Posted on 04/30/2003 5:45:41 AM PDT by CFW
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:09:42 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
PITTSBURGH (AP) A man who hunted deer on his own property will spend 15 years in federal prison because he was a convicted felon, and therefore not allowed to possess a gun.
Jack C. Altsman, 43, of Beaver Falls, received the mandatory sentence Friday from U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Oh, yeah, you're right.
Let's just open the prisons and let them all out. Oh--and give them firearms.
</ sarcasm>
Cabela's would be happy to sell you as many as you want with no paperwork.
Exactly. He is a felon (a double loser as he has 2 convictions), thus gets to enjoy the bounty of his foolish decisions. Part of his penalty is that he can never vote, or own a gun. He KNEW that after his FIRST conviction. It's clearly explained to him, and it's no big state secret.
You are looking, eagerly, to punish someone you think is a lesser citizen than yourself.
Do I think I'm superior to a convicted felon? Hell yeah. In every single category you can think of. I'm smarter, honorable, trustworthy, and have demonstrated that I can be trusted to act responsibly. Every single thing I own, I bought with money I earned. I grew up poor, and worked full time to put my way through college. Compared to this piece of human refuse, I'm freakin' superman.
You're just as much of a thug as you think he is, but you use your "moral superiority" to use the power of the state, whereas all he ever hurt was a lock on a door (burglary is forcible entry to commit larceny inside... no violence necessary).
Boo-freakin-hoo. I have had my home invaded by a degenerate like this creep. A person who felt that everything I owned was his to take. Now, some idiot like you propose that these degenerates are just as worthy as everyone else to possess a firearm.
His infirm wife is terrified and bed-ridden, and you can't move out of the subsidized housing you live in because there are no other homes available. Oh, bring me a Kleenix, you are killing me.... we all make decisions in life. Some of us chose to work to get ahead, others chose to steal from the people who work. You would mirthfully stand by and applaud his murder (after watching his wife get raped and bludgeoned, of course), all because he made a mistake, paid his debt to society, and you want to look down your nose at him. Truly, you're a prince among men.
Again, boo-freakin-hoo. Let's contrast this with the number of innocents who are killed/robbed every year by thugs who have been convicted not once, not twice but three times. The odds are that he's more likely to be the cause of violence, than the recepient of it.
15 years easily violates the 8th Amendment since a third burglary or even a physical assault on another would carry far lesser sentences than he got for injuring no one!)
Stupidity should be painful. This is called escalated punishment. The first conviction should have sent a message to this degenerate. But, this specimen of humanity was a little slower than the average idiot. So, his second offense usually carries with it a longer sentence (for those who are too mentally inept to understand what they did was wrong). He was put on notice, and he stupidly thought otherwise. I have absolutely no pity for the criminal element. Maybe because I've experienced what they can do to people's lives. But bleeding hearts will always seek to blame someone else for the criminals poor decisions. You are blaming me, for wanting to punish a person who has been through the system AT LEAST twice. Perhaps some day you will be unfortunate to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time and expience first hand the utter disregard this element has for your property, your life, your possessions, and everything you hold dear. Then, I think you will change your tune.
You live in California, right? Are you sure you never stepped on spotted owl or some spotted bug? Or did you cause some pollution or did you make any hate crime remark?
Once again, it is not the fact of the punishment that is unConstitutional, it is the size of it. Get it?
As for your gas sale example, you are incorrect. Unless you knew that the person was going to rob a bank, you cannot be held in any way culpable.
Did you miss the "if he mentioned the robbery" part?
Finally, I never pay for things like towing in cash. I need the receipts for my records. Never. Try again.
Your egocentrism is remarkable. This is not about you. This is about the hyper-extension of bad laws, the enforcement of 8th-Amendment-violating penalties, and the very clear possibility that even those who do not have a "guilty mind" (sufficient mens rea) still being liable for criminal penalties... especially when they are gun owners. (Have you not noticed the specific targetting of that single culture for hyper-aggressive law enforcement?)
Considering that ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET A GUN IS READ THE CLASSIFIEDS AND THEN DIAL THE PHONE, if you can't trust someone with their Constitutional right to K&BA because of a felony conviction, then the reality is that you can't trust them in society period.
As guns are only as far away as the closest "Tradin Post" classified ad's or similar.
To act like we are all somehow safer as a result of this is simply laughable.
Been there, done that. Home break-in, stolen car stereos, and an ATM robbery... one's emotional state should not influence Constitutional analysis. Apparently you still are "boo-frickin-hoo-ing" over your losses, and figure that the Constitution takes a back seat to your whiny fears.
Oh, and by the way, since you are more likely to commit a crime than my wheelchair-bound grandmother, you won't mind a few charges coming your way for the future potential crimes that you have yet to commit. We're all sure you'll understand.
Oh? What's that? It shouldn't apply to you, oh elitist one? You didn't foresee that letting unConstitutional applications stand unopposed would encourage further instances? You were too stupid to realize that if it happens to someone else, it can happen to you? Hm! Who could've predicted that!
Rubbish !!
The consstitution specifically forbids the enactment of all gun laws. No Exceptions. - Due process requires the nullification of all gun statutes. Anything less is short of Due process.
You have said over and over that prohibiting felons from owning guns is uncounstitutional. Over, and over and over. Yet, have offered nothing to back that up. I have shown Federal laws explaining and detailing what is included. Just because you can repeat something, does not make it true. On what grounds is limiting the ability of felons to obtain firearms uncounstitutional?
Do you have a family member that is a felon loser? You seem bent on giving the criminal element weapons, which will likely be used on the non-crimial element. And those who somehow manage to get through life without committing felonies are elitists? Newsflash for you, about 98% of the american population is 'elitist' in that we have somehow managed to make it through life without committing a felony.
And it's true, that I am probably more likely to commit a crime than your wheelchair-bound grandmother; and as soon as I follow through and commit a crime, then have my day in court; I will have earned limitations on my freedom. That's the difference. These losers earned the special restrictions on their freedom, at the cost to innocents and the american taxpayer.
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