Illinois gun owners beware. There’s a tale going around the Intertubes that the Cook County Sheriff is setting up stings through Armslist. As the story goes, they pose as gun buyers and try to get sellers to complete an illegal sale. Illinois gun owners need a FOID card just to touch a gun, and one poster describes a meet with undercover cops who say they don’t have one. When the seller balks, they then offer more money entice him to ignore that fact . . .
From ARFCOM:
I had a rifle on armslist that I was looking to dump, nothing important. When I received a email from a buyer telling me they wanted to purchase the rifle. We exchanged phone numbers. I received a text last friday asking me to meet the buyer. I was working, but wasn’t busy.
They wanted to meet in Oak Park, I said NO WAY.
They recommended a different spot. I agreed, the Portillos on Roosevelt and DesPlanes. There is a gun range a couple of blocks from there that I thought would be a better place but, it was Friday and I was more afraid of rush hour then I was of the location.
Long story short, it smelled and looked wrong. the car was a pick up with black windows. I’m thinking gangbanger. When I pull up two guys get out of the car, but they are both older white guys. They didn’t match the car. They look over the rifle, but when it comes time to sign the paper work, the guy doesn’t have a FOID card. He tells me he has a domestic arrest.
I tell him I can’t sell him the rifle, he offers more money, I reject his offer. He keeps try. I keep saying NO.
Next thing I know, there are 50 cops surrounding me, they are searching my car, and handcuffing me and toss me in the back of a car.
Within 15 minutes I’m in the Maywood sheriff station. They are asking where I live, how many guns do I own, how many I’ve sold. The experience was rough and distressing. I didn’t want to answer any questions.
All I can think is that I’m in handcuffs for some reason, did I break a law I wasn’t aware of. If I answer a question wrong I end up in a jump suit.
Turns out, I didn’t break any laws. They want me to give them information that I didn’t have. I almost had a heart attack. I walked out an hour later with my rifle.
What the bloody hell was that. Is this how we threat citizens when political fortunes are on the line. It took me a week before I had the nerve to post on this site. I use be mad at people who refused to sell to cook county residents. Now I understand, its not worth it.
How native was I, be-careful. FTF is hard enough without having to worry about bogus stings.
It doesn’t sound like it meets the requirements for “entrapment,” but it’s shady nonetheless. I’m curious as to whether the guy was under arrest or simply “detained,” and what would have happened if he’d asked the right questions. As for what those questions are, watch the YouTube video at the top.