State trooper pleads guilty to possessing machine gun

Belleville News-Democrat ^ | Jul. 26, 2006 | ASHLEY TUSAN JOYNER

[bad company]

Illinois State Police trooper Gregory Mugge pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing an unregistered machine gun in federal court on Tuesday, according to an announcement from the U.S. attorney's office.

Mugge, 52, of Jerseyville, was indicted in January, along with Illinois State Police Sgt. James Vest, 39, of O'Fallon, and John Yard, 36, an Illinois State Police special agent assigned to the Collinsville office, each face separate charges of illegal gun possession.

Mugge faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a maximum three years of supervised release.

He is scheduled to reappear in court for sentencing on Oct. 27.

On Dec. 29, authorities seized Mugge's unregistered Colt .2234 caliber rifle from his home in Jerseyville. In his plea, Mugge admitted to knowing his possession of the rifle was unlawful.

In February, a group of 12 local police chiefs and sheriffs, and two state senators, Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, and Sen. James Watson, R-Greenville, endorsed a letter of support for the three state troopers.

At that time, the backers pushed for administrative punishment for the three troopers rather than prosecution.

[tpaine]

Another example would be the McDonalds shooting that started the whole "assault weapons" craze by the gun grabbers. Again, given the number of rounds fired, there were surprisingly few injuries or deaths. If the perp had actually aimed, or used a shotgun, the death toll would have been far higher (although I believe that he did have a shotgun).

We should all be prepared.. It is only a matter of time before some crazy will slaughter a bunch of unarmed persons with buckshot. -- Bet your bottom dollar that the cry will go up to ban any multiple shot shotgun.

The same people here who rationalize banning multiple shot rapid fire weapons will be caught with their pants down, without a 'talking point' leg to stand on.

[MarkL]

Right. That's why the Marines fight with shotguns and semi-autos.

First off, the standard issue M16 and M4 (A2 and A4) are capable only of semi-auto and 3 round burst. While there are M16 and M4s that are capable of full auto fire, they're generally not issued to the troops. And shotguns are in wide use, especially for close quarter combat.

From HQMC Fact Files

United States Marine Corps Weapons & Equipment

12 Gauge Shotgun

Primary function: Manually operated (pump), repeating shotgun.

Length: 41.75 inches (106.05 centimeters)
Weight: 8 pounds (3.63 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 12 gauge
Maximum effective range: 50 yards (45.7 meters) with "00" buckshot load
Unit Replacement Cost: $600

Features: The 12 gauge shotgun is a manually operated (pump), repeating shotgun, with a seven-round tubular magazine, a modified choke barrel, ghost ring sights, and is equipped with a bayonet attachment, sling swivels and a standard length military stock with phenolic plastic buttplate. (Some models have wooden and/or folding stocks.) This special purpose individual weapon is used for guard duty, prisoner supervision, local security, riot control, and any situation which requires the use of armed personnel with inherent limited range and ammunition penetration.

Background: Various models of shotgun have been in service use since 1901. The current inventory consists of four different 12 gauge shotgun models: Remington 870, Winchester 1200, Mossberg 500, and Mossberg 590. (Weight and length of the weapon depend on the manufacturer.)

They've been using shotguns for a long time (since 1901, above). Here's an example of an old Winchester, along with some of the newer shotguns currently in service with the US military, not just the marines.

Mark

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

russian anti tank hand grenade

What does a Russian anti-tank hand grenade look like? Wouldn't it be kind of big for a hand grenade?

[Badray]

That's why we have Supreme Court cases on such things as thermal technology devices which can see through walls of a house.

BS That case was to disallow that being used by GOVERNMENT because it violated our rights as citizens.

[Badray]

By law it is illegal. The Constitution makes no such distinction so the law is an illegal infringement.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

Nevermind, I found one. Was it a RKG-3?

