At what point do we stop saying damn them and start saying damn him.
When he does something illegal and evil.
I agree with all of you that he has a right to own some of those things but if the automatics and grenade thing sticks it looks bad for all of us.
If it sticks, it's bad.
But what indication was there that he did anything wrong? Someone alledged that he had a missing shovel...why does that give police the right to confiscate his AR-15s and rip them apart looking for conversion kits?
What will you think if they enter your home on a legit but unrelated search warrant, see your guns, and confiscate them so they can spend the next year examining and testing them to make sure they're not somehow illegal? and stick them in a warehouse and make you sue for their return?
What I find disturbing is that we get upset because they mentioned the magazines but ingnore the fact that this guy possibly posseses illegal and very deadly stuff.
BASED ON WHAT? I own an AR-15, SKS, and short-barreled shotgun (all legal, BTW)...do the police have the right to march into my house, seize them, and refuse return because someone acting out of BARE FEAR is afraid they _might_ be illegal and _might_ be "very deadly stuff"?
The Fourth Amendment expresses the RIGHT for us to be secure against UNREASONABLE searches and seizures. There was NOTHING to indicate that what he owned was illegal beyond "gee, that _looks_ like a machinegun or grenade". Fact is, LOTS of guns "look" like machineguns. Many people own inert grenades that are fully legal and harmless, but "look" dangerous.
Considering his behavioral trends, at what point do we worry about his future intentions.
"Behavioral trends"? He was sexually harassed and stalked; he did not do the harassing and stalking! He's the victim here!
Do we have to see a columbine before we say "Oh, maybe he was wrong". Please don't crucify me for this but at what point do we draw the line.
We draw the line at (a) anyone who harms or attempts to harm another, and (b) any governmental attempt to disarm potential victims.
This guy didn't do anything wrong. LEAVE HIM ALONE.
I have a friend who collects vintage guns and keeps them in his office at his business. They are in a large wall size glass display case and are quite visible if you glance into his office in his audio/video store. He has about 20 rifles and maybe 25 different handguns in all. They all shoot and he keeps some ammo in a locked cabinet. Nobody ever questions his intentions because he is an upstanding, law abiding person.
"Oh no, that guy keeps guns in a place of business! Sure he's a nice guy, but that was true of lots of mass murderers! He could suddenly snap and kill an annoying customer! Maybe those guns are illegal - has anyone checked recently? Somebody could break in and steal them and kill someone with them! ..."
Get a grip. The guy has a large collection...so what? There is no indication that he violated any laws, he hasn't threatened anyone or harmed anyone (despite possible reasons to do so). The cops were looking for a missing shovel, and forced a safe open in the process (WTF?). He has a library similar to many people's.
The real problem is that a bunch of reporters and government agents acted out of BARE FEAR ("I'm afraid of X, but have no rational reason why") or political prejudice, and proceeded to violate his RIGHTS.
When he does something illegal and evil.
I agree with all of you that he has a right to own some of those things but if the automatics and grenade thing sticks it looks bad for all of us.
If it sticks, it's bad.
But what indication was there that he did anything wrong? Someone alledged that he had a missing shovel...why does that give police the right to confiscate his AR-15s and rip them apart looking for conversion kits?
What will you think if they enter your home on a legit but unrelated search warrant, see your guns, and confiscate them so they can spend the next year examining and testing them to make sure they're not somehow illegal? and stick them in a warehouse and make you sue for their return?
What I find disturbing is that we get upset because they mentioned the magazines but ingnore the fact that this guy possibly posseses illegal and very deadly stuff.
BASED ON WHAT? I own an AR-15, SKS, and short-barreled shotgun (all legal, BTW)...do the police have the right to march into my house, seize them, and refuse return because someone acting out of BARE FEAR is afraid they _might_ be illegal and _might_ be "very deadly stuff"?
The Fourth Amendment expresses the RIGHT for us to be secure against UNREASONABLE searches and seizures. There was NOTHING to indicate that what he owned was illegal beyond "gee, that _looks_ like a machinegun or grenade". Fact is, LOTS of guns "look" like machineguns. Many people own inert grenades that are fully legal and harmless, but "look" dangerous.
Considering his behavioral trends, at what point do we worry about his future intentions.
"Behavioral trends"? He was sexually harassed and stalked; he did not do the harassing and stalking! He's the victim here!
Do we have to see a columbine before we say "Oh, maybe he was wrong". Please don't crucify me for this but at what point do we draw the line.
We draw the line at (a) anyone who harms or attempts to harm another, and (b) any governmental attempt to disarm potential victims.
This guy didn't do anything wrong. LEAVE HIM ALONE.
I have a friend who collects vintage guns and keeps them in his office at his business. They are in a large wall size glass display case and are quite visible if you glance into his office in his audio/video store. He has about 20 rifles and maybe 25 different handguns in all. They all shoot and he keeps some ammo in a locked cabinet. Nobody ever questions his intentions because he is an upstanding, law abiding person.
"Oh no, that guy keeps guns in a place of business! Sure he's a nice guy, but that was true of lots of mass murderers! He could suddenly snap and kill an annoying customer! Maybe those guns are illegal - has anyone checked recently? Somebody could break in and steal them and kill someone with them! ..."
Get a grip. The guy has a large collection...so what? There is no indication that he violated any laws, he hasn't threatened anyone or harmed anyone (despite possible reasons to do so). The cops were looking for a missing shovel, and forced a safe open in the process (WTF?). He has a library similar to many people's.
The real problem is that a bunch of reporters and government agents acted out of BARE FEAR ("I'm afraid of X, but have no rational reason why") or political prejudice, and proceeded to violate his RIGHTS.