Chief Moose (Sniper Investigation) Backs Three Gun Bills In Annapolis (Maryland)

WBAL Radio ^ | February 6, 2003 | Pieter Bickford

[caa26]

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, known for leading the sniper investigation, voiced support in Annapolis Thursday for three new gun bills.

One would refine the definition of banned "assault weapons" to include specific military features. Supporters say it would close a loophole that allows gun manufacturers to skirt current laws.

"These weapons have no real use in our neighborhoods," Moose said. "The rapid-fire weapons do not improve the livability for the citizens of the state of Maryland."

Another bill would require owners to notify authorities if they lose a gun. Chief Moose said police waste valuable time tracking down the owner of the gun used in a crime, only to be told it was lost or stolen.

"Generally, we report all of our valuables when they are lost or stolen," Moose said. "So why not the same for guns."

The third bill would expand Maryland's ballistics fingerprinting system to include long rifles. Maryland currently only "fingerprints" handguns by recording a bullet fired from the gun into a state database.

Governor Ehrlich's press office released a statement after the event:

"Governor Ehrlich has directed State Police Superintendent Norris to review these three anti-crime bills for an assessment of their effectiveness. If he is convinced these initiatives can directly reduce violent crime in Maryland he will give them strong consideration."

The bills are scheduled for hearings later this month. Chief Moose may testify on their behalf.

[Atlas Sneezed]

If the shooters had been forced by bans to use a bolt action, the wounded boy would probably have been killed by the more accurate rifle.

(Gun control DOES kill.)

[Atlas Sneezed]

""He has a freakin' Ph.D.! What do those come in Cracker jack boxes now?""

"He must have one of those affirmative action Ph.D.s from the people's University of Michigan."

Actually, it was from Portland State University, earned WHILE on the payroll as a police official (not sure if Chief at the time). His dissertation was about "Community Policing" and it is hard to imagine that it wasn't a compilation of government paperwork compiled by his staff, and that those reviewing it wouldn't give it a pass even if it were useless dreck, considering that was a black police official.

[Freedom2specul8]

I look at free republic as a tool...and the experience of posting on here as a learning process. We learn from each other, from information posted and from figuring things out.
We all KNEW in our hearts, minds and souls that it had to be someone with a connection to terrorists..I think we were more right than ANY of tv so called experts.
I simply didn't understand the criticism against Moose. I saw him as a man in a tough job, under a terrible situation. I also saw him not as the leader..but as a spokeman. So technically, I don't think the investigators were led by him..I'm just positive he didn't run the show. Each of the leaders, IMHO..should have been held accountable for the so called "sniper profile"....have any of them apologized?

[Freedom2specul8]

"SFS troops I have spoken too say the guy is an blithering comical idiot. A dangerous idiot that tries to bring civilian BS to a military unit that's primary mission is resource protection versus a secondary "law enforcement" aka NCO club or domestic fight breaking tasks "

That is definitely something to remember and keep in the back of our minds, even if we can't verify it.

[abner]

Moose is a moron.

Moose is a fascist.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

"He even had some admirers on FR. That's gotta make you wonder."

I believe the same can be said of the Tony Blair "Supporters."

For this crook, a short term "American Lover", will turn the flick of the switch the moment he believes his position in The UK is in Jeopardy.

[sheik yerbouty]

He is a pc fascist..Precludes Cognition!

[dirtboy]

"These weapons have no real use in our neighborhoods," Moose said. "The rapid-fire weapons do not improve the livability for the citizens of the state of Maryland."

Yeah, because the feds waste their time going after the legal, law-abiding owners of all these scary-looking weapons instead of focusing on an actual investigation. BTW, Moose, in each instance the DC snipers fired ONE shot - so their spree could have been done just as effectively with an old bolt-action hunting rifle. Rapid-fire had nothing to do with it. Your incompetence, however, had much to do with the final death toll, because you couldn't even figure out to query your own database.

Another bill would require owners to notify authorities if they lose a gun. Chief Moose said police waste valuable time tracking down the owner of the gun used in a crime, only to be told it was lost or stolen.

This one might have some merit.

The third bill would expand Maryland's ballistics fingerprinting system to include long rifles. Maryland currently only "fingerprints" handguns by recording a bullet fired from the gun into a state database.

Yeah, the ATF ballistics database for crime-scene bullets was so effective in connecting the shootings in Alabama, Louisiana and Arizona to the DC snipers. Whoops, it wasn't. So why are you promoting this, Moosebreath?

[eno_]

Well, yes. Have you ever known a Ph.D. who had any common sense?

It really isn't a matter on common sense. It's that it used to be that Ph.D.s were only awarded to the very cream. Now, because cops and public school teachers find themselves increasingly unable to defend their poor performance and hostility to the principles on which the nation was founded, they wear Ph.D.s like signs that say "I demand respect from you, peasant!"

