Normally I wouldn't take any delight in the suffering of another human being, but if you've ever seen a pile of firearms that were stolen from the citizens because they didn't have the correct paperwork then perhaps you'll understand why I don't feel sorry for the cops in question.
Just to clue you in - in an "honest" police department (where cops don't walk home with the guns they like) you'll not only see $100 pistols & other economical firearms, but vintage Mausers & Walthers as well as the occassional Fox or (shudder) L.C. Smith side by side.
Maybe it's just me but even if there was a justifiable pretext for stealing seizing the firearms I think destroying them should be a crime in & of itself. If their confiscation did not in some way violate a person's Right to Arms & Property (say it was used by the owner in a robbery or violent assault) a better use for these firearms would be to either sell them to the public or donate them to people applying for restraining orders. A piece of paper won't do a damn thing but let the D.A. play hardball on the plea bargain. A Smith & Wesson or even an old, elegant L.C. Smith will save your life.
I see no reason to destroy a fine working firearm. Anyone who undertakes such an endeavor will not be granted my sympathy or compassion. No it's not as bad as harming a person but when you're as much a gun nut as I am (ask my family, friends, my girlfriend or even our cats!) you tend to look at anyone who destroys firearms in such a manner the same way a librarian would look at a Nazi who didn't hurt any people but did organize & particpate in book burnings.
Posted by Publicola at April 30, 2004 11:55 PMNow Publicola, you know as well as I do that the government is here to help(themselves to our property). To hope that these officers get hurt is terrible(except when you put it in context, and see that they, and probably 98-99% LEOs, are actively enforcing Unconstitutional laws, not the least of which is disarmament and theft, thus making them criminals of the highest order). I am appalled(by the government and it's thug enforcers), and your comments are harsh indeed(and thats why I fully agree with you).
Posted by: Garrum at May 2, 2004 07:51 PMI really like your idea to donate guns that were seized because they were used in a real crime (robbery, etc.) to those who need restraining orders, especially I think this would be good for women who don’t normally think about getting a gun until someone else suggests it.
Posted by: severin at May 6, 2004 02:46 PMThey should burn all the cash they sieze too and vehicles and property. To be fair that is.
Posted by: SpaceMonkey at May 6, 2004 02:58 PM