Prison for driving with flintlock pistol?

[bruto]

What strikes me in some of the arguments here is the inability to separate what might have been a reasonable initial perception of threat, and the continued process after the threat is gone. I can imagine how a policeman might have been taken aback by the initial appearance of the device in the glove compartment, flashed or not. I could even imagine how such a policeman might have overreacted in some unfortunate way. But it seems he did not. What did happen is that after it became clear that the gun was an unloaded antique, and the driver an elderly professor who collects antiques, the juggernaut seems to have been unstoppable. What ever happened to "oh, never mind?"

 

[dudalb]

He wasn't a gun collector, he collected 18th century stuff. Under federal law that flintlock isn't even considered a firearm.

That applies to any single shot muzzle loading weapon, not just flintlocks.
And yes, that includes muzzle loading cannon. I know. I am a half owner of a 12 Pound Napoleon....

 

[Checkmite]

What strikes me in some of the arguments here is the inability to separate what might have been a reasonable initial perception of threat, and the continued process after the threat is gone. I can imagine how a policeman might have been taken aback by the initial appearance of the device in the glove compartment, flashed or not. I could even imagine how such a policeman might have overreacted in some unfortunate way. But it seems he did not. What did happen is that after it became clear that the gun was an unloaded antique, and the driver an elderly professor who collects antiques, the juggernaut seems to have been unstoppable. What ever happened to "oh, never mind?"

Quite simple: somebody at some point was sued, and/or lost his job or worse, subsequent to an "oh, never mind". Possibly multiple somebodies. So now, the saying of "oh, never mind" is left to judges.

 

[GrouchoMarxist]

The sheriff says there's more to the story but declined to elaborate.

 

[Crossbow]

Like that any certain firearm is illegal to possess in the USA when the person making the claim has no rational reason to believe it is true?

Ranb

This is the second time that you have validated my point.

Thanks much.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

I would defy you to find *any* other practical place than the glovebox to store either in my little '97 MX-5.

(ETA: to be fair, the hand gun is typically in my overnight bag in the trunk. But, sometimes its in the glovebox and I see no problem with that. Nor have the few cops I've encountered. Tho, I'm sure that'd be a different story had I not warned them first)

I haven't checked out a '97, but my '92 has a big enough pocket on the back of the passenger seat to hold my 8 inch barrel super blackhawk completely concealed.

 

[Checkmite]

The sheriff says there's more to the story but declined to elaborate.

Spoiler alert: He was trying to buy drugs, and had drug paraphernalia in his vehicle in addition to the flint pistol.

 

[GrouchoMarxist]

Well that certainly adds another wrinkle.

 

[The Fallen Serpent]

I don't know about New Jersey, but in some states carrying a gun while in the commission of a felony will add new charges or enhancement to the original crime.

If the gun wasn't loaded I highly doubt he was intending to fire it if things went bad, but intending to defensively brandish the flintlock is a remote possibility.

If drugs truly are involved I doubt he'll receive much leniency.

 

[Cleon]

I don't know about New Jersey, but in some states carrying a gun while in the commission of a felony will add new charges or enhancement to the original crime.

Some years ago Subgenius, a forum member, got himself an unfortunately lengthy prison term due to the fact that while he was growing weed, he kept an old (non-functional, IIRC) rifle in the closet.

 

[madurobob]

I haven't checked out a '97, but my '92 has a big enough pocket on the back of the passenger seat to hold my 8 inch barrel super blackhawk completely concealed.

That works if you have short passengers. With the seat all the way back - no room. Not without the passenger complaining.

But, its a little girlie car, so I carry a little girlie handgun in it... Sig 230. Seems appropriate.

 

[Dr. Keith]

Spoiler alert: He was trying to buy drugs, and had drug paraphernalia in his vehicle in addition to the flint pistol.

Does this mean we get to call him a thug instead of a slightly irresponsible gun owner?

 

[madurobob]

Austino added: “My question is, why would a person have any type of firearm in their glove box in a known drug area while attempting to purchase drugs?”

My question is how the hell do you get to be 70+ yrs old and not know how to safely acquire the drugs you want? Who the hell trolls known drug neighborhoods in a car looking for a score? What is this, a Starsky and Hutch episode?

 

[Giz]

Does this mean we get to call him a thug instead of a slightly irresponsible gun owner?

I'm just wondering what kind of drug he was after. Given his penchant for flintlocks, one imagines he wouldn't be after anything more modern than opium?

 

[madurobob]

I'm just wondering what kind of drug he was after. Given his penchant for flintlocks, one imagines he wouldn't be after anything more modern than opium?

Close. Empty heroin bags found in the car.

 

[Dr. Keith]

Close. Empty heroin bags found in the car.

Canvas or leather?

 

[Giordano]

This new information makes it a bit harder to use this as an example of crazy government confiscating all our guns.

Whatever the eventual disposition of this case, I do find the combination of the flintlock and the illegal drugs fascinating. I agree: he should have been looking for Laudanum or something else suitably 17th century.

 

[Giz]

Close. Empty heroin bags found in the car.

Ah, Heroine Bags - there's the name of our swashbuckler's love interest!

 

[Damien Evans]

He probably had a real car.


Lots of people like to see some of history's relics preserved instead of chopped up. Even England allows some antique handguns to be possessed. You might think that a country which makes practicing for an Olympic shooting event a felony would not be so liberal, but they are.

Ranb

This is so wrong i don't even know where to begin. Let's start with the fact that Felony is a term which hasn't had any legal status in England for nearly 50 years.

 

[Ranb]

This is so wrong i don't even know where to begin. Let's start with the fact that Felony is a term which hasn't had any legal status in England for nearly 50 years.

By felony I meant it was a serious crime. What would be the correct term then? What else did I get wrong? Are people allowed to train with handguns for the Olympics in England now? Isn't there an exception to the handgun ban in England that allows possession of certain antiques?

Ranb

ETA; Very informative article here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony#England_and_Wales I learned two new words today, arrestable and non-arrestable.