“Police say holes in firearms records make it difficult to track the source of weapons they recover from crime scenes,” sentinelandenterprise.com reports. “The ongoing investigation of a shooting on Fulton Street last month has shed light on an issue Fitchburg Police Chief Robert DeMoura said is putting his officers’ lives in danger.” You ready for this? Sure you are . . .
According to Massachusetts law, all residents must notify the Firearms Records Bureau of all sales or transfers of all firearms, which then go through the Massachusetts Instant Record Check to ensure that neither party is prohibited from owning a firearm. In other words, the Bay State has universal background checks (i.e. the gun control advocates’ wet dream). So how’s that working out?
On Jan. 24, Keno Berrick, 20, and Marquis Ford, 28, both of 21 Fulton St., were arrested following an alleged incident that day that involved the firing of a weapon in the street. Police said they found four firearms in their possession, three handguns and a long gun. Two of the guns had previously been reported stolen, one from inside the state and one from outside.
Police were unable to pinpoint the origin of the two other guns because of gaps in the firearms’ records.
“Where did (they) come from?” asked DeMoura.
Commonly, the answer is that police don’t know and may not be able to find out.
Question: who cares how the bad guys got the guns?
The police want to stem the flow of illegal guns to criminals. The police reckon they can use tracing information from guns used in crime to identify “straw purchasers” – people with clean records who bought guns to sell to criminals. Imprison the straw purchasers (min. 2.5 year jail sentence) and they’ll reduce the supply of guns to criminals. In theory.
In practice, only the stupidest of straw purchasers gets caught. Even if the police identify the original buyer as a straw purchaser for a “crime gun,” they have to prove the gun or guns were bought for a bad guy or guys. The straw purchaser can say, oops, I lost it or oops it was stolen. As we live in a country where people are innocent until proven guilty (at least in theory), proving that a person without a criminal record bought a gun for a criminal is tough sledding.
Besides, most guns used in crimes were stolen from lawful owners. Let’s look at the stats, shall we?
In 2011, 1,737 firearms were traced by law enforcement in Massachusetts, according to the ATF. These include firearms recovered by police or found lost or abandoned. It does not include firearms from gun buybacks or guns turned in to police by their owners. Of those traced firearms, 351 came from Massachusetts, 133 came from New Hampshire, 79 came from Maine, 60 came from Georgia, 56 came from Florida and 38 came from California.
Did you catch that? The records include lost or abandoned firearms. Wouldn’t it be helpful to know HOW MANY? And how many of these were stolen and how many were delivered unto evil hands via straw purchasers? * crickets chirping *
Again, who cares where these guns came from? Not to belabor the point, but tracing firearms has done sweet FA to reduce the crime rate in general and firearms-related crime in particular.
Which leaves us where? If you’re the Sentinel, it leaves you searching for a pro-registry argument. How about this one?
The lack of records also makes it harder for police to assess potential dangers. For example, when police serve a search warrant, [Fitchburg police Officer Ron] L’Ecuyer said they would like to know if the person living at the address has a high number of weapons at his or her disposal.
Since when does [theoretical] officer safety come before Massachusetts’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms without ANY government infringement? And what’s this about a “high number of weapons”? Shouldn’t that be “a deadly assault weapon”? Or is that an argument for another day?
Of course, the protect cops thing’s a side-issue. It’s all about “stopping criminal access to firearms.” Yes, well, is there any sane person who thinks that creating a national firearms registry would stop the flow of illegal guns from one state to another? No, but there are some insane people who do.
[Chief] DeMoura would like to see a national database where gun owners have to register all their firearms. Lowell police Chief Bill Taylor also said a firearms registry would help his department.
“I share the frustration that Chief DeMoura has expressed,” said Taylor. He said gun record searches tend to give “very mixed results,” and the older the weapon is, the harder it is to find information.
He’d like to see a federal registry — “the more comprehensive the better.”
He said the registration would help them determine if guns they recover had been previously stolen.
