Gonna speek my mind!

[speedshooter]

MY wife thinks i crazy but this aug 5th i am going to the city council meeting to speak out against the anti-gun ordinance they want to pass.You will have to report a stolen or lost gun with-in 72hrs of when the gun was stolen. They say that you should know where your gun is all the time so you may be held responsible if a crime is commited with "your weapon".I think this is a "feel good" law that is going to do nothing to deter the crime here,but i have to say something. I sent in my request to speak so we'll see if they answer me back.

 

[ChadW]

Hmmm....

I know I would report a stolen gun as soon as I realized it was stolen...

You SHOULD know where your guns are at all times IMO.

 

[m75rlg]

You get a week of vacation and decide to go fishing. When you get home you find out you had a break in 96 hours ago.

You just violated the proposed ordinance. (If it is as the OP reported.)

Many of these local ordaniances are not well thought out. I speak from the experience of having to rule on them in court.

I encourage the OP to get involved. Don't just be negative though. Offer positive ideas, if possible. Point out problems without being disrepectful or extreme. Seek support from other gun owners. Try to have others present who share your point of view, but can act with decorum.

You can effect the enactment in local issues if you follow this advice. I, and other gun owners here in Randolph County, NC have done so on more than one occasion.

Good luck.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My opinion on this type of legislation is that it primarily benefits the tort lawyers. Someone steals your firearm and commits a crime with it; bad guy has no resources or insurance, so they now get to sue the person it was stolen from (who has a job, a bank account, and a good homeowner's insurance policy with big liability limits).

Also, since you were so incredibly irresponsible as to have a firearm stolen from you, you cannot possibly be entrusted with firearms in the future, can you?

Somebody is still hurt or killed, bad guy may or may not be held accountable in criminal courts, but the nasty old gun owner (and his insurance company) will be hauled into civil courts and the lawyers will all come out ahead.

We don't seem to have a Constitution anymore, but we certainly have the Attorneys' Full Employment Act of 1789!

 

[afriqueart]

The only way we can affect change is to participate in politics at the local level. If we don't, we can't bitch about the problems that affect our nation.

I have had threatening phone calls from the crooked sherriff. I've had the mayor screaming how I was out to "destroy" him and I've had the local newspaper editor call me a whacko.

If they didn't do that, I'd consider that I wasn't being a good citizen!

Everyone should throw open thier windows and scream....."I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

Godspeed to everyone who has the cojones to stand up for their beliefs!

 

[Spotteddog]

Divide and conquer.
When you can't kill the enemy frontally, diminish him at his flanks. After all, it's the gun owner who's the one being irresponsible. You know, by tempting that drug addled second time out of a three striker, to break into your house to steal the stuff you so carelessly left laying around in the first place.

 

[speedshooter]

The only way we can affect change is to participate in politics at the local level. If we don't, we can't bitch about the problems that affect our nation.

I have had threatening phone calls from the crooked sherriff. I've had the mayor screaming how I was out to "destroy" him and I've had the local newspaper editor call me a whacko.

If they didn't do that, I'd consider that I wasn't being a good citizen!

Everyone should throw open thier windows and scream....."I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

Godspeed to everyone who has the cojones to stand up for their beliefs!

Yes but they know you and i have found that is a good step.I had one rep that knew my voice on the phone..I was told,if this ordinace goes into effect and most probably will, that if i do go on vacation come home and find my weapons missing before i call the police ,to have legal representation there.Crime here in Erie Pa has gone through the roof and this gives the appearance that the city is doing something to cope. Guess actually investigating,prosecuting, convicting and punishing the criminals is not an option.Seems as though too that when someone is arrested the minorities scream racisim.My wife asked me if i ever get tired of "doing this", of course i said no and she said one day they are going to come haul me away.

 

[lagavulin62]

My opinion on this type of legislation is that it primarily benefits the tort lawyers. Someone steals your firearm and commits a crime with it; bad guy has no resources or insurance, so they now get to sue the person it was stolen from (who has a job, a bank account, and a good homeowner's insurance policy with big liability limits).

Also, since you were so incredibly irresponsible as to have a firearm stolen from you, you cannot possibly be entrusted with firearms in the future, can you?

