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Flintlock from 1700s could land elderly NJ man in prison
Fox News.com ^ | February 18, 2015 | Maxim Lott

Posted on 02/18/2015 4:05:54 PM PST by Kaslin

A retired teacher is facing 10 years in prison and the loss of his state pension for possessing a flintlock pistol that may not have been fired since George Washington was alive, his attorney told FoxNews.com on Wednesday.

In a case that underscores the Garden State's strict gun laws, Gordon Van Gilder, a retired English teacher and collector of historical items, has been charged with criminal possession of a handgun and faces up to 10 years in prison. If the 72-year-old is convicted, the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 years and the pension Van Gilder earned as an educator could be revoked, penalties attorney Evan Nappen called "outrageous."

“It’s crazy," Nappen told FoxNews.com. "The gun was unloaded and strictly possessed as a historical relic. We’re hoping the prosecutor will exercise discretion and dismiss his case.”

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: 2a; 2ndamendment; bang; banglist; flintlock; guns; krispykreme; newjersey; newjerseyfatman; nj; screwnj; secondamendment; welcometonjnowgohome
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To: TigersEye

Absolutely it’s a lie. Lies like that are spawned from lies and only beget more lies.


41 posted on 02/18/2015 4:48:40 PM PST by Olog-hai
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To: MeshugeMikey
never bring a flintlock to a finger fight.

Or something like that.

42 posted on 02/18/2015 4:50:25 PM PST by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: Kaslin

My ggggrandfather who went with his musket from the Battle of Saratoga II thru New Jersey to join up with Washington`s Army, was arrested in New Jersey by NJ cops for carrying his musket thru New Jersey.


43 posted on 02/18/2015 4:51:00 PM PST by bunkerhill7 (s Army)
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To: rdcbn

I read on another thread that NJ’s firearm law specifically covers antique guns too.


44 posted on 02/18/2015 4:53:05 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Ahh.... fire and brimstone with an faint under tone of french fries.

Remington NMA .44 cal. replicas


45 posted on 02/18/2015 4:55:10 PM PST by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Kaslin

I will never, not in this lifetime, visit New Jersey. It is not a part of the United States of America as it does not recognize the Constitution as the law of the land.


46 posted on 02/18/2015 4:56:41 PM PST by MeganC (You can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you.)
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To: rdcbn

Federally the guy is in the clear. What the maggots in New Jersey have to say about owning the antique is another matter altogether. My guess is a rubber band an paper clip are illegal in that toilet.


47 posted on 02/18/2015 5:03:08 PM PST by RightOnTheBorder
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To: BCW

Chris Christie needs to show some courage and put an end to this bull$hT case NOW. I am not holding my breath though.


48 posted on 02/18/2015 5:04:44 PM PST by mrsixpack36
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
I had a 12ga and a 45-70 just in case of a black bear intruder.
49 posted on 02/18/2015 5:05:24 PM PST by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: RC one

Because Christie is a gun grabbing coward. Why anyone would consider this turd for president is beyond me.


50 posted on 02/18/2015 5:07:32 PM PST by mrsixpack36
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To: Olog-hai
That's the fundamental gun control lie. If flintlock pistols and muskets are illegal to own then obviously all guns are. No need to discuss anything else with them.

MOLON LAVE!

51 posted on 02/18/2015 5:07:48 PM PST by TigersEye (ISIS is the tip of the spear. The spear is Islam.)
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To: Kaslin
"The gun was unloaded and strictly possessed as a historical relic. We’re hoping the prosecutor will exercise discretion and dismiss his case.”

but at no time does the thought of removing such an obvious violation of the 2nd amendment come to mind

the whole northeast corridor is filled with weak willed, compliant, sheep

52 posted on 02/18/2015 5:11:19 PM PST by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Inyo-Mono

Yup, which is why the first two years of production of the Mosin-Nagant (if you can find any) are wonderful: nice old-style sniper rifle (the Finnish sniper with the most confirmed kills of any sniper in military history used a Mosin-Nagant with iron sights!) not considered a firearm for purposes of American law.


53 posted on 02/18/2015 5:12:41 PM PST by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know...)
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To: The_Reader_David

And they can be legally sporterized too.


54 posted on 02/18/2015 5:25:54 PM PST by Inyo-Mono
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To: Inyo-Mono

If the law did not allow me to keep modern cartridge guns, I would definitely keep a few percussion revolvers and maybe even a few single shots.

The biggest weakness other than the slow loading is the percussion caps sometimes come off the nipples.


55 posted on 02/18/2015 5:28:26 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: mountainlion

In NJ they consider BB guns to be firearms.


56 posted on 02/18/2015 5:32:43 PM PST by mrmeyer (You can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him. – Robert Heinlein)
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To: RC one

No, sadly they do not.


57 posted on 02/18/2015 5:34:16 PM PST by Shady (We are at war again......this time for our lives...)
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To: mylife
When is your gun not a firearm?
58 posted on 02/18/2015 5:35:51 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Step up to a Walker or Dragoon!
45. totally!


59 posted on 02/18/2015 5:40:00 PM PST by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: Big Red Badger

They were actually .44s.


60 posted on 02/18/2015 5:44:47 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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