And then what? And then nothing. Other than, say, confiscation of legally held firearms rendered illegal by legislation or executive fiat (e.g., Connecticut and Hurricane Katrina). DeMoura doesn’t see it that way.
There is no pending legislation to create a formal state gun registry, or a federal registry. In fact, the failed gun-control legislation supported by President Barack Obama last year included passages that made creation of a gun registry illegal to improve the bill’s chances of passing.
DeMoura said he doesn’t look at this issue from a political perspective.
“I don’t have a political philosophy, I have a law-enforcement philosophy,” said DeMoura. “Some cop is going to get killed because of this.”
A “law enforcement philosophy.” I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Wait. No. No I don’t. Maybe that’s because not-so-deep thinker DeMoura reckons a national or “formal” gun registry will prevent crime by reducing criminal access to guns. Not surprisingly, his underling agrees, and adds “Let’s do it for the children!”
Fitchburg Deputy Police Chief Phil Kearns said there was a case in Fitchburg in which a caseworker from the Department of Children and Families was in an apartment when a child located an unsecured .357 handgun and fired it in a back room.
Which may or may not have been a stolen, straw-purchased, lost or legally owned firearm. Whose owner violated Massachusetts law about securing a firearm. In other words, WTF does that have to do with anything? In fact, whose idea was this article anyway? The chances of a national “formal” national firearms registry are thankfully slim. Ah, but a[nother] backdoor state registration scheme . . .
On Feb. 3, the state Legislature’s Committee to Reduce Firearm Violence listed 44 recommendations for state lawmakers on how to reduce gun violence. Their report did not recommend creating a formal registry, but it did recommend having gun owners sign an affidavit each time they renew their firearms license saying they still own all the guns they had previously reported possession of. The panel also recommended increasing civil penalties for failing to report a gun as stolen.
To think the American Revolution started in Massachusetts.
I hope Facebook stops and thinks about the huge portion of people that will exodus from their stupidity!!
” The police want to stem the flow of illegal guns to criminals.”
Uh, are the guns, posession of the guns, or use of the guns illegal?
everything is illegal in mass.
Everything is illegal except crime.
Time to register those high capacity staple and nail guns.
My coil spiker holds about 100 3 1/4″ galvanized rounds in a high capacity drum mag. Awesome gun.
“The lack of records also makes it harder for police to assess potential dangers. For example, when police serve a search warrant, [Fitchburg police Officer Ron] L’Ecuyer said they would like to know if the person living at the address has a high number of weapons at his or her disposal.” Which, of course, will lead to warrants being served by SWAT teams in dynamic, no-knock entries.
Some civilian is going to get killed because of this.
Wait, Your saying this man owns a Ruger 10/22? Call in the teams, Ruby Ridge ROE everyone!
Some civilian is going to get killed because of this.
The police do not view that as a downside.
I’m still womdering when LEO became covered by the UCMJ.
They would be prosecuted under the UCMJ for wounding/killing noncombatants.
Nothing new from East Coast loser state.
Commander Adama (Battle Star Galactica): “There’s a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.”
Never heard it said better.
^ This. And cookies for quoting Cmdr. Adama.
“Kill them all and let God sort them out.” eh?
Well said, sir.
In Canada we have similar issues, like the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police arguing in favour of the gun registry (while financially supported by an IT company that ran the registry). The RCMP commissioner and the police chief in my city are advocating DNA samples from all arestees, etc. While there are freedom of expression issues, it would still be legally feasible in both the U.S. and Canada to, as part of employment contracts, gag police chiefs and commissioners from advocating or lobbying for legislation. Publicly advocating legislation, or joining a lobby group would mean immediate termination. Police should NOT be allowed to influence legislation in a free society–if a cop wants to make laws, he should turn in his badge and run for office.
I got my wonderful woman a Tristar Raptor in Muddy Girl camo. Honestly, I think it looks damn sharp as a fun pattern. If the ladies like it, then by all means GET. Pink isn’t mandatory for women, but it shouldn’t be nixed, either. And yes, I have no problem shooting that or the daughter’s pink .22 cricket, either. If it goes ‘bang’, then its all good.