Somebody is still hurt or killed, bad guy may or may not be held accountable in criminal courts, but the nasty old gun owner (and his insurance company) will be hauled into civil courts and the lawyers will all come out ahead.

We don't seem to have a Constitution anymore, but we certainly have the Attorneys' Full Employment Act of 1789!

yeah was thinking the same thing. they can't or won't do what is necessary to curtail crime but they do need a scapegoat. thats where us gun owners come in. now we are going to hear about how we must buy such and such of insurance and be protected for such and such of damage etc....EVERYTHING must be insured these days and if you ever need to file a claim shame on you and good luck collecting.

not sure if this is related but picking up a gun yesterday my ffl told me he got visited by batf a few weeks back. said it was the first time in 7 years and they were in the house for 4 hours. he said they may even start random checking on gun owners to verify that guns registered to them are still in their possession or if sold they have sales receipts or at least records of sales. do what you want with this info but just passing this along. guess we better keep our records straight. they may never succeed with killing the 2nd amendment but they can make gun ownership a pain.

 

[HKSmith]

The way these laws are written, they require that you report the loss or theft of a firearm within a certain time from your discovery of the loss or theft. If one of my guns were lost or stolen, I'd be in contact with my local police immediately.

I've never understood the opposition to these laws, since the prompt reporting of loss or theft could only benefit the gun owner in terms of recovering the gun and not being held responsible for its transfer to an illegal owner.

 

[MrJT]

They wouldn't be able to hold you accountable in the fishing trip scenario. The laws would require you report any stolen firearms with X hours of discovering them stolen.

I also have no issue with these laws, personally I would report any theft.. firearm related or not ASAP.

 

[clint_lnl]

I think everyone would report as soon as they find out. as for a "feel good law " your right, why not keep the bad guy in jail, no bail or use a stolen gun adds another 25 years on your jail time

 

[Bassamatic]

This law is crap and is symptomatic of what is wrong with our country nowadays.

Think about it. They passed a law that says you are a criminal if you don't report a crime. Do you really want the government to have that much control over you? I'll say it again, you commit a crime if you don't report a crime.

You know, I would also report a stolen gun the moment I discovered it stolen....but, that is MY choice to do so.

We are so screwed.

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

You are so right!

 

[BigRich315]

It just sounds like another case of punishing gun owners instead of the actual criminals.

Not to mention a waste of time, money, and effort in making something common sense into law.

 

[Horace Smith]

It would be interesting to know if any case law existed or any statistical data existed to warrant this additional law. If it impedes the righteous law abiding citizen and does nothing to curtail future crime it is a bad law.

If this law is enacted then it should be completed by maintaining a stolen gun database and a program (staff) to maintain it. Simply passing this law itself is another feel good pat on the back that wastes the local tax resource. Collected data could prove or disprove the validity of the new law's worth and provide a basis to sunset it saving future monies of your community.

My advice is too write out and practice what you want to say as there will be smooth talking agenda pushers in abundance. A positive stance / reason / facts carry weight.


My 2 cents…..and I salute your work.

 

[speedshooter]

I have been looking and so far i've found nothing to support the law. I intend to bring that up when i speek at their meeting. Any law abiding gun owner would report a stolen weapon but if doing so could lead you to be prosecuted by some tort lawyer, then why would you become the criminal by choice when infact you are a victim? I feel it's just a "feel good" law to give the illusion that the city is doing all they they can do to impeed crime instead of going after the real problem, moslty because the people scream racism when they do.My thoughts are if your breaking the law, no matter what your race creed or color is, you should be punished. I abide by the law and if i would lets say, get caught speeding, i will just pay the fine. I BROKE THE LAW. It's this Wed. so i will keep all of you great people informed and thanks for the support.

 

[BigRich315]

I suppose it's meant to take away the defense: "My gun was used? Well it wasn't me, that was stolen a month ago..."

Still, pretty cheap to me.

 

[afriqueart]

Good luck!

 

[5BeansintheWheel]

Gun laws in Pa can only come from Harrisburg, not cities and towns. Philly and others have tried this ploy and it is illegal for them to to do so.

 

[speedshooter]

That is pretty much what i said today when i explained the state exemption law to them. they looked at me like i had two heads. i at least i wasnt the only one there, dont know yet if it had any effect on them. they acted like no matter what the facts were they were going to put it into law..will probably know more later.