Posted on 01/11/2012 5:34:54 PM PST by marktwain
An Ohio man who has a gun permit in his home state is the latest city tourist to be caught in the web of New York’s strict gun laws, The Post has learned.
Fred Vankirk, 59, of Columbus, was slapped with handcuffs at about 11 a.m. Saturday after cops found two .357 Magnum pistols and a .45 semiautomatic in his room at the Radisson Hotel on Lexington Avenue near East 48th Street, police sources said.
One of the Magnums, a five-shot revolver, had been spotted loaded and sitting in plain view on a nightstand, the sources said.
Vankirk, who has no criminal history, told the arresting officer, “I have three guns in the hotel room. Is that what this is about?” a court complaint alleges.
Later, in a videotaped interview at the Manhattan DA’s Office, he told authorities he had been in New York for about three weeks and had the guns for protection, police sources said.
He was charged with three counts of second-degree gun possession and being held on $50,000 bond, court papers show. Each count carries a potential sentence of five to 15 years, to be served concurrently if a conviction results.
The arrest follows two city gun busts of US citizens who had valid gun permits in their home states.
Tennessee nurse Meredith Graves was arrested on Dec. 22 after she tried to check her .32-caliber Kel-Tec pistol at the 9/11 Memorial. Indiana jeweler Ryan Jerome, 28, was nabbed after trying to check his .45 Ruger at the Empire State Building on Sept. 27.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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I hope all these people ban together and sue or file some action. This is frickin crazy and I thought the Supreme Court already decided this. We have a constitutional right in this country that should supercede the tyrannical dictates of local communities. The first amendment doesn’t apply willy nilly nor should the 2nd. This is why I don’t want to go out East. Boycott leftist, stupid New York.
What a bunch of idiots! ALWAYS know the laws where you are taking your firearms.
We are all for states rights, but sometimes it is hard.
A real dufus for leaving a weapon out in full view. “Spotted” by a Radisson employee? No more Radisson for me.
Civil rights violation by NYC.
I agree. Any 2nd amendment respecting person should boycott New York.
When I was young, I probably would have visited New York, Chicago or California and simply left my guns at home.
As I have gotten older, my attitude has changed to the extent that I simply will not visit one of those places.
It is surprising how careless people can be tho. My Brother took a .32 auto pistol to Mexico and back without remembering he had it. Fortunately he wasn’t ever searched but goodness some of those places just can’t wait to prosecute gun owners.
I am for proper state powers, to counter federal power. States do not have rights, they have powers.
Second Amendment does not say the "congress shall make not law infringing the right to keep and bear arms". It says " the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Early state supreme court cases recognized that fact.
Now we have the 14th amendment, which was written, in part, to insure that the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms would not be infringed by the states, which doubly insures that the states have no legitimate power to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms.
I don’t go to Nevada because of Harry Reid.
I don’t go to NYC because of their gun laws.
Next question?
I’d love to go to California to see a redwood forest, but my husband refuses to go out there. I have to agree that it’s best not to venture there.
Vote with your $ and let them know.
Simple.
Second Amendment does not say the “congress shall make not law infringing the right to keep and bear arms”. It says “ the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Early state supreme court cases recognized that fact.
Now we have the 14th amendment, which was written, in part, to insure that the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms would not be infringed by the states, which doubly insures that the states have no legitimate power to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms.
BUMP
Dang. What does he need all that hardware for?
I don't know why anybody would go to or through New York until somebody or some group of somebodies does something about this. As soon as that gets done, they can start on airport security and those infernal highway checkpoints / fishing expeditions.
He's in New York City. Personally, I think he's carrying a little light.
Anyone who travels to NYC in the first place must have serious mental illness. Who in their right mind would voluntarily go to NYC? Guy should plead insanity!
Has any state ever issued a travel warning to its citizens about another state? Kind of like the fed does for certain countries.
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