Anti-Tank Grenade Launcher Seized In Massive Crime Ring Bust

[Hazcat]

POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- Thirty people were arrested and an anti-tank grenade launcher was seized along with numerous guns and stolen motorcycles in what may be one of the largest organized crime busts in Central Florida history, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

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Even without a live round, deputies showed off the power of a WWII-era grenade launcher Thursday (weapon details). It was one of more than 20 weapons seized in an eight-month investigation into an organized crime ring dealing in drugs, guns and stolen property in places like Polk, Osceola and Orange counties.

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The Polk County Sheriff's Office is getting a reputation for uncovering major Central Florida crime rings. They recently arrested two Seminole County ringleaders along with 16 other suspects in a $100 million shoplifting operation. Last month, Polk County detectives caught 21 men involved in a disturbing child pornography ring.

The sheriff's office told Eyewitness News they make the busts because they actually search for criminals, rather than just react to crimes.

Link http://www.wftv.com/news/15785942/detail.html#

[AR 15 Rep]

Looks like it was operational too.... makes me wonder how they acquired that item and if they had rounds for it....
At least the polk county sherriff is spending the time and effort to find these people.

[Grizzle_Bear]

Geezee......It's a PIAT.

Even if you had an explosive projectile for it, it's almost useless.

Just to hit something the size of a tank, you had to be within the blast radius of the projectile.

The only thing stupider were the armor-peircing hand grenades the were issued early in WWII.  For those to be effective, you had to be kamakazi-close to your target.

Nothing but a curiousity.

Grizzle Bear

[MikeBjerum]

Let's see ... It is 36" long (not bad), weighs 35 pounds loaded, takes two men to cock it, and it has an effective range of 110 yards.  Now imagine yourself as a 135 pound crack addict ... got that mind picture ... are you going to try and wrestle this thing or just drive your Yugo through the front door of the liquor store?

I know it is illegal and that these guys had it illegally, but in generalities with all bad guys do these days, what is the threat of a weapon like this?  Oh yea ... It looks scarey and shoots really big bullets!

[MikeBjerum]

Back up a minute.  I missed a point when I posted.

I still know these folks did lots wrong, and the guns are being used for emphisis.  I even fell into the trap that this was about guns and the launcher. 

However, I did not see anywhere, unless I missed it again, that they had any grenades.  This thing is spring operated!  Without grenades is it still illegal?

[Sponsor]

[warhawke]

They were selling them in the shotgun news not long ago, there is nothing even remotely illegal about them. The AMMO is illegal, the weapon is not.

[gunman1911]

I don't think that the intended purpose was to launch potatoes or tennis balls.

[kmitch200]

Hey they did have a couple of scary revolvers! They even had a mak90 with the thumbhole stock to make it 922 compliant.
Only 21 guns for a big crime ring is pretty weak IMO.
Maybe they used the PIAT as a spring loaded spud gun. You know those things could leave a nasty bruise at close range - maybe.

[HAWKFISH]

I wonder if the lady that hates to look out her window and see people with bb guns on their shoulder... what would she do if she saw one of those in her neiborhood?      

[tombogan03884]

I wonder if the lady that hates to look out her window and see people with bb guns on their shoulder... what would she do if she saw one of those in her neiborhood?     

Sh*t  a gold brick