Ex-official's guns legal, lawyer says

Press of Atlantic City ^ | 01/10/2009 | Steven Lemongello

[gieriscm]

The attorney for former Northfield zoning official Stephen Goldstein - arrested last year on multiple weapons charges after police discovered an Uzi and what they said was a "sawed-off" shotgun in his house - said Friday that the reason prosecutors decided to offer a plea deal on lesser charges was that both guns were actually legal.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel, however, said the Uzi was not legal but that Goldstein might have honestly believed it was due to confusion over its registration status. As for the shotgun, "It fell (inside) of the legal parameters by an inch or so."

[gieriscm]

Bravo-Sierra like this is why I will never set foot in NJ.

[Billthedrill]

"It's a good resolution for everybody," Weintrob said. "Mr. Goldstein will never have those weapons again."

How does confiscation of a perfectly legal shotgun come in as a "good" resolution? Welcome to the Byzantine world of gun control.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The guns were legal and he committed no crime, yet they are STILL going to keep his property and destroy it?

[ontap]

"Mr. Goldstein will never have those weapons again."

Why aren't his legal guns returned to him?

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Notice, one brief mention of the "old hand grenades". Does this mean they were just display or orientation grenades, they kind that don't go boom (to use language the prosecutor might understand.)

As for the shotgun, quote: "Whoever created (the gun), whether it was something manufactured that way or something created (afterward), whoever created it was cognizant of the law," Housel said.

Gee, ya think?

Mossberg Cruiser - 18.5 inch barrel, 12 gauge, six round mag. Perfectly legal.

[JamesP81]

"It's a good resolution for everybody," Weintrob said. "Mr. Goldstein will never have those weapons again."

So, the government of NJ thinks thievery is OK as long as it's the gubmint doing the thieving. I get it....

[SampleMan]

...the reason prosecutors decided to offer a plea deal on lesser charges was that both guns were actually legal.

Good to know that when you are innocent, the government is willing to leat you plea to a lesser charge.

[Eagle Eye]

This is more the type of case I had in mind as well as some of the open carry protesters that get arrested.

[TLI]

Housel said Goldstein did voluntarily register the Uzi under its old classification as a rifle in 1989, but after the law changed in 1990 there was a "grace period for (some) individuals who met certain criteria" to register their Uzis under the new classification as an assault weapon. Goldstein's Uzi was never registered as an assault weapon, Housel said.

creating crime out of thin air... "hey it's just a regestration, like you car. Just common sense, right?"

[ArrogantBustard]

This case certainly isn’t anywhere near as far out in left field ...

[ArrogantBustard]

Goldstein ended up pleading guilty to two amended charges of disorderly conduct resulting in a combined fine of $127. The weapons are in the custody of the Northfield police and could be either destroyed or sold, James said. "It's a good resolution for everybody," Weintrob said. "Mr. Goldstein will never have those weapons again."

All right ...

Tar. Feathers. Rail.

Use only as directed.

[Eagle Eye]

IMO the tar and feather solution should be reinstated.

[gieriscm]

I’m not familiar with NJ law, but would think that “disorderly conduct” is a misdemeanor and not a disqualifier for owning a firearm.

[ArrogantBustard]

Are you referring to this: "Mr. Goldstein will never have those weapons again."?

If so ... the point is, they took his guns and they refuse to give them back. Sure, maybe he can buy more ... it's still theft under colour of the law.

THAT'S why I'm invoking the method of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fethers.

[Mi5ke561]

Looks to me like a good case for a civil rights suit. They should be vulnerable to suit under Title 42, because they conspired to violate his civil rights. They took his property without compensation and he was denied due process.