[Badray]

Do you think any of the people that you mentioned came by the weapons that they used legally? Laws don't stop criminals from obtaining guns or committing crimes. At most they define penalties for breaking the law and even then, lawyers and judges work together with plea bargains to negate the punishments intended by the law.

[Peisistratus]

"I'm a member of the NRA and own many guns myself. I'd prefer that fully automatic rifles be highly restricted in this country."

No believer in the 2nd Amendment, then?

[Badray]

What you seem to be missing is that your whacko neighbor's guns aren't going to be obtained legally anyway. He is going to steal them or buy them on the black market.

[The Red Zone]

This was not a transgression of state law.

[Peisistratus]

"I said the Founding Fathers almost certainly did not want you to have WMDs. "

They had no problem with privately owned warships, however.

[Buffalo Head]

""I'm a member of the NRA and own many guns myself. I'd prefer that fully automatic rifles be highly restricted in this country." "I agree totally. Only sane adults who do not have a criminal record should be allowed to have one."

Anyone that has the beliefs of you two, which are entirely contrary to our Bill of Rights has no business considering themselves "Conservatives". Shame, shame shame!

[Lurker]

Ahhh the Mossberg 590.

Best value available IMO.

L

[Lurker]

You are correct. However Illinois forbids private citizens from possessing Class III weapons of any kind regardless of whether or not one jumps through the Federal hoops.

I'm rather suprised the State isn't prosecuting him as well.

You can bet your bottom dollar that my local SA would love to do a pile on if he had a case like this come before him involving a private citizen.

L

[Nailbiter]

ping

[ReignOfError]

Why should the people be barred from having the same types of rifles troopers carry in the standing army (both the military and the militarized law enforcement)?

Why should the people be denied access to high explosives, missiles, or chemical or nuclear weapons, all of which the standing army has?

[Smokin' Joe]

I'd prefer that fully automatic rifles be highly restricted in this country.

Well, you got your wish. Feel safer now?

BUt I want you to think about something. If someone intent to do so can smuggle in a few hundred pounds of marijuana or cocaine, it should be a breeze to get a few fully automatic rifles past the drug dogs.

Criminals don't give a d@mn about the law--they will get what they want. The law only restricts the people least likely to create mayhem.

As for me, I'd like to see the NFA of '34 and every gun law since repealed. ymmv

[Smokin' Joe]

Weaver didn't have full auto, he cut off a shotgun where the federal gunnarcs wanted him too and sold it to them--just a wee bit short of barrel to be legal. When he wouldn't play ball with them and turn informant they went after him.

[ReignOfError]

And look at the number of people killed and injured in one of the most infamous incidents where fully automatic weapons were being used: That bank robbery in CA, where the 2 criminals actually fired thousands of rounds. There were people seriously injured: I don't remember the number of fatalities, although I know that at least one of the criminals died on the scene.

That was the North Hollywood Bank of America robbery in 1997. Both perps were killed; one by his own hand, and the other while waiting for an ambulance to arrive after the cops took him down. It was alleged that the cops failed to render aid fast enough after they dropped the sumbitch, and even if true, that won't cost me any sleep.

A few cops suffered serious injuries, even permanent ones if memory serves, but no fatalities. I don't recall any serious civilian casualties.

In that incident, the LAPD actually had to borrow .223 rifles from a local gun shop, because the perps were armored. The standard-issue sidearms and shotguns weren't getting the job done.

[ReignOfError]

Do you really think that criminals or gangs don't have automatic weapons because it's difficult to get them through legal channels?

There's no need for them to import automatic weapons when they can buy semis and convert them to full-auto. Arms like the SKS and AR-15 are legal to buy, and are adapted to semi-auto from full-auto designs. With a drill press and a modicum of skill, it wouldn't take a Manhattan Project to set up a basement or garage to convert a few a day.

You don't need a gunsmith to make that conversion, any more than you need a pharmacist to cook meth. You just need someone who can follow a recipe from A to Z and doesn't particularly give a damn whether he or anyone else lives or dies.