[Dan from Michigan]

I saw this posted on the MGOUC boards. I know the poster, Jim Simmons, personally, and trust him on this. He's an attorney on 2nd Amendment issues.

[NovemberCharlie]

I nearly hit "Report Abuse" instead of "Post Reply." Pity that button doesn't do what I'd really like it to..

This sounds like, "Well, the robber ran into this neighborhood, so let's search every house within eight blocks."

[Bogey78O]

Oh to hell with that.

I don't own a makarov but being a gun owner I can see them doing the same to anyone.

FWIW, I heard they "borrowed" some AR-15s when the DC sniping was going down to fingerprint them. Took some of the owners months of hassle for the BATF to return them.

[umgud]

If he were shot with a Ruger Single Six, where would the FBI get license to ask for all owners of said guns to turn them over for balistics testing? It's no different asking for Mak replacement barrels.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The term "Piss up a rope" comes to mind.

[Cicero]

Well, if the FBI asks you for anything, you'd probably better talk to an attorney first. They don't exactly have a stellar record for respecting people's rights, nor do the courts have a stellar record of seeing that they obey the law.

[Reeses]

investigation into the homicide of Thomas Wales, an Assistant U.S. Attorney who was murdered in his Seattle, WA home in October, 2001.

Some murders provoke more unreasonable searches by the government than others.

[ahadams2]

somehow this seems either awfully desperate or awfully naive on the part of whichever fbi office initiated this...they've gotta stop letting guys who previously specialized in grand theft auto, put out idiot requests over a nationwide system. sheesh!

[Imal]

I wonder just how many of these barrels FAC has sold? If the number is in the tens of thousands, then this is completely absurd.

On the other hand, if the number is in the hundreds, then this might actually be a valid investigative move. Sometimes it takes unusual measures for the FBI to "always get their man". If a name on a FAC sales record happens to match a name that has already surfaced and is on a long list of possible suspects, it could break the case.

Ballistic fingerprinting, however, goes much further and I would expect some judicial oversight and evidence of probable cause if they are really trying to collect every barrel for such fingerprinting.

Certainly, if the FBI plans to fingerprint thousands and thousands of barrels from around the nation, as opposed to a much smaller number, I think some attorneys need to be called in and legal reality check conducted, if for no other reason than the expense and questionable practice of such a wide canvass.

Much more importantly, though, each fingerprinting legally constitutes a search from a civil rights perspective, and a burden upon everyone so searched. If there is insufficient probable cause for such searches, they may be prohibited on constitutional grounds.

I am definitely no fan of heavy-handed government, but if the numbers and conduct in this case point to valid criminal investigative technique instead of a general shakedown, and the rules of probable cause and appropriate legal restrictions are observed, I can't knock them for giving this a try in this case, particularly if they aren't getting results from other angles.

If they are trying to pull an end run around the law, however, then they must be stopped just like anyone else who would violate the law, because then they would be nothing more than criminals with badges.

[westmex]

You guys are a little late in all your advice...I was called about this a little over a month ago. Two lady agents came out to the house on 27 May to pick up the pistol..I had changed the barrel and later changed it back to the original...So, they wanted both the gun and replacement barrel...I called back Monday and got the story they had a barrel press on the way and I should be getting the gun back next week...So far I have no complaints on their actions....The guy was shot in Seattle and I live in a suburb......

.....Westy.....

[Libertina]

BUMP Ping a ling. What were we just chatting about Shrew? This is about Tom Wales, WA CeaseFire head (deceased)
Hey Cyber, do your thing, pretty please :)

[JudgemAll]

What the stupid. Any criminal can drill through a barrel and erase the prints.

Meanwhile a user who has a similar print (yes, machine tools tend to repeat errors) will be accused.

The murder is probably work done by gun grabbers in the first place, and the mean to acquire data on the criminal through "finger print" ludicrous oxymoron (guns do not have genetic make up nor ballistic prints that are permanent) smells the gun grabber test.

[PatrioticAmerican]

Now why would someone, who knows where their firearm was, actually give the FBI their gun??

[dersepp]

Gosh Officer, I'd be happy to reply, but both of mine fell out of my pocket into the drink when I was down at the wharf last night.

[Johnny Gage]

bang ping

[Travis McGee]

I'm very certain that the killer has the murder weapon sitting in his bed-side table drawer, and when he hears about this, he will call the FBI and turn it in for testing.

FBI = Famous But Incompetent

I'll bet it took a GS-15 to dream up this hare brained idea.

[TC Rider]

I've seen a few of these at the range. I'm impressed that it actually killed someone.

[Newbomb Turk]

Can they test the bullet after they remove it from the requesting agencys a$$ ?

[Rockpile]

Anyone know where Mohammad and Malvo were at the time of this Wale guy's murder? If they were in this region at the time then maybe they should at least be considered.

[SevenDaysInMay]

It is a crime to give cops misinformation, (just prove it was not intentional, sucker), but it is good police work to lie to citizens during or between investigations.

I am not a lawyer, but I understand that if you say anything, you risk everything.

Is it a crime to be unresponsive?

I keep a little sign by the doors, "Stay outside. I will have my attorney contact you; please leave in writing, your name(s), badge number(s), phone number(s), and address(es).

After Ruby Ridge, Mt. Carmel, Elian, and far too many other recent JBTs' no knock assaults, I take my rights deadly seriously.

[Thumper1960]

"Gee........that Makarov I had.....gosh!....can't seem to remember where I put it. It's been a long time, you know. Heh...I misplace my car keys sometimes, too. Dang! Wish I could help you gentlemen, but I just don't know where the little bugger is! Have a nice day! See ya!"