Posted on 11/12/2013 9:36:39 AM PST by moonshinner_09
A Massachusetts politician has put forth a proposal to allow local police to enter homes without a warrant in order to inspect whether gun owners are properly storing their firearms.The idea was floated by Swampsott Selectman Barry Greenfield, who expressed frustration about the Newtown school massacre in the neighboring state of Connecticut and in other cases where people have obtained their parents’ guns to carry out shootings.
“We need the ability to enforce the state law,” Greenfield said, according to the Swampscott Patch.
The town of Swampscott reportedly has about 600 gun owners. Under Massachusetts law, it is “unlawful to store or keep any firearm … in any place unless such weapon is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged so as to render such weapon inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user.”
Greenfield said he spoke with Swampscott Police Chief Ron Madigan about inspecting homes for proper gun storage.
But Selectman Glenn Kessler said there are questions about the constitutionality of the proposal and wants input from law enforcement, legal counsel and town residents. There will likely be a meeting to solicit town input, the Patch reported.
Washington state considered a similar law earlier this year, according to Boston Herald columnist Michael Graham.
“Then some lawyer heard a rumor about some ‘Second Amendment thingy’ and it went away,” Graham wrote.
“This isn’t a Second Amendment issue. It’s a Fourth Amendment one — unreasonable search and seizure,” Graham continued. “If Swampscott residents who don’t own guns sit back and allow this to happen, they’ll be playing their role in the famous parable of Martin Niemoller: “First they came for the gun owners, but I didn’t own a gun …”
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(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
For the safety of the children! Let’s Move! Hope! Change! Forward!
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.-- William Pitt the Younger (November 18,1873)
Speaking as a former Prosecutor, you’d be amazed (well maybe not) the laws that are passed JUST to give Police probable cause. Seatbelts, etc.
> Pay heed, America. These are people that WORSHIP Obama.
Pay heed, America. These are people that WORSHIP Satan.
There. Fixed it for you.
I didn’t think this would be a funny thread but you changed that.
Violating my 4th Amendment rights begets the use of my 2nd Amendment rights with weapons loaded and stored ready for use by all members of my household. Massachusetts and much of this nation has lost all sense of freedom and liberty.
While it is unlikely that this will move forward, they should consider the reality of enforcement.
In order to enforce this, they would first have to suspect a gun owner of “improperly” securing their firearms. That means that those weapons are easily and readily obtainable.
What law enforcement is going to attempt to enter this particular home ? And under what conditions ?
I promise you that it can only be a SWAT Team.
Breaking down doors, without a warrant to see if someone has a firearm that is “unsecured”.
In the Peoples republic of Massachussetts all firearms must be registered. Antone legally in possession of a firearm is known. An interesting question here would be if the legislature amended the law to require anyone seeking to possess a firearm to allow police inspection of their homes to see if the law is being complied with. That way, registering your firearm grants explicit consent for police inspections. No 4th Amendment issue.
“stored safely” in my hands pointed at these idiots with my finger on the trigger.
Here’s the little butt wipe trying to backpedal, crying about his family getting threatened and other such garbage.
It helps to understand that people like this pol think their plans are good ideas, and that good ideas trump the Constitution any day.
Proof that it’s a good idea? Just ask him.
But consider: If the government can make us buy health insurance, it can make us buy mandatory gun storage devices. And just imagine the congressional insider trading on the companies that make them.
Ross Perot went farther than this, he wanted door to door confiscation.
The Connecticut shooting was also done by a mental defective. His mother had her guns locked up. He was able to access them anyways. He was crazy, not stupid.
A lot of libs incorrectly think Crazy = Retarded
A lot of Conservatives know that Crazy can equal wicked intelligent.
Dumb criminals tend to be violently brutal like animals, Smart criminals are downright devastating because they plan out their crimes...
MA doesn’t belong in America. They must have no appreciation for the Bill of Rights. As Benjamin Franklin put it, “He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.”
If it isn’t satire, it should be. Never happen. Zero risk.
Maybe they could check to see if we’re taking the tags off our pillows too. ;-)
It wasn’t good enough to just attack the 2nd amendment. This way they get to attack the 2nd and 4th at the same time. Question: what happens if they are not prescribed in the appropriate manner (a gun safe that costs hundreds or thousands that’s manufactured by a large onor to the Obama campaign). What will der Fuehrer do then? Consfiscate your guns or write you a citation. I would guess consfiscate your guns because they just can’t leave those dangerous unloaded guns on the top shelf of your closet laying around. They will take your guns, fine you an exorbitant amount that if you don’t pay in a certain time period will become state property to be destroyed, melted down an recycled, or resold .
You have to always question the true intentions, motives, and actions of anyone connected to this administration because they are truly evil. They want us disarmed by any means necessary and will keep strategizing and devising methods of deception until they can find a way to convince the naieve segment of the population that big gov daddy knows best . Be ever watchful. This is just another test of the system to check for weaknesses to exploit.
These politicians probably just think they’re scoring points with metrosexuals and leftcoast women. I don’t think he realizes that for many of us, this is a game changer. If he gets his way, people who have never committed a crime, walk their dog, play with their grandkids, and go to church will become “domestic terrorists”.
I can guarantee you it will in this part of Arizona.
Just shoot them!
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