I’d rather see a registry of criminals than one of law abiding citizens.
SIEG HEIL
quote:
Police were unable to pinpoint the origin of the two other guns because of gaps in the firearms’ records. “Where did (they) come from?” asked DeMoura. Commonly, the answer is that police don’t know and may not be able to find out.
Uh, whose name is engraved on them? That is where they came from. Now what? Does the criminal go free or can he still be charged?
DeMoura said he doesn’t look at this issue from a political perspective.
“I don’t have a political philosophy, I have a law-enforcement philosophy,” said DeMoura. “Some cop is going to get killed because of this.”
….what a frigging idiot….does he not know that his job description is primarily “political”…does he not recognize his role in setting an environment that supports a “Constitutional Philosophy…? Does he not understand that his employees knew of the danger when they signed up…and he believes we should sacrifice our rights for their “safety”….eff’ him….
….it sounds to me like he needs to be fired, charged with violations of his Oath-of-Office and send him to prison for about 20 years….and look…I didn’t suggest we hang him….ha!
RJ O’Guillory
Author-
Webster Groves – The Life of an Insane Family
I own an AK & an AR, and they can KMA. They’re worried about “assault” weapons, while they’re fostering an assault attitude. Save America from it’s government.
What else is new, liberal BS as usual, what about all the kids who have taken their own lives over something another kid posted on facebook, are they gonna shut down facebook altogether, i mean facebook kills right????
The Bay State does not have UBC.
MA license holders can sell up to four handguns a year in face to face transactions with other MA license holders (you can buy all you want in face to face transactions). If a license holder sells more than four, he’s considered a dealer. If he buys more than four, he’s considered a good guy to hang out with.
All firearms transfers must be reported on Form FA-10. Guns brought in from out of state — by a person moving to MA, for example — need not be reported, since that’s not a transfer.
The FA-10 is filed as much as a week after the fact. While FFL sales are required to be run through the MA instant check system prior to sale to confirm that the license is still valid, private transactions are not run through the MA instant check system.
Unlike NICS, the MA system is accessible to private persons who can obtain a certificate from MA proving that the buyer’s license is current.
“If he buys more than four, he’s considered a good guy to hang out with.”
Made me lol.
I lived in MA for many years. The FA-10 is a joke. The usual procedure is to fill one out when you engage in a private sale, then file it in the nearest dumpster. Several years ago, I filed a FOIA request with the Mass. Dept. of Public Safety for my firearms records. Several weeks later, I received an inch-thick stack of papers. Most of the guns listed were guns I hadn’t owned for years. Even more guns I still owned or no longer owned were not listed. Prior to computerization, MA DPS kept FA-10s in shoe boxes filed by date. After 10 or so years, the older ones were incinerated. Some system!
Prior to computerization, MA DPS kept FA-10s in shoe boxes filed by date.
I’m sure that some people are reading this and thinking “that guy’s out of his mind.” But actually, you’re correct — the forms were kept in cardboard boxes and most of them were destroyed.
Srsly, guys.
How crappy is this gun that you are trying so hard to get rid of it? Everyone who comes here has seen it already. Everyone who can/is going to enter probably has.
If you want it gone that badly do this:
1: Drive over it.
2: Bury it in your backyard in preparation of the apocalypse, zombie or otherwise.
3: Gift to some inner city yoots and watch the shitstorm fly!
Then offer a better gun.
Just don’t post it again.
Fitchburg huh? Sure but what about Squirrel Tooth and Pig’s Knuckle? What do they think?
I once went looking for figures on the number of crimes involving firearms where the ATF tracing system was instrumental in solving the case. I had figured there must be SOME cases where an original legal owner used his own firearm to commit a crime, and that firearm was recovered at the scene, and no other leads existed.
