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Jets' Robinson Faces Weapons Charge
ESPN.com | 10-16-01 | A.P.

Posted on 10/16/2001 8:19:14 AM PDT by kjam22

Tuesday, October 16
Jets' Robinson faces weapons charge
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Damien Robinson of the New York Jets was charged with possession of an assault rifle found in his car as he entered Giants Stadium.

The arrest took place several hours before the Jets beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Robinson, a free safety, played in the game and was arraigned afterward.

Robinson could face up to five years in prison if convicted. He was released Sunday night on $7,500 bail, and the matter will be turned over to the prosecutor.

It was not clear why Robinson was carrying the assault weapon and ammunition in his sport utility vehicle.

Jets spokesman Frank Ramos said Tuesday the team will "let legal action take its course."

The players were off Monday and Tuesday, and Robinson was unavailable for comment. A message was left with his agent, James Gould.

Robinson was entering the players' parking lot at about 10 a.m. with his family when police searched his car, a procedure that has been in place for players, team and game officials and media since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, State Police Sgt. Al Della Fave said Tuesday.

A bomb-sniffing dog checked the vehicle, and "he reacted positively to the presence of explosives" in the back of the car, Della Fave said. Robinson then told authorities he had a rifle, clips and ammunition in the back, Della Fave said.

Police found a Bushmaster .223 assault rifle, three high-capacity magazines that hold 30 rounds each, and two boxes of ammunition containing 100 rounds each.

The rifle and the magazines are illegal under a 1990 state law that bans the sale and possession of many kinds of automatic weapons.


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To: OWK
Under the circumstances of these days, it would seem quite reasonable to me for an individual (particularly a high profile public figure going to a public event) to be transporting a firearm in his trunk.

Of course it's reasonable, and it's also Constitutional, and he's a loyal American without a violent record as far as we know, so this is simple tyranny on the part of the State.

Turning the common people into criminals seems to be the norm with much of the law and its enforcement.

The mass of the People have been fully conditioned to accept arbitrary authority over their lives, to the point where the State cannot adequately protect them, and neither can they enjoy the option of defending themselves.

The situation is both criminal and anti-American. And it's only going to get worse.

21 posted on 10/16/2001 8:36:45 AM PDT by sargon
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To: Sloth
.223? Yeah, that's some awesome 'assault' firepower, there.

Are you volunteering to stand down range and insult it while we plink at you with lowly .223?

22 posted on 10/16/2001 8:40:33 AM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: kjam22
Not "assault rifle," but "Sport-Utility Rifle"!
23 posted on 10/16/2001 8:40:49 AM PDT by Henry F. Bowman
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To: Space Wrangler
Unbelievable. These are items that I can readily purchase here in TN, and this guy is facing 5 yrs for it in NY. I fingered a Bushmaster a couple of weeks ago at a local shooter's supply, and 30 rd. clips are a dime a dozen at area shops. What a world we live in.

Why doesn't this violate equall protection?

24 posted on 10/16/2001 8:41:36 AM PDT by MileHi
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To: sargon
I agree with you that the "problem" is going to get worse. It is a delima.

We either eliminate guns altogether (which we all know we can't do). Or we encourage armed citizens (carry and conceal) to make their impact on crime.

The problem with carry and conceal is this..... I personally know people who carry and conceal that I would trust to use the force correctly, and ACCURATELY. And I personally know people who carry and conceal that shouldn't because they are just stupid...... or because they don't know beans about guns but just wanted to carry one.... or because they are about two thirds blind in their good eye.

25 posted on 10/16/2001 8:43:16 AM PDT by kjam22
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To: Henry F. Bowman
SPORT UTILITY RIFLE....LOL. That is a good one. It is all about perception isn't it.
26 posted on 10/16/2001 8:44:12 AM PDT by kjam22
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To: Capt_Hank
This guy is in big trouble.

No he isn't....Emerson will make it to the Supreme Court Long before he does....But I am thinking Misdemeanor plea bargain, because the prosecutor, will not want to lose this case, and the law...

27 posted on 10/16/2001 8:45:40 AM PDT by hobbes1
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To: OWK
Under the circumstances of these days, it would seem quite reasonable to me for an individual (particularly a high profile public figure going to a public event) to be transporting a firearm in within his trunk reach.
I think this is better. It does him no good in the trunk.
28 posted on 10/16/2001 8:45:51 AM PDT by Hugh Akston
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To: sargon
Your post is right on target!

More than likely, Damien Robinson, is a conservative black, and he got turned in by some left winger who knew that he carried this self protection! Other wise how did the cops know what car to search of the thousands parked that night at the stadium!

While they were disarming a guy interested in protecting himself, how many black thugs in NJ and NY used illegally owned guns to kill other blacks in turf wars? Of course the black thugs with illegal weapons, who kill innocents over turf will not be arrested! If they got arrested, Je$$E and $harpton would be on top of the police and DA. Will Je$$e and $harpton come to rescue a conservative black?

