Man Arrested in Washington After Police Find 16 Guns in Car

Terror News.net ^ | 9-4-2002

[dommie]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Law enforcement officials found 16 guns in the car of a Philadelphia-area man they suspected may have been driving to the White House on Wednesday.

The car was stopped at about 12:30 p.m. in the Adams Morgan section of Washington, about two miles from the White House.

Earlier Wednesday, the Secret Service received information suggesting a man was driving from Pennsylvania toward the White House with explosives, and issued an alert for police agencies to be on the lookout for him.

As part of the search, police stopped a Chevrolet Cavalier registered in Pennsylvania and driven by Jeffrey Cloutier, according to a Secret Service official. Authorities found 10 rifles and six handguns in the car, two law enforcement officials said.

No explosives were found, said Washington's police chief, Charles Ramsey.

Cloutier was held for investigation of possessing unregistered firearms and ammunition. A woman identified as Cloutier's wife left the scene with Secret Service agents. It was not immediately clear whether she would face charges.

[Cindy]

WTOP.com News: "PA. MAN TO BE CHARGED FOR BRINGING WEAPONS TO D.C." (ARTICLE NOTE: The suspect is identified as Jeffrey Cloutier.) (090402)_

GOOGLE Search Term: "JEFFREY CLOUTIER"

[SauronOfMordor]

Cloutier was held for investigation of possessing unregistered firearms and ammunition.

He's identified as being a Pennsylvania resident. PA has no requirement that your firearms have to be registered.

[dommie]

handguns need to be registered in PA, rifles don't.

[Noslrac]

But he was in DC no?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Not registered in DC. I have no idea what their laws are concerning transport of firearms, but I'd bet it is somewhere between NO! and H#LL NO!

[Dog Gone]

But must they be registered if you bring them into DC?

[KC Burke]

he rented a cavilier? Has to be a liberal.

[Lysander]

We can add to the crime of driving with too much money the crime of owning too many weapons. WOD was just practice. The WOT, will complete the metamorphosis into a police state.. all for a good cause don't you know.

[Dog Gone]

Authorities found 10 rifles and six handguns in the car, two law enforcement officials said.

That's a little below average for Houston motorists.

[mewzilla]

More on this morning's loony.

[3k9pm]

Probably just concerned about his personal safety. After all he was in DC (crime capitol of the country).

But wait, doesn't DC have some of the most restrictive gun control laws in the country?? How is that possible??
Must be those darned criminal tourists.

[END LIBERAL PSYCHOBABBLE RANT]

[jz638]

That's all fine and good, but is the brown dog ok?

[Procyon]

I think the dog got away with the bedroom slippers. And, no, only criminals and law enforcement are allowed to possess guns in the District. As soon as they determine the suspect is in one of those categories, they'll let him go. The usual procedure is that the guns will be missing from the evidence locker and they'll have to dismiss the case for lack of evidence. The guns? They'll end up in some cop's basement collection.

[El Gato]

Not registered in DC. I have no idea what their laws are concerning transport of firearms, but I'd bet it is somewhere between NO! and H#LL NO!

That would be true, except for the Firearms Owners Protection Act, which allows for transport of firearms accross non second amendment compliant juridictions, like Massachusetts, New York City and Washington DC. However that federal law, passed in the early 80s IIRC, requires the guns be unloaded and locked away, (in the trunk will do). It's about the only law that was a "compromise" in the direction of more arms rights, although it also put the kibosh on newly manufactured machine guns being sold, even with the tax stamp, to private citizens. (It was one of those last minute amendments that never went through the normal committee or even conference committe processes, IIRC)

[El Gato]

But must they be registered if you bring them into DC?

Not if you are merely transporting them from one local to another, and just "passing through", provided possesion would be legal at each end of the trip.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Suure it will.

After all, everyone knows this guy was just going hunting. We just aren't sure if he was hunting for Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld or grouse.

[wimpycat]

If the Secret Service was involved, they must have received information from somewhere that led them to believe he was not just going to DC to visit the Smithsonian. He may be a dangerous man with a criminal history, or he may just have a neighbor with a grudge against him.

[Dog Gone]

Interesting information. Thanks.

[El Gato]

handguns need to be registered in PA, rifles don't.

Not according to the NRA/ILA site. Licensing required only to carry a concealed handgun. Phildelphia, Pittsburg and other cities have different laws, and I don't think there is any state premption of those laws as is the case in many states.