RU|Terrorist or Average Joe?

Terrorist or Average Joe?

Ravenwood - 05/04/04 06:30 AM

I don't know if this gun collector in Delaware is a terrorist, or just the victim of gun fearing hysteria. Given what is being said about him in the media, I'm leaning toward the latter. For instance, take this bit of anti-gun fear mongering.

Among the stockpile seized Tuesday night were 11 firearms, 50-caliber machine-gun bullets, hollowed hand grenades, a night vision scope, cardboard tubes, ammunition clips and how-to books about weapons and bombs.

They go on to say that he also had ammonium nitrate, a major ingredient used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Could this really all be a big misunderstanding? Well, allow me to illustrate:

Eleven guns - For most gun collectors, 11 guns is a modest start. It may be enough to take over France, but it's not anything to be alarmed about. Lots of collectors, myself included, easily have 11 or more guns.

50-caliber machine-gun bullets - First of all, there is no such thing as a "machine gun bullet". Bullets are bullets, and semi-auto guns fire the same bullets as fully-auto guns. For another matter, bullets are just worthless hunks of metal. .50 Caliber rounds are pretty impressive and sold at most gun shows. They cost about $2 a round and their empty cases are sometimes sold as inert novelties. (Inert being the opposite of ert.) Given that the police didn't list a .50 caliber machine gun being part of his "arsenal", I'll presume he didn't have one. That means the bullets/rounds might as well be paperweights.

These are rounds

These are bullets

Without a gun to fire them, neither one is very dangerous.

Hollowed out grenades - I don't have any grenades, hollowed out or otherwise. A hollowed out grenade can be lethal however. If thrown at someone, it can have almost the same impact as one of these.
Brick

(This is deadlier than a hollowed out grenade)

When I lived in Atlanta, I used to have lots of them scattered around my yard.

A night vision scope - Five bucks says he had a common scope with an illuminated reticle. I've got several of them.
Illuminated Scope

Even in the off chance that he had a more expensive "night vision" scope that actually amplifies light, what the hell does that imply?

Cardboard tubes - I've got several of these in the wastebasket in my bathroom. Had I known they were dangerous, I would have been more careful about their disposal.
Dangerous?

(I don't even have a permit for this!)

Ammunition clips - Wow! A gun owner with ammunition clips? Who'd a thunk it. I've got tons of them. Does that make me a terrorist?
Ammo clip

Books - I've got lots of books too. One of them is about how to build your own AR-15. I saved about $200 by assembling the rifle myself. Does that make me dangerous, or just frugal?

Ammonium Nitrate - I've got several boxes of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate derivatives. My plants love them.
Bomb making materials?

It's scary to think that gun fearing wussies could invade my home and paint me as a terrorist because I have more than one gun and some common household chemicals under my sink. The useful idiots in the media are helping to fuel the hysteria.

I don't know if this guy has broken any laws or not. All I'm saying is that I'm waiting until all the facts are in. Even then, I'm not so sure.

Category: Blaming the Media
Comments (8) top link me

Comments

11 guns makes an arsenal? Hell, I have that many and I don't even consider myself a 'gun nut.'

Posted by: MMW at May 4, 2004 8:18 AM

Cardboard tubes - I use the large empty rolls (from paper towels) to make toys for my bird. I didn't realize they were dangerous. Guess they'll have to get me for cruelty to animals.

Hollowed out hand grenades - I had to read your explanation to make sure that they were what I thought they were. Doesn't even SOUND dangerous!

Shame on you having fertilizer - don't you know it is dangerous to the environment? They should arrest you and make you go organic - LOL!

Posted by: bogie at May 4, 2004 8:39 AM

HA! I've got TWELVE guns! I must be a TERRORIST!

No "hollowed-out" hand grenades, though. I keep looking for one of these, but haven't found one (must not be looking all that hard.)

Didn't the BATF claim one time that one of their victims was planning to reactivate some hand grenades because he had some "hollowed-out" ones, some black powder and some shotgun primers?

Never mind the fact that the combination would result in a grenade that detonated just as soon as the spoon flew off.

And I'd kinda like to have one of those night-vision image amplification scopes. Hunting coyotes at night would be a trip.

Posted by: Kevin Baker at May 4, 2004 8:59 AM

Cardboard tubes! Oh no. Per federal law, if you have the parts to make a firearm silencer, it's the same as having a silencer.

In my house, i have a toilet paper tube, mesh, foam and some duct tape. I have a silencer. I also have a maglite and some freeze plugs. Are they coming for me?

Posted by: SayUncle at May 4, 2004 9:51 AM

Let's see...I've got...um...more guns than I have fingers and toes...copy of the Anarchist's Cookbook...plenty of TP tubes...plant food...powder and primers...no illuminted scopes and hollowed out grenades, though.

What they refer to as 'hollowed out grenades' are in all likelihood military surplus practice grenades. If any pictures show little bluish balls on the table with all the evil stuff, that's them. They weigh the same as real M67 frags, thanks to a thicker skin and hollow inside. You can stick a practice fuse in them so they go bang after you throw them.

Posted by: Heartless Libertarian at May 4, 2004 4:28 PM

Problem is that once they get a lot of PR it will be hard for them to drop the case. Bad face. So they will preasure this guy till he takes a deal out of desperation and then claim victory.

Posted by: gunner at May 5, 2004 12:05 AM

Like in this case?

Posted by: Kevin Baker at May 18, 2004 6:55 PM

Hmmm.... broken link?

One more try

Yup. Must have left something out.

Posted by: Kevin Baker at May 18, 2004 6:57 PM