Unlicensed guns confiscated: Bomb squad called to Dedham man's home

Daily News Transcript ^ | 12/19/2002 | Erin Walsh

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

DEDHAM - A local man police described as a gun fanatic was arrested Tuesday after police confiscated 24 firearms and more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition and gunpowder from his home.

Police arrested William Doherty, 54, of 42 Woodleigh Road at 9:30 a.m., after an investigation led by Officer Bobby Walsh uncovered Doherty was in possession of the guns without a license.

Doherty was released pending charges later that day and police are consulting with the District Attorney's office to ensure proper charges are filed.

Armed with a search warrant, police found an assortment of revolvers, pistols, rifles and shotguns along with gunpowder and the ammunition.

Police said Doherty was not properly licensed to possess the guns and said additional charges may be brought against him. In addition to police, members of the ATF, bomb squad and Fire Department arrived at Doherty's home.

"If he had a Class A license to carry he would have been within his legal right to have those guns," said Walsh, who questioned why someone would need such a large amount of ammunition.

"His possession of all the powder is considered a misdemeanor," he said. "They're still his guns if he wants them once he gets licensed."

Walsh said Doherty by law could authorize the guns to be turned over to a licensed firearms dealer for storage until that time.

Police said it also appeared Doherty was running an illegal tattoo parlor from his home and admitted to having responded to several calls for service to his home in the past.

Other department members who participated in the investigation include Lt. Mike Weir, Detectives Dan Panciocco, Bob Dietenhofer, Ken Jones, Martin Fitzhenry, and Officer Frank McMillan.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

So you're saying that we've nothing to fear? After all, that story is an urban legend.

No, you miss the point. I'm saying we have everything to fear...if we sit and do nothing. They'll start with the 2nd Amendment and move right down the line.

And that "story" isn't an urban legend. It's a line from the film "Dante's Peak"...a movie about people living next to a volcano who decided to do nothing while things slowly came to a boil.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ware the heck is DEDHAM?

No...Ware is a lot further west than Dedham. Out past Millbury, southwest of Worcester. (Pronounced Wister)

[Cobra64]

In New York State. Every one of your handguns are to be registered with the New York State Government (caps for obvious reasions). I live in a part of New York where there is no traffic, we are surrounded by three state parks and Girl Scout and Boy Scout camps are within a mile from our five acre landscape. I met the local sheriff when we were building our new home on five acres in a private community, mountain. I mentioned that I had a .357 Colt Python, a 9mm Browning and an another assorted toys which I had accumulated when we lived in Colorado.

The sheriff's response was that I should not be sharing this "conversation" with him; since he could have arrested me and could have been put in jail!

Well, ladies and gents, Karen and I are transitioning down to NC, along with the means to enjoy outdoor life on a pristine 6,500 acre lake with 150 miles of shore-line. From the 2nd Amendment perspective, NC is a good place to live.

BTW, NY is a deer hunter's paradise. We have a heard in our back yard. The expression, "turkey=shoot" is a joke. Within a few seconds, I'd have over a thousand pounds of halted steaming venison.

Cheers to all on FReepublic.

Regards, Mark

[MatthewViti]

I've only been to DFW :( any good five-star resorts in TX?

[MatthewViti]

sweet!!

[Dimensio]

Sorry, I'm just pedantic. I meant that the bit about the frog and the water is false. I'm aware of the danger to our 2nd Amendment rights, though I honestly fear that it's a worse situation. So many people just don't care about gun rights that the move needn't be all that subtle.

[Dimensio]

Don't need to try it.

[Cobra64]

In NY, if a cop finds a HANDGUN in your HOME, you are liable for time in jail. My new neighbor (I was transitioning from CO to NY) is a police chief. When we were yapping about hardware, he told me this. He told me that,"I never heard that you have a dozen pistols transitioning from CO to NY, un-registered. This is why, 15 years later, my wife of +30 years and I are moving to LAke James, North Caroline. BTW, any of you good Conservative/Republicans, y'all should consider LAke James. It is very pristine. Only about a hundred homes on the Lake right now. Do your homework about the lake.

Cheers.

[Fixit]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nyburg153046167dec15,0,2582428.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines

[Brasky]

I live in Illinios. State law requires a Firearms Owners IDentifcation Card. To purchase any type of weapon and ammo. Ray Ray and his buddies on 63rd and Stony Island selling cheap guns out of his trunk always check to see if you have a FOID card. /sarcasm. To obtain a FOID card one must pass a IL state police background check. Registration leads only to confsication.
FMCDH- Brasky

[Maelstrom]

Don't laugh.

NY licenses the gun *owner* and if your shotgun isn't part of your license...it may be a 5 year mandatory minimum...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I am also dubious that a frog would sit and be boiled...but it sure makes a good "cautionary tale" for our times...and I only used it to make a point.

[Texas Mom]

Where is DEDHAM? Never heard of it so I was wondering what state it was in.

[Texas Mom]

Never mind. just saw this was the Boston Mass Daily so I am assuming it is Mass.

Last place I would live being a gun owner myself.

[metesky]

Not to mention that MA has had Republican governors for 12 straight years...

[TomServo]

NY licenses the gun *owner* and if your shotgun isn't part of your license...

Pretty sad, isn't it?

[Stew Padasso]

bump

[white trash redneck]

I cry for the good people doing time in the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts.

[supercat]

Self-defense in one's home with a firearm is therefore legally precluded."

I thought I read that some people have managed to shoot attackers using quickly-assembled break-barrel shotguns. I believe in at least some cases they even got away with it, if they were able to argue that they did not assemble the firearms until they had reason to believe that their life was in deadly peril.