29 posted on 10/16/2001 8:46:12 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: AlKipple
Of course it's semi auto. Is the charge for possession of this semi-auto weapon, or is it because he kept the rifle and the ammo together in the back of an SUV (or for possession of high capacity clips?) because I can't imagine this rifle being illegal (except, of course, in Kalifornia).
30 posted on 10/16/2001 8:49:55 AM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: OWK
In New Jersey, you are only allowed to have anfo and/or anthrax in your car...

A Bushmaster is, as you know, merely a 'bad' looking semi-auto just like the Mini-14 series from Ruger. I actually like the Ruger series better than the Armalite....:)

31 posted on 10/16/2001 8:50:02 AM PDT by beowolf
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To: kjam22
There is a lot of irony in this. If you are caught carrying concealed without a permit, you will be arrested and likely prosecuted. If, however, you carry concealed without a permit and stop a murder with your weapon, you will likely be released and never prosecuted.
32 posted on 10/16/2001 8:54:27 AM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: monkeyshine
Very true.
33 posted on 10/16/2001 8:56:32 AM PDT by kjam22
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To: MileHi
Why doesn't this violate equal protection?

Good point. The states should not be allowed to trample our god given American rights. I'm in Kalifornia, so I've seen this first hand.

34 posted on 10/16/2001 8:59:10 AM PDT by aught-6
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To: Grampa Dave
In the full article, in the Bergen Record it states that he didn't get turned in, but had his several cases of ammo spotted by a bomb sniffing dog that was sniffing all incoming player vehicles. Also, while they can definitely get him for the mags (anything over 15 rounds is banned in Jersey whether it's pre or post ban)he's not necessarily screwed for the Bushie. Post-ban Bushmasters are legal and openly sold throughout the state, along with Post-ban Colt Sporters that don't have any of the allegedly offensive banned characteristics. Apparently, most LEOs will arrest first and and ask questions later since they can't tell the difference between pre and post ban. Interestingly, he wasn't charged for the mags, but I imagine he will be if the rifle charge doesn't stick.
35 posted on 10/16/2001 8:59:57 AM PDT by grady
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To: kjam22
Take the assualt rifle out of the trunk before going to this weeks OU vs Baylor game."

No problem if the game is in Waco, and probably not if it's in Norman. Texas and Oklahoma do not have such assinine laws. They might have other's, such as bans on handguns in that trunk, although if you were "traveling" as I was Sunday and Monday, then you'd be OK. Since the gun is in the trunk, best it not be loaded, since you can't get to it all that quickly anyway.

It occurs to me that if Robinson's record is otherwise clean, this might be an excellent chance to test the law, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if required, on 2nd and 14th Amendment grounds. Surely Robinson could easily afford any monetary penalty, but if there is potential jail time involved, he might not want to take the chance. Of course if the state decides to prosecute fully, he'll have no choice in the matter.

36 posted on 10/16/2001 9:03:46 AM PDT by El Gato
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To: El Gato
Finally, we may have a sympathetic defendant with money to serve as a test case against NJ's unconstitutional law.
37 posted on 10/16/2001 12:11:30 PM PDT by Fixit
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To: beowolf
Regarding "bad" looking guns, the solution is so simple I cannot believe no one has though of it yet.

If black makes them look sinister, make the stock a nice lavender or pink color. If it has a high capacity magagazine, cover it in peace symbols and happy faces. It is all about perception, folks.

Imagine the prosecutor having to hold up your "Barney" or "Pokemon" rifle in court calling it a dangerous weapon....

38 posted on 10/16/2001 12:12:23 PM PDT by jdub
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To: grady; Jefferson Adams; pocat; harpseal; Squantos; Joe Brower; *bang_list
ammo spotted by a bomb sniffing dog that was sniffing all incoming player vehicles.

So now we know: bomb sniffing dogs are also gun sniffing dogs.

And now we are entering the "anti-terrorism highway checkpoint" phase of American history.

Guess who is going to go down for the weapons found? "Right wing gun nuts" like you and me.

We all know where this is going. Maybe I should get back to writing my RKBA novel, it looks like we will be next on the target list.

39 posted on 10/16/2001 12:16:57 PM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: grady
Thanks for the feedback!

I have heard of a young man who worked at an oil refinery as a member of an outside construction firm/crew hired for some retro fitting at the refinery!

He apparently went pheasant hunting and a couple of loaded shells fell out of his vest during or after the hunting and they slide around the bed of his pickup. The bed was covered by a camper shell!

He went to work and was escorted off the property about two hours later and taken to his pickup with a demand to unlock the camper shell. When the shell was opened up, the dog jumped in and found the two unfired shells!

He was fired on the spot and escorted off the refineries parking lot! Security guards drove his pick up outside of the gate. He can never work at another refinery for any construction company.

This happened two years ago! Even though many of the execs of the refinery were pro second amendment and hunting, they had a strict no guns/ammo policy on any of their properties!

This has really nothing to do with the football player, but shows how effective dogs can be in sniffing out explosives and shells.

40 posted on 10/16/2001 12:17:19 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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