Motorist draws charge for cache of fake firearms

The Express-Times ^ | Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | TOM QUIGLEY

[jjm2111]

HOLLAND TWP. -- A Bucks County man faces an unusual weapons charge following a traffic stop Monday on River Road.

Robert B. McManus, 25, of Riegelsville, Pa., is charged with possession of imitation firearms, a fourth-degree criminal offense, police report.

[Travis McGee]

"Peasants may not even have pretend submachine guns!

They are for Law Enforcement Officers Only!"

<

[Mulder]

Police said the charge is mainly based on the allegation that McManus did not put one of the guns in a case and it was within his reach during the traffic stop

This is like something that one would read about occuring in Soviet Russia or Nazi Germany.

[Travis McGee]

Or any banana rebublic.

[FreedomCalls]

"Police allegedly found an imitation Remington Model 700 sniper rifle ..."

So now the most common deer rifle in existance, the one in about half of the hunter's homes in America, is a sniper rifle?

[CurlyDave]

So now the most common deer rifle in existance, the one in about half of the hunter's homes in America, is a sniper rifle?

Hey man! Don't complain. It has just been upgraded at no cost to you.

[Mulder]

Or any banana rebublic.

Well, we'll know in a few years how things will play out....

[jjm2111]

I love your pics. I was at a gun shop in NJ last week and there is a knife that they will only sell to police and/or military. A knife, for crying out loud. Gotta love NJ.

[Copernicus]

And the Lord knows he could put an eye out with that thing.

Sadly, many plastic functioning and non-functioning replica or toy guns do fall into the category of "objects that will get you killed".

They must be treated as though they are real by any tactically aware person.

Now whether it is a crime or merely stupid is another matter entirely.

And of course, New Jersey is a third, separate issue.

Best regards,

[Travis McGee]

LEO only knives! What's next?!

[CommandoFrank]

and an imitation hand grenade.

A paint grenade? Must take out multiple personel...

[Sabertooth]

Police said the charge is mainly based on the allegation that McManus did not put one of the guns in a case and it was within his reach during the traffic stop.

Police said the officer had no way to immediately determine if the gun was real or not.

The facts kinda belie the headline.

Cops are understandably jumpy at traffic stops. Jumpier if they see a gun, or something that looks like a gun. I don't blame them.

I'm not ready to jump all over the cops on this case. Legitimate RKBA concerns need to be balanced with legitimate concerns for the safety of police at traffic stops.

[jjm2111]

The shop serves many police depts. and carries red hard rubber 'guns' and 'knives'. They also had a red rubber 'flashlight'. I asked the clerk what the possible use of that was; a 'safe' flashlight in a training enviornment before graduating to the real thing?

The clerk told me I had no idea how gung ho some cops got. When I was a kid, I really wanted to be a cop. I still do to some degree. But I see some of the clientele and I wonder if I'd fit in.

BTW, the shop has an attached range and many cops are such piss poor shots I wonder how they pass the test every year.

[jjm2111]

If I were a cop, I'd probably haul the driver out of the car if I saw something that looked like a gun. If it turned out to be a paintball gun, I'd tell the guy to put it away where it can't be seen and let him go.

[crossroads_gunner]

Hello jjm2111 (and all other FReepers; I am a brand-new registered user) - while perusing thru threads generated after a "guns" keyword search, I got onto this thread, and in particular noticed your two posts about the unnamed "NJ gun shop". I will keep it unnamed, but I am very certain that you are citing a place where I am an employee.

Without being more specific on this public board, I wish to refer to the following comments of yours:

"BTW, the shop has an attached range and many cops are such piss poor shots I wonder how they pass the test every year."

I can tell you that I am in a position to observe the shooting performance of many LEOs who utilize that range, and I will verify your comments 110%. If you looked closely enough, you would no doubt have noticed numerous bullet impacts in the shooting port walls (among other places) which may well have occurred as a result of many of those LEOs' ADs when they "practiced" fast draw. My continuing observation of their shooting performance enables me to state the following with firm confidence:

1. Most of these LEOs are indeed piss-poor shots. They care not a damn about how well they shoot until it is close upon time for their periodic requalifications. The idea that they would dedicate a measure of time and money to even achieve, let alone maintain or improve, their shooting performance, especially under some kind of artificially-induced and controlled pressure, is poisonous anathema to them. There are some LEOs who, to my eyes, have exhibited exalted exception to their fellow officers. Praise be upon them, and God help the others.

2. Whether for "serious shooting" purposes, or merely recreational paper-punching, the number of civilians who can outshoot the lacking LEOs is far, far greater.

Yes, NJ is another whole matter. It may well become the first state to completely ban ownership and use of all firearms by non-LEOs or military.

[jjm2111]

You're an employee there? It doesn't start with the letter "R" by any chance?

If so, I was also quite disturbed by the holes in the port partitions, in the metal track that takes the targets back and forth, etc. If it weren't so dangerous, it would be funny.

When I bought my first gun as a civilian (I had handled firearms in the military), I took an NRA safe shooting course there. The instructor was really cool; ex-cop and COULD shoot, and very well.

[crossroads_gunner]

"You're an employee there? It doesn't start with the letter "R" by any chance?"

I am, and it does.

"If so, I was also quite disturbed by the holes in the port partitions, in the metal track that takes the targets back and forth, etc. If it weren't so dangerous, it would be funny."

Agreed. Some horrible gun-handling must have taken place there in the past. The ROs do keep patrons more in line now.

"....I took an NRA safe shooting course there. The instructor was really cool; ex-cop and COULD shoot, and very well."

If he was one of the same two who are there now (first names begin with "S" or "E"), I agree again. I'm thinking of taking a course with one or the other of them to improve my skills. Maybe he'll see something that I've missed which needs correcting.