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Shops in clear on guns
Post and Courier ^ | February 9, 2007 | NADINE PARKS

Posted on 02/09/2007 12:29:16 PM PST by Neil E. Wright

The U.S. government will not pursue charges against a Summerville pawnshop owner and 14 other gun dealers accused in a New York City lawsuit of illegally selling weapons, a newspaper reported.

Various U.S. attorneys' offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined New York's findings against the dealers "do not rise to a level that would support a criminal prosecution," according to a U.S. Department of Justice letter sent to New York City Hall on Tuesday, the New York Daily News reported.

The agencies also warned New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration that it could face legal liabilities if it continues to conduct sting operations that fall within the jurisdiction of federal agents.

Larry Mickalis, owner of Mickalis Pawn Shop on Main Street in Summerville, said Thursday that the determination exonerates him. He filed a counter lawsuit in fall against Bloomberg for slander, fraud and emotional distress.

"The truth is coming out now. There has been no illegal involvement," he said. "I've always obeyed the law, and I didn't particularly like someone from New York who doesn't know me and is not law enforcement accusing me of things that they have no proof of and I have not done."

The lawsuit New York filed in federal court in May claims 15 gun sellers in South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio negligently sold guns to people who legally shouldn't have them. It contends that at least 49 weapons from Mickalis' Main Street pawnshop turned up in the Big Apple and were used in crimes. Also named in the suit is Woody's Pawn and Jewelry in Orangeburg.

Mickalis said that although the guns might have been purchased at his shop, they could have been sold to other buyers before they reached New York.

New York hired private investigators with hidden cameras to test gun dealers on illegal sales and claimed all 15

dealers named in the suit sold to undercover buyers.

Mickalis said all of the gun sales he has made have been legal sales with background checks and appropriate documentation.

The Justice Department letter was sent to New York by Michael Battle, director of the executive office for United States Attorneys, the Daily News reported.

Battle's office could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

A second round of lawsuits targeted 12 more gun dealers in the five states. Included among them was Trader World in North Charleston.

New York's stings usually involved a male and female entering gun stores and attempting to act out "straw purchases" in which one person fills out the paperwork for a gun but is making the purchase for someone else.

The method is often used by those who cannot legally own firearms, such as convicted felons, authorities contend.

Under the tactic, while the man showed interest in guns, the woman would wander away but would return when it came time to fill out the necessary purchase paperwork, according to the suit's scenario.

 

Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; batf; bloomberg; dealers; guns; newyork
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Good news indeed!!!!
1 posted on 02/09/2007 12:29:17 PM PST by Neil E. Wright
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To: Neil E. Wright

This was very good news -- the Second Amendement survives another liberal attack.


2 posted on 02/09/2007 12:31:13 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: Neil E. Wright
The agencies also warned New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration that it could face legal liabilities if it continues to conduct sting operations that fall within the jurisdiction of federal agents.

Hear that Bloomie?

3 posted on 02/09/2007 12:31:24 PM PST by Cagey
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To: Neil E. Wright
Verry good. Tired of the fascist Bloomberg and his brown shirt tactics!
4 posted on 02/09/2007 12:32:34 PM PST by Edgerunner (Better RED state than DEAD state)
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To: Neil E. Wright
Under the tactic, while the man showed interest in guns, the woman would wander away but would return when it came time to fill out the necessary purchase paperwork, according to the suit's scenario.


Doesn't prove a d@mn thing: could just be a case of "Happy birthday, darling!"
5 posted on 02/09/2007 12:34:09 PM PST by Little Ray
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To: Neil E. Wright

Kudos to the US DOJ. Just imagine what would happen if this were a Clinton administration.


6 posted on 02/09/2007 12:34:22 PM PST by libstripper
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To: libstripper

...or a Giuliani administration.


7 posted on 02/09/2007 12:35:26 PM PST by Redcloak ("Shooting makes me feel better!" -Aeryn Sun)
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To: Edgerunner
The New York Sun is reporting that the prosecutions are still going to happen. It' is/was on the NRA site.

It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

8 posted on 02/09/2007 12:35:52 PM PST by basil (Exercise your Second Amendment rights--buy another gun today.)
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To: basil

yo'


9 posted on 02/09/2007 12:36:24 PM PST by Doctor Raoul (What's the difference between the CIA and the Free Clinic? The Free Clinic knows how to stop leaks.)
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To: Little Ray

As convicted felon G. Gordon Liddy says, "I can't legally own firearms...Mrs. Liddy on the other hand has an extensive gun collection".


10 posted on 02/09/2007 12:41:00 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 ( ...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47.)
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To: Neil E. Wright

11 posted on 02/09/2007 12:41:31 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
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To: Neil E. Wright

I've posted some of this before.

A fellow I shoot with owns a shop in NC that was shopped by these clowns.

A man and woman came into his shop shopping. They were hispanic or PR. They expressed an interest in a Colt 'Tactical' .45

Only problem was that he didn't have one. They carried out the charade to the point of giving him $300 cash to order one for them, which he did. He never saw them again, but did take reciept of the gun.

They gave hime the willies, so he contacted a local ATF guy, who told him later he had been shopped and could keep the cash for his troubles.

This is BS in NC since the buyer must have a permission slip from the local sheriff to buy a handgun. The reseller takes the 'letter' from the sheriff and completes the normal ATF forms for a purchase, this is normally done at delivery.


12 posted on 02/09/2007 12:50:04 PM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Little Ray
Doesn't prove a d@mn thing: could just be a case of "Happy birthday, darling!"

My girlfriend recently got her first gun, a nice little S&W Model 640 stainless J frame snubby.

I was the one requesting the clerk to pull various guns out of the cabinet for inspection, checking the trigger, lockup, etc.

She tried the grips and wrote the check, completing the paperwork.

I'm well enough known locally that there was never any suspicion by the dealer, but an outsider watching the transaction would have thought 'straw buyer'.

13 posted on 02/09/2007 12:55:20 PM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Redcloak
***...or a Giuliani administration****

BINGO!

or is it BANG-O?

;-)

14 posted on 02/09/2007 12:56:14 PM PST by Condor51 (Where's Attila The Hun when you need him? [Go sit down Rudy])
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To: Neil E. Wright

Rudy is heartbroken.


15 posted on 02/09/2007 1:00:04 PM PST by Beagle8U (Fred Thompson......Your party needs you !)
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To: Beagle8U

If Rudy wants the Pubbie nomination, he's going to have to make an effective peace with those of us who support the Second Amendment.


16 posted on 02/09/2007 1:12:18 PM PST by libstripper
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To: robertpaulsen

Looks like your boys blew this one.


17 posted on 02/09/2007 1:13:44 PM PST by ozzymandus
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To: Doctor Raoul
Fot it! Thanks!

It's all over SAS now!

We, of course, are thrilled. I just hope they go ahead with the prosecution. There's seems to be some doubt about that.

18 posted on 02/09/2007 1:15:43 PM PST by basil (Exercise your Second Amendment rights--buy another gun today.)
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To: Monterrosa-24

LOL! I miss his show. We don't get it anymore in our area.


19 posted on 02/09/2007 1:17:03 PM PST by stevio (Next election between a Newt and a Witch?(NRA))
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To: harpseal; TexasCowboy; AAABEST; Travis McGee; Squantos; Shooter 2.5; wku man; SLB; ...
Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!
20 posted on 02/09/2007 2:03:12 PM PST by Joe Brower (Sheep have two speeds: "graze" and "stampede".)
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