Fredricksburg collector's rare rifle confiscated

[ceedubya]

There's an article titled "U.S. agencies join war against gun owners" in today's Washington Times (Wed, Mar 27). It says two Homeland Security agents visited the home of Kristopher Gasior in Fredricksburg on March 8. Mr. Gasior is a gun collector, author and expert on Polish made firearms. He has a rare rifle made by Poland in 1938 that was captured by Germany and then brought to the US by a GI. Mr. Gasior's wife invited the agents into her home though they didn't have a warrant. When her husband came in, they asked him about the rifle. When he showed it to them, they confiscated it on behalf of the Polish government, claiming it was a "one-of-a-kind" looted during the war. They ignored his argument that it was not one of a kind (he is an expert), was never in a museum but was issued to Polish soldiers and captured by the Germans. Here's the really scary part. The agent replied that "as far as the US government is concerned, anything brought over the border at any time was within Department of Homeland Security jurisdiction and could be seized". Sure, Mr Gasior can fight it in court, if he's young enough to live through the appeals and rich enough to afford them.

The article also describes how the EEOC has been telling a large firearms retailer that refusing to hire convicted felons amounts to racial discrimination. Their logic is that since a higher percentage of felons are minorities, refusing to hire them amounts to discrimination. The company has pointed out that federal law prohibits firearms licensees from hiring felons. The company official who spoke with the author says the EEOC investigator told him "That's your problem, not ours."

We don't have enough money to keep illegal aliens in jail. We have no idea what happened to hundreds of firearms DEA illegally sent to drug dealers in Mexico. But we can assign two agents to track down one WWII rifle in Fredricksburg. It's going to be a long four years.

[SpanishInquisition]

Here's the link:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... un-owners/

It's an OP-ED piece by David Keene, President of the NRA.

[FiremanBob]

I hope there is video of the EEOC investigator.

And I hope there is a big-league lawyer to take the collector's case pro bono, or funding from the NRA. This is fundamental. This is the sort of thing that should draw the neighbors out to force the DHS goons to leave empty-handed.

But the spirit of 1775 has long passed.

[Swampman]

First mistake, letting gubmint goons into the house.
Second mistake, showing them the gun.
Third and most fatal mistake, being too naive to understand that government people are never there to help.

[allingeneral]

First mistake, letting gubmint goons into the house.

+1

Never, ever invite an agent of the government into your home. They cannot legally enter without a warrant or without probable cause. If cops show up at your place, step outside onto the porch with them and close your door. If your door is left open, they will be scanning the inside of your home for a reason to take you to jail or probable cause to enter the premises.

Same goes for getting pulled over in your vehicle. Keep them out. Inviting them in is just inviting trouble.

"May we come inside to talk to you?"
"NO. We can talk right outside my door"

"You don't mind if we take a look inside your car, so you?"
"Yes, I mind, and I do not consent to a search of my property"

[SHMIV]

In the past, I've never objected to a vehicle search. I've always known that I've had the right, but never had anything to hide. I just figured that I could let them waste a little bit of their time, then I would be on my way. Lately, though... maybe it's best that uniformed folks stay out of my car. I'm growing more distrustful of law enforcement. Which is sad; I really should feel, as a law abiding citizen, that they are on my side, that we play on the same team. And, for many officers, this still holds true. Problem is, I don't know them from the others.

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[moss20]

First mistake, letting gubmint goons into the house.
Second mistake, showing them the gun.
Third and most fatal mistake, being too naive to understand that government people are never there to help.

Fourth mistake: letting them leave the house with the gun.

[vaeevictiss]

Fifth mistake: marrying a woman who doesn't know her rights :p

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Swampman]

@allingeneral - if you step outside your house to talk to a LEO you are then "in public" and can be arrested. best to talk to them through the screen with the door pulled as close as possible behind you.

@moss20 - probably would have been difficult to stop them as they were likely armed.

@vaeevictus - probably should have educated her at the very least.

[moss20]

@moss20 - probably would have been difficult to stop them as they were likely armed.

Then he should have armed himself and sent them out the door empty handed. LEO, armed--doesn't matter if they were taking something from him without a warrant--ITS THEFT.

[Swampman]

Agreed, it is theft. But to escalate a situation by having to go fetch a weapon that may not have already been in possession is probably not a wise choice. And when (not if) it ends up in court, unless there is precedent that favors the private citizen, he loses every time.

[GeneFrenkle]

the inconvenience of not having a warrant would not stop them. Prosecution would just say "administrative boo boo, we'd have gotten it anyway". Too bad storage will be in damp and murkey basement next to oter co fiscations that are rusting apart.

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