50 shooter
New member
I wanted to post this here, I know most have probably read it on THR. I know Tom so this isn't BS, hope his friend doesn't go to jail.
I have a friend who had a search warrant executed by the LA gun task force at his apartment, which is located above a home, within LA city limits a few months back. This task force is headed up by ATF, with LAPD and LASO being the primary agencies participating. Pursuant to the warrant execution, one Springfield M1A with its' original flash hider attached and numerous .50 cal incindiary type bullets were seized. My friend was not arrested at the time and led to believe the case might not even be prosecuted. The task force left his entire gun collection, which is extensive, with him at his apartment. A little more info here for you to consider. My friend has no criminal record of any kind, is a decorated Vietnam vet, is gainfully employed as a carpenter, and is law abiding.
A couple of weeks ago, the task force arrived at his apartment and arrested my friend and charged him with five felonies. He was taken to jail where he remained for two days until his bail was set and met. He is charged with being in possession of an unregistered assault rifle, and in possession of destructive devices, and in possession of destructive devices within so many feet of a school. Five felonies under California law in total.
Being a retired ATF special agent myself, I contacted the case agent who happens to be a LAPD dectective assigned to the task force. I asked him why such a chicken ##### case was being prosecuted. Why were they ruining my friend's life after his service to our country and the fact that he has no past criminal record. I asked him what happened to law enforcement using common sense and discretion in a case like this. The detective told me they didn't make the laws, but it was their job to enforce the law and that the DA has a no tolerence policy regarding firearms.
I tried to explain to him that the M1A rifle with its' original flash hider was legally sold to 1000's of people in CA before the assault rifle law was even enacted. Many of these original owners to this day do not know they are in violation by having the flash hider on their rifle. The detective didn't care. I explained that on at least two prior occasions I had contacted DOJ myself and had been informed the explosive bullets were legal in California as they are under ATF law, as long as they were not loaded into a case and able to fire. He said that was incorrect info and that under CA law the bullets alone are destructive devices and that each individual bullet could be charged separately.
So, I got nowhere with the detective. The case is going forward. My friend if convicted, is looking at the minimum of two years in state prison. I will be testifying as an expert at his trial and try to inform the jury exactly what is going on here. The task force wants numbers so they can get more money. The DA's office wants numbers, as well. So does ATF, all at the expense of my friend. Trust me, the agencies do not care about my friend.
So, we should all take heed of this case. I got rid of my bullets immediately upon hearing of the search warrant. My advice to CA residents is to do the same, and take their unregistered so called assault rifles out of the state. We all need to realize what we are dealing with in California. Tom
I have a friend who had a search warrant executed by the LA gun task force at his apartment, which is located above a home, within LA city limits a few months back. This task force is headed up by ATF, with LAPD and LASO being the primary agencies participating. Pursuant to the warrant execution, one Springfield M1A with its' original flash hider attached and numerous .50 cal incindiary type bullets were seized. My friend was not arrested at the time and led to believe the case might not even be prosecuted. The task force left his entire gun collection, which is extensive, with him at his apartment. A little more info here for you to consider. My friend has no criminal record of any kind, is a decorated Vietnam vet, is gainfully employed as a carpenter, and is law abiding.
A couple of weeks ago, the task force arrived at his apartment and arrested my friend and charged him with five felonies. He was taken to jail where he remained for two days until his bail was set and met. He is charged with being in possession of an unregistered assault rifle, and in possession of destructive devices, and in possession of destructive devices within so many feet of a school. Five felonies under California law in total.
Being a retired ATF special agent myself, I contacted the case agent who happens to be a LAPD dectective assigned to the task force. I asked him why such a chicken ##### case was being prosecuted. Why were they ruining my friend's life after his service to our country and the fact that he has no past criminal record. I asked him what happened to law enforcement using common sense and discretion in a case like this. The detective told me they didn't make the laws, but it was their job to enforce the law and that the DA has a no tolerence policy regarding firearms.
I tried to explain to him that the M1A rifle with its' original flash hider was legally sold to 1000's of people in CA before the assault rifle law was even enacted. Many of these original owners to this day do not know they are in violation by having the flash hider on their rifle. The detective didn't care. I explained that on at least two prior occasions I had contacted DOJ myself and had been informed the explosive bullets were legal in California as they are under ATF law, as long as they were not loaded into a case and able to fire. He said that was incorrect info and that under CA law the bullets alone are destructive devices and that each individual bullet could be charged separately.
So, I got nowhere with the detective. The case is going forward. My friend if convicted, is looking at the minimum of two years in state prison. I will be testifying as an expert at his trial and try to inform the jury exactly what is going on here. The task force wants numbers so they can get more money. The DA's office wants numbers, as well. So does ATF, all at the expense of my friend. Trust me, the agencies do not care about my friend.
So, we should all take heed of this case. I got rid of my bullets immediately upon hearing of the search warrant. My advice to CA residents is to do the same, and take their unregistered so called assault rifles out of the state. We all need to realize what we are dealing with in California. Tom
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