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Vietnam War veteran sentenced to 7 years in prison for buying "rare" gun in the 1980
CBS News ^ | 10/18/2018 | ALEX SUNDBY

Posted on 10/19/2018 12:07:06 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen

A 70-year-old Texas man was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to buying an automatic rifle in the 1980s, CBS station KTVT reports. Alfred Pick of Plano purchased the M14 rifle at a gun show that was similar to the weapon he had as an Army lieutenant in the Vietnam War.

"This gun was very rare," Pick attorney Ryne Sandel told KTVT. "You see, at that time it was rare to see one, so he instantly, you know, had a connection to it."

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raided Pick's house last year on a tip about the weapon, KTVT reports. Two weeks before the raid, his wife of 40 years had died of cancer, according to the station.

Pick and his wife had a gun collection of about 14 weapons, Sandel said. "Many of them were collector's items," he said

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; banglist; texas; vietnamvets
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To: Kid Shelleen

Terrible.


81 posted on 10/19/2018 2:18:03 PM PDT by Innovative
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To: Hot Tabasco

If the law violates the constitution there no legitimacy to it.


82 posted on 10/19/2018 2:21:34 PM PDT by mrmeyer (You can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him. Robert Heinlein)
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To: Notthereyet

M14s were never sold as government surplus. There were some M14 from private contractors, winchester & h&r, that became transferable mgs. This obviously was not one of those. I wonder if it being contraband govt property has anything to do with the severity of the penalty. Still pretty ridiculous. Confiscation seems a more just remedy.


83 posted on 10/19/2018 2:22:23 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass (There should be a whole lot more going on than throwing bleach, said one woman.)
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To: TexasGunLover

With a real good atty, he could probably gotten probation for the full-auto aspect. But the serial number filed-off should have been a warning to him to even get his fingerprints off the rifle, at the gunshow, when he first handled it. Then, walk away fast.


84 posted on 10/19/2018 2:26:56 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: sailor76

That was not the issue. Your comment about him fighting on the wrong side in Vietnam was.

Afa my support of laws, indeed, some are unconstitutional,others immoral, some just plain stupid or mean.
How I deal with them is via body politic, no willful violation when there is a legal option.

I shed blood, others and my own,in defense of our constitution and rule of law.


85 posted on 10/19/2018 2:27:50 PM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
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To: mrmeyer
If the law violates the constitution there no legitimacy to it.

The Federal Firearm Act of 1934 has yet to be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Therefore, it is not only the law of the land but it is Constitutional and legitimate..........Nice Try

86 posted on 10/19/2018 2:29:19 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (The art of lock picking began during the era of chastity belts.......)
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To: sailor76

Oh, and by the way, laws courts declare unconstitutional are so, laws individuals declare so are private opinions. Leftists and commies have their opinions too.

I understand your frustrations, we share many I am sure, but govt acts, until changed or repealed are enforceable. Maybe not just nor reasonable, but the law none the same.


87 posted on 10/19/2018 2:40:08 PM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
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To: TexasGunLover

The Firearms act of 1934 needs to be repealed as well as the 1968 one too.


88 posted on 10/19/2018 2:48:00 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (Life is about ass, you're either covering, hauling, laughing, kicking, kissing, or behaving like one)
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To: 2CAVTrooper

Never be friends with a Liberal.

They live for the herd.


89 posted on 10/19/2018 2:49:51 PM PDT by TheNext (Anonymous Source)
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To: mrmeyer

There may be no legitimacy to it but keep in mind two
things.

The ATF does NOT have a sense of humor and
you are never too old to go to prison.


90 posted on 10/19/2018 2:53:37 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I’m guessing someone there to “help” with the arrangements after his wife died two weeks prior.


91 posted on 10/19/2018 2:58:58 PM PDT by reed13k
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To: Snickering Hound

Owning or possessing a firearm with the serial # scratched off is illegal, a felony. Yes, Tons of Trouble.


92 posted on 10/19/2018 3:01:34 PM PDT by BatGuano
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To: Clarancebeaks
“Why is it that when people deliberately cheat the government out of thousands of dollars in taxes, when they get caught they have to pay it back plus a fine and probation, rarely any jail time. However if it involves a measly 5 dollar tax to the atf for a sawed off shotgun or a 200 dollar tax on a full auto rifle, they go to jail?”

Good question.

The 20 kids in Waco, Texas years ago paid with their lives because some adult living in the compound allegedly didn't pay the $200 tax.

It's $200 per rifle so the kids may have died for a bigger tax reason - say $2,000.

93 posted on 10/19/2018 3:02:40 PM PDT by jeffersondem
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To: Clarancebeaks

To answer your question, it is about guns, a serious matter that can’t be treated lightly. His mistake was to possess a firearm with the serial # scratched off. Yes, the sentence is excessive. I would confiscate the firearm and add a firm reprimand. The Judge, in most cases, has to consider his or her setting a precedent. In this case, giving a lenient sentence.

There is always the possibility of “more to the story!”


94 posted on 10/19/2018 3:13:43 PM PDT by BatGuano
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To: chuckles

I don’t think you can register a gun with the serial number obliterated.


95 posted on 10/19/2018 3:15:13 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Taxman; Kid Shelleen

My high school football coach was from Plano, Texas. He played on Alabama’s 1945 Rose Bowl Team.


96 posted on 10/19/2018 3:17:35 PM PDT by BatGuano
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To: Kid Shelleen

I don’t recall the M-14 having the capability to fire in full automatic.We qualified in 1969 on both the M-14 *and* the M-16.Of course the M-16 had full automatic capability back then (unlike now).


97 posted on 10/19/2018 3:21:13 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (I've Never Owned Slaves...You've Never Picked Cotton.End Of "Discussion".)
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To: PAR35

Having to “register a gun” is a violation of the US Constitution’s 2nd Amendment.
What part of “shall not be infringed” is ambiguous?
States or any governmental entity that have such laws are wrong.


98 posted on 10/19/2018 3:23:14 PM PDT by BatGuano
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To: rexthecat

“Never show a neighbor your guns. Even if you become best friends. Because if he gets divorced the person who will rat you out is his ex-wife. “

So what! Everyone in our neighborhood knows everyone in the neighborhood has guns.


99 posted on 10/19/2018 3:25:14 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z1)
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To: tet68

A piece like That,
Automatic with S/N filed off
would have sent Me running!
No comment,
No Question
No Frickin way would
I Touch it.
The individual with the item
would be avoided like the Plague.
That’s Why they call it HOT!


100 posted on 10/19/2018 3:33:04 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (Despised by the Despicable!)
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