[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

You know maybe because I just finished reading Unintended Consequences but this really sounds fishy to me.

[Arkinsaw]

They are lucky that they didn't lose their car, their house, their land, and their bank account to drug seizure. There wouldn't even have to really be charges filed for that to have happened. Of course seizing private property without due process is legal these days.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

This will help

[LowOiL]

She said county and federal authorities needed only to knock on their door to inspect their guns, house and land. Instead, they sought federal warrants and performed a full-fledged raid Feb. 26.

That was sorta a useless statement. How did the authorities know they would cooperate? They did what they needed to do to search the area, otherwise they risked tipping off their search.

Tip to people, don't think any amount of drugs are a "fluke". Treat drugs as carefully as you do your guns, cause the two don't mix too well in court.

[Always A Marine]

This is armed robbery. That the criminals wear badges does not change a thing -- except that they will get away with the crime. Decent citizens should have no respect for them...

[HairOfTheDog]

0.42 ounces of marijuana from David LaVanway's bedroom. The amount would make no more than three joints, she said.

Nearly a half-ounce (14 grams?) only makes three joints? She makes a mean joint!

methinks the reporter got something wrong....

[weikel]

Less than half an ounce this was a frame up.

[Centurion2000]

Because police found less than a half-ounce of marijuana, the U.S. Attorney's Office has launched civil forfeiture proceedings to keep the guns and 28,359 rounds of ammunition,

This is TOTAL BULL$$%T ..... crap like this was why we rebelled against England.

[FF578]

Don't Smoke Dope.

[hoosierskypilot]

"He said felony criminal charges could follow if prosecutors conclude the owners lied on gun registration forms when answering standard questions about possible drug use. "

That's the key. If these people are charged with a felony, the authorities will hold the guns until after the trial since felons are not allowed to own firearms. If convicted, they lose the guns. Period.

My guess is that they'll plea down to a misdemeanor and get the guns back.

[The FRugitive]

ping

[Monty22]

Follow the law, don't have pot around, no probs..

No issue here.

[Twodees]

Where is this, New York?

[R. Scott]

“During the home raid, authorities seized 0.42 ounces of marijuana from David LaVanway's bedroom. The amount would make no more than three joints, she said.”

She only gets 7 joints to the ounce? That’s some big doobies.
I thought most people were aware that it is illegal to possess both illegal substances and firearms at the same time.

[verity]

When one knowingly does something that is against the law, one has to anticipate consequences. It is a matter of choice.

[Redbob]

Now THAT'S what I want: a dope-smoking schoolbus driver chauffering my kids around!
She's lucky the local parents haven't lynched her.

[Dick Bachert]

[ampat]

Bill Clinton gives Communist China a 30 year jump in technology to launch ICBM's at us, and police find a piddling amount of marijuana. One criminal will get prosecuted the other has gone free without due process. One of these crimes is victimless and the other will have many victims. What's wrong with this picture?

[Ohioan]

"I think they (the sources) should have to come out," she said. "They have destroyed our lives over a bunch of gossip."

This really does sound like something out of Nazi Germany. One can only ask why this over-zealous "law enforcement?" I have been skeptical over the proposals to legalize drugs, for fear of sending a misleading signal to impressionable youth. But this sort of use of the drug laws to destroy the lives of middle-class Americans may force many of us to reconsider the whole question.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[lavaroise]

Because police found less than a half-ounce of marijuana,

Sounds like a planted plant to me.