The Second Amendment does not provide such an excuse for upholding a criminal act, as it is applied at this time.
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With all due respect, I don’t agree with anything you said. Setting the 2nd Amendment aside, Courts permit “extenuating circumstances” to be considered in the “punishment phase” every day. I think his Silver Star should have been considered. I think his 100 combat missions should have been considered. That he’s been a fastidious conservator and custodian of the weapon for 30 years should have been considered. That his wife of decades just died should have been considered. As a Vietnam era veteran, I think his service in that war should be considered.
I also think he could appeal on at least 4 grounds, 1. Incompetent counsel 2. 2nd Ammendment 3. The eighth amendment and 4. the 10th amendment.
Instead, this woman judge, who no doubt is a gun grabbing liberal, sentenced this man to a life sentence because of personal feelings and/or delusions about guns. You choose to side with her, I DON”T.
You have chosen to side with the perpetrator, overstating both his prior record and gilding his unlawful behavior in this matter, calling him "a fastidious conservator and custodian of the weapon." That's totally asinine, IMHO. The proper custodian of this unlawfully defaced M14 was/is the U. S. Armory at Aniston, the proper agent to determine its disposition. Any person still upholding the honor of accepting a commission would know that, would fulfill the trust placed in him, and would see that it was reported and properly restored to the original owner, U. S. Army Ordnance.
Instead, he chose to illegally purchase it, unlawfully hide it until his secret was revealed by bragging, the weapon confiscated, he being given a fair trial, and sentenced for his abuse of the trust placed in him. Apparently, your perception of honesty and fidelity has been inverted by whatever brainwashing that you have subscribed to.
And I do care that your opinion has been so bent as to be useless in a reasonable discussion.
Actually, now that his wife has passed, he will be getting his Social Security, three squares a day, a place to bunk for nothing, probably rental from his home, and seven years to reevaluate his system of beliefs and priorities. At 77, he will still be pretty young in today’s terms (I’m 82, and busy every day with internet activity, Bible study, keeping my property up, and helping out other veterans through the DAV and VA Volunteer Service). There’s no reason that he cannot resume his normal community life after he pays his dues. The photo in the article makes him look pretty fit. This could be a learning experience for you, too, if you let it.