Sure, lots of freaks with no common sense, like, say, Noam Chomsky have Ph.D.s. But even Noam Chomsky doesn't bill himself as Herr Prof. Dr. Noam Chomsky when he gives a rant on Iraq. Moose's Ph.D. is a fig leaf covering his tiny intellect.

[eno_]

There are dozens of the 'states rights' crowd here that will admit, when pressed, -- that they believe states can violate the RKBA's. -- Or for that matter any of our BOR's, - as supposedly they only apply to the federal government. Curious view for 'conservatives'.

I suppose they are anti-Lincoln and the XIVth. There is a certain consistency to such views. But there is a difference between undoing the New Deal and/or the Great Society and undoing the Civil War. The former are modern perversions of our Constitution. Lincoln reshaped the nation for better or worse at a unique time and he's got the amendment to make it stick.

[tpaine]

There are dozens of the 'states rights' crowd here that will admit, when pressed, -- that they believe states can violate the RKBA's. -- Or for that matter any of our BOR's, - as supposedly they only apply to the federal government. Curious view for 'conservatives'.
-tpaine-

I suppose they are anti-Lincoln and the XIVth. There is a certain consistency to such views.
But there is a difference between undoing the New Deal and/or the Great Society and undoing the Civil War. The former are modern perversions of our Constitution.
Lincoln reshaped the nation for better or worse at a unique time and he's got the amendment to make it stick.
50 -eno-

I see the consistency as being driven, or forced, by their single issue views.
If one insists that majority rules, that the state has the power to prohibit drugs, for instance, you must also, - to be consistent in that same 'logic', - insist that this same power can be used to prohibit most any substance, object, or act.

That this is directly contrary to the original intent of constitutionally limited powers for all levels of our republican governments, fed/state/local, - seems to be beyond all comprehension or reason.

[Gritty]

in each instance the DC snipers fired ONE shot - so their spree could have been done just as effectively with an old bolt-action hunting rifle.

Why not take this to the next logical level, where it will surely go someday?

... their spree could have been done just as effectively with an old muzzle-loading rifle!

[Redbob]

Make that Chief Barney Moose.

[Redbob]

"Another bill would require owners to notify authorities if they lose a gun."

So, how often will gunowners be required to inventory their collections, to assure that none have been stolen?
How often will you be "audited?"
Will a search warrant be required for these "audits?" Or will they be "No-Knock" - the cop's favorite operating mode?

What color balaclava (mask) will the "auditors" wear?

[Redbob]

"Lincoln reshaped the nation for better or worse at a unique time..."

Curious: there are certain neighborhoods in Munich where an old German, if he trusts you, will say the same about Hitler...

[Sloth]

One would refine the definition of banned "assault weapons" to include specific military features.

Military features, such as triggers, firing pins and barrels.

[tpaine]

There are dozens of the 'states rights' crowd here that will admit, when pressed, -- that they believe states can violate the RKBA's. -- Or for that matter any of our BOR's, - as supposedly they only apply to the federal government. Curious view for 'conservatives'.
-tpaine-

I suppose they are anti-Lincoln and the XIVth. There is a certain consistency to such views.
But there is a difference between undoing the New Deal and/or the Great Society and undoing the Civil War. The former are modern perversions of our Constitution.

Lincoln reshaped the nation for better or worse at a unique time and he's got the amendment to make it stick.
50 -eno-

I see the consistency as being driven, or forced, by their single issue views.
If one insists that majority rules, that the state has the power to prohibit drugs, for instance, you must also, - to be consistent in that same 'logic', - insist that this same power can be used to prohibit most any substance, object, or act.

That this is directly contrary to the original intent of constitutionally limited powers for all levels of our republican governments, fed/state/local, - seems to be beyond all comprehension or reason.
51 -tpaine-


Curious: there are certain neighborhoods in Munich where an old German, if he trusts you, will say the same about Hitler...
55 -Redbob-

Curious 'red', -- why not tell 'eno', seeing it's his view on Lincoln?

But in any case, are you attempting to say that, -- if states must follow our BOR's in their basic law, --- this is a fascist concept in some way?

[eno_]

That whole line of reasoning is ass-backward. If anything, the IInd encourages citizens to own a soldier's gun. Today that means an M16.

Any reasoning to the contrary starts with the ridiculously weak idea that somehow the IInd is about the freedom to shoot ducks.

It's about the freedom, indeed duty, to shoot tyrants.

[eno_]

There is a middle ground in this, and that is that the BoR was meant to be variable in the states.

That is only a theoretical debate for today. Once we undo the federal takeover of state functions, land, etc. then we can re-debate the XIVth.

[angry beaver norbert]

The only so- called "gun control" this country needs is this: Don't go 'round shooting people that don't need shootin'!If China had had a second amendment, Tiennamen Square would not be such a hard memory. All gun control laws do is tranform citizen to subject, and subjects are easily controlled. P1$$ on the unconstitutional infringements of our right to keep and bear arms, leftist Moosie! Give the people of Maryland a chance to increase that livability, morono ignorante, LET THEM SHOOT BACK!!!