from government unchallenged by the lickspittle media, but what the heck, who's counting?

[Pontiac]

Looks like fun!

Definitely a good defensive weapon, if a little hard to handle.

[apillar]

This is why I cringe when I hear a pro-gunner use as an argument against a gun control group, "We don't need new gun control lets just enforce the laws on the books." This may be a good soundbite and it has almost become the mantra of pro-gunners in the last few years but I think it is almost admiting defeat. It's admitting that some gun control is ok... we just don't need more.

I don't think many people realize just how onerous many of the "unenforced" provisions of federal, state and local gun laws are. Even something as simple as the law mentioned in this article banning gun ownership by felons (which I imagine even many of the staunchest pro-gunners support)is often not as open and closed as it may seem. Most people think of felonies as murder, rape, armed robbery etc. and I think there is a very good reason to prevent these type of people from owning firearms. But how many people realize that nowdays you can be a convicted for a felony if you kill an endangered species even accidently, remove or alter the polution control system in your car, dispose of certain household chemicals down a storm drain, and there are literally thousands more of equally dubious merit.

So to all the, "No new gun laws, just enforce the laws on the books." folks, I would say, "Be careful what you ask for you just might get it."

[Pontiac]

But how many people realize that nowdays you can be a convicted for a felony if you kill an endangered species even accidently, remove or alter the polution control system in your car, dispose of certain household chemicals down a storm drain, and there are literally thousands more of equally dubious merit.

This is a very good point, which I have not thought about. This is a danger of being to quick to endorse a get tough on crime attitude.

The Reps and Senate candidates are always pushing some legislation which, will Federalize some crime in order to appear tough on crime during their reelection campaigns.

So we end up with power moving to the Federal Jurisdiction and more crimes become felonies, more people loose their Second Amendment rights.