Gun Owners got letters

[djstarrider]

I just really hate this part of the government.  It is like the old saying that we all heard from a teacher in school, empty your pockets, if you have nothing to hide, what is the problem?  The problem is that this is a very left handed approach to a violation of the 14th amendment.  No they didn't force anyone to do anything, but this sounds like some bureacrats idea of a good way to eliminate certain weapons from consideration, and then go after the ones that did not "volunteer".

Why would someone volunteer their weapon for inspection and firing, ballistics testing, etc when you knew where your weapon was and that you were not involved and neither was your weapon?  Can you believe that 40 of 60 weapons were unaccounted for by their owners?

The ballistics testing results are a permanent part of the police record into the investigation of these murders.  The results of the tests will certainly stay in the police dept computers from now on.

Now consider this.  You have volunterred your weapon for testing and storage of the records.  a few years down the road, you decide to buy whatever new "toy" they have come up with and sell your current .40 cal weapon to someone privately.  They in turn sell the weapon, lose it, or have it stolen and then it is used in a crime with evidence left at the scene.  You are suspect number one.  You better be able to prove when and to whom you sold it.  If the buyer perhaps gave you a fake name, and cannot be located, you are still suspect number one.

Just my .02

[Pathfinder]

They can ask, and I may give. If I refuse, they better have more than that to force the issue/make me a "person of interest" or it's going to cost them.

Sadly, no it won't. Lots of threads here have gone through this idea, from Katrina and the LEOs who illegally enhanced their personal collections - er, illegally confiscated arms that went missing, to Greensburg, KS to pick one - there are never any repercussions to the LEOs involved - not one that I have ever heard. They get to break the law, and the excuse is well, they're just doing their jobs or following orders. Didn't we hang Germans after WWII for using that same excuse for abusing the laws?

So even if you win, the taxpayers pay the bill, not the LEOs.

According to the reports I read, the only "person of interest" is an Indian, and the reservations down there are big and empty and the people not at all willing to help the LEOs in their quest. Can't say as I blame them.

Don't get me wrong, I want to fry this or these asshole(s) who did this as much as anyone else, slowly and painfully. This is not the way to go about finding them, though, not at all.

[MikeO]

Sadly, no it won't. So even if you win, the taxpayers pay the bill, not the LEOs.

Good point.

The FBI did not just pay over $5 million to the wrong person of interest in the anthrax mailing case, we all did.

I was a bit sloppy w the use of "them".

[HAWKFISH]

Don't get me wrong, I want to fry this or these asshole(s) who did this as much as anyone else, slowly and painfully. This is not the way to go about finding them, though, not at all.
[/quote]

+1

[MikeBjerum]

I went all the way back and read the article again.  I'm sure that being typical media report that there is something missing, but does this smack of lazy police work to anyone else?  What else are they doing to track this person or people down?  To me it sounds like picking up the yellow pages, looking up "Felons on the Loose" and calling around for the best offer.

Has anyone checked with their attorney concerning the wisdom of entering into this testing?  I used to think that if you did nothing wrong that there was nothing wrong with talking to investigators.  I have learned my lesson, fortunately at the expense of others, that context and continuity are very important.  What would professional advice be on entering into this testing, giving history of the gun and/or ammo, storage of firearm, and purpose of owning said gun.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Based on the wide spread attention given to the .40 cal. My nasty suspicious mind is telling me their best leads involve the OTHER gun used.

[Pathfinder]

Has anyone checked with their attorney concerning the wisdom of entering into this testing?  I used to think that if you did nothing wrong that there was nothing wrong with talking to investigators.  I have learned my lesson, fortunately at the expense of others, that context and continuity are very important.  What would professional advice be on entering into this testing, giving history of the gun and/or ammo, storage of firearm, and purpose of owning said gun.

Good point, I had not considered that. Suppose that gun you bought at the local pawnshop had been used, oh, say 3 owners ago in a felony. Guess what? The LEOs cross-check it and find a match. You are now a "person of interest" in that felony until you can prove otherwise. Since it is a gun used in a crime, you lose it and the $$$ you spent on it - evidence in the old crime, don't you know.