Such cases might in fact exist, but damned if I can find any. With all the statistics the ATF keeps on traced guns, they don’t seem to keep track of how many traces were actually involved in solving crimes. The “success story” anecdotes they tell invariably show the trace was superfluous to the investigation, either because the gun was stolen, had already been resold (legally or illegally), or the perpetrator’s identity had already been known when the gun was found. A fair number of such stories involved tracing the guns used in suicides, an… interesting use of tax money, if you ask me.
Looks great to me. Has anyone caught the anti gun hit piece on HBO? It’s more Bryant Gumbel left wing “kids should never touch those evil guns. Especially pink ones”. Good thing I didn’t pay for HBO(2 years free).
There are reasonable measures to take to ensure the safety of police officers. They should be armed, armored, and well-trained. That word ‘reasonable’ does not include forgetting about the constitution.
New York gun owners, your time to be on the hot seat is coming. Isnt April the final month that banned guns were to be registered? I hope that you make the same strong statement that Connecticut gun owners are doing. However unlike Governor Malloy who is a slow witted bureaucrat, New York has a sociopath psychotic governor in Cuomo who loves power and hates anything or anyone who stands in his way. I have no doubts that Cuomo would give the green light to use violence against anyone who doesnt comply with the SAFE Act. He has the New York state police who are little more than political shills.
The ATF reports nearly 200k guns stolen every year, and those are just the ones that are reported or found.
In other words, good luck.
Registration will never stop this, it will only allow innocent theft victimd to be victimized twice, once by the thief, and again by the police and prosecutors.
Do tragic boating accidents have to be reported as well? How about gun-eating crocodiles?
Would you know where can I find one of those gun-eating crocs? Just in case I might have the need to feed one.
Chris, 5.3 pounds does not fall into the “petite” category. That’s .7 lbs shy of my AR-15. The Daisy 105 Buck (http://www.daisy.com/node/2) *is* petite and comes in at 1.6lbs- that’s a reasonable weight for a 6 year old to carry. You gotta realize that at 5.3#, for the age range your selling to, it’s approximately 10% of their weight. Would you want to carry a rifle that was 10% of your weight? Didn’t think so…
Well, Chris only weighs 72 pounds.
Doesn’t matter whether it is Maine or Arizona, it is still made in the USA.
Slick he’s going sneaky. We need stop this crap from continuing I keep re- sending the same emails every Friday guess I’ll just have to step it up a bit make it a daily. Yes I am absolutely sure they are tired of seeing them but if everyone did the same it might have an effect.
Yes, but will it cook the Hot Pocket in my pocket? That could solve the problem of what to eat on my flight.
Heres the best quote for you that NONE can refute.
“A SHEPARD MUST PROTECT HIS FLOCK!”
What if a patient with cynophobia argued that dogs should not be allowed in public? If a patient with agoraphobia petitioned for a ban on open spaces? I can’t imagine that they would be taken seriously.
In these briefs we have high level members of the civilian disarmament industry admitting that they don’t want people carrying guns because of fear. Nothing more, nothing less.
It’s a small matter to show that those fears are not reasonable based on crime stats.
So the grabbers have admitted, in writing, that they are crippled by irrational fear. This being the case, the grabbers must seek relief from a mental health professional, not the legal system.
I have created a Facebook page to help show Facebook that there are people who want these pages/groups to be able to stay on Facebook. If you don’t use Facebook that is your choice just like it is our choice to use it. The many shouldn’t be punished for the actions of a few. Here is the link to the page https://www.facebook.com/FirearmsHeretoStay?bookmark_t=page
WHAT “actions of a few”?
If Jaqueline Lader moved to San Diego maybe she should keep going till she reaches someplace under the crown.
If she moved to SD because of the stricter gun control laws, and that was her goal (less pew pew), maybe she should move to Detroit, super strict gun laws………….. out of hand violence, but strict gun laws 😛
Uh, I’ve heard repeatedly in here that Detroit actually has remarkably lax gun laws for a major city
Not that they could enforce strict ones even if they had them.
In the ancient Hebrew, the 6th Commandment reads: “You shall not murder” (ra-tshahh), but was falsely translated by the King James translators as “You shall not kill” (ha-rag). Was there a political motive in this? King James was new to the crown, a foreigner, and wanted above all to ensure a peaceful reign.
This is similar to their frequent mistranslation of references to “The Grave” as “Hell”, and was inspired by early Greek Church fathers who injected a considerable portion of Platonic Paganism into their Christianity. There was no “Hell” in ancient Judaism. Hell was a Pagan concept to describe where the “eternal” souls of the damned were to be punished forever. Reading of the Bible clearly shows that a soul “nephesh” is a body inhabited by the breath of God, and when this breath goes out, the soul dies, or is “asleep in death”. Destruction in the everlasting flames is a means of destroying the bodies of the wicked, not a further punishment.
The injunction “you shall not murder” does not prevent armed protection of the self or those in your care, or your neighbors. Turning the other cheek means show patience with authority, go the extra mile if necessary, but by no means let a petty slight create murderous intent within your heart.
But if your life is in danger from attack, and you have no choice but to defend yourself or others with deadly force, nothing in the Bible prevents or accuses anyone who does this.
“They further claim to be acting on behalf of all of the residents of San Diego County who will also face such risks and suffer such fears, as there is no other party acting to protect these persons…”
Uh, isn’t that done by the SDPD. the SDSD, and the CHP right now? Sorry, no harm, no standing. Thank you for playing…
Oh? A law enforcement philosophy, huh? While I search for a definition of that menacing term, perhaps the good Chief here could do a little research of his own on First Principles, then come back and reconcile his busybody aspirations with “shall not be infringed.”
Aside from harrassing, intimidating and occasionally needlessly incriminating perfectly peacecul gunowners on the way toward confiscation, this registry monstronsity is a waste. Really, Chief? We all learn for safety purposes to regard every gun as being loaded. Why can’t officers just be trained to assume that everyone they serve with a warrant is potentially armed, instead of concocting this asinine pretext of officer safety? Oh, because that was never the point.
Looks like a piece of junk, both the shotgun and video, also sounds like a “put on” accent.
There’s no doubt that gun control advocates are losing the war and their numbers are continuing to dwindle as they lose battle after battle, but I had expected them to be able to conjure up more than 12,000 signatures. Heck, TTAG alone can generate that in a single day without breaking a sweat, but 12,000 signatures represents a concerted and long term effort on the part of Moms Demand Action.
For more on the cold hard CR08 steel of the knives we use to stick it to them and twist, make the jump to The Truth About Knives. You’re welcome.
Fitchburg is a run down mill town that is filled with scumbags and has a serious crime problem (I had the unfortunate pleasure of working in Fitchburg for a while). The rate of gun ownership is extremely low in Fitchburg (even when compared to the rest of Massachusetts) as the chief is not fond of giving out unrestricted A’s to those who live there. It never ceases to amaze me that some chiefs in mass feel that clamping down on legal gun ownership is going to stop criminals, yet the towns with the most amount of crime are the ones where it’s always toughest to get a license.
So this bill will “virtually eliminate” one kind of crime. And we’re supposed to believe that’s a bad thing.
That’s hilarious. PJ is a national treasure. I’ll read Ilya’s amicus at lunch.
Where is the Supreme Court??
Let the burden of proving the constitutionality of this monstrosity be on the State.
Put a stay on this until it can be heard.
There’s another option on the table here. CT gun owners don’t need to be willing to engage in the mass slaughter of police officers to prove their manhood and willingness to defend the 2nd amendment. What they need is one owner of a non-registered gun, with a healthy bank account, no family to support, and a set of balls, who is willing to sling that thing on his back and stand outside the State Police HQ and get arrested. Then this idiotic and unconstitutional law can get overturned by the courts. If they’re not willing to go to jail for what they believe in, what makes anyone think they’ll be willing to kill for it?
Self-defense tip: Buy two of the same gun.
No need to familiarize yourself on a new platform while the other languishes in gun purgatory.