A Manchester-by-the-Sea man who allegedly had a cache of weapons in his home told police he was preparing for Armageddon, authorities said.
Gregory D. Girard, 45, was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly storing several tear gas grenades and explosive pepper ball projectiles. He was also charged with the illegal possession of four police batons.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that they were the collapsible-style batons - to the best of my knowledge, even MA hasn't outlawed the possession of cylindrical pieces of wood. Yet. As for the "tear gas grenades and explosive pepper ball projectiles", that could be something as simple as those "specialty" rounds for the M203 that you see advertised here and there. Barring that, it's hard to see just what this guy did that was illegal. Additionally, there's no rationale given for the police investigation, either - it's chilling to think that this could just have been a random tip-off or unannounced "inspection" based on heresay.
I liked this part:
In addition to the grenade-type devices, police found approximately 20 weapons, including high-powered rifles, shotguns, and handguns. All of the firearms were purchased and registered legally within the past 10 months, McKiel said.
I shudder to think of what they would call the arms room at Casa del G. if (G-d forbid) I were to find myself under "inspection". What's higher than "cache" or "arsenal"? Armory? I have less than zero faith in the ability of the media as far as reporting any of this even vaguely correctly - I'd wager that the "illegal indoor shooting range" was an airsoft set-up, as even .22LR is DAMN loud inside a small attic in a condo complex. If this guy was shooting in his attic without a suppressor, he's got some seriously deaf neighbors.
I'm torn on this sort of story. On the one hand, who cares what this guy was "stockpiling" as long as he wasn't bothering anyone? It's unclear if anything he had was actually illegal or just more media "we wish it were illegal"; anything that might be illegal - like the batons if collapsible - are illegal not out of any sense of danger but because they scare the sheep. Plain and simple, owning a bunch of guns shouldn't be cause for the cops to kick in your door and search your entire house. End of story.
On the other hand, bug nuts crazy mo-fos playing mall ninja in their swanky condos don't exactly help the cause, if yanno what I mean...
That is all.
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17 comments:
"22LR is DAMN loud inside a small attic in a condo complex."
I dunno Subsonic .22 out of a carbine is pretty darn quiet. Toss in some CB caps, and it's suddenly quieter than some air rifles....
But I'm with you, what exactly is the problem here, except the standard playground bullies crap just transposed to adults.
The football team just deciding to shove the Science Olympics team around because they're "Different".
Further news bulletins claim that he explained the gunfire to his neighbors as a patent he was working on.
Okay, this is enough to warrant an investigation. Shooting a firearm inside one's house is illegal. Whether it should or should not be is a valid discussion, but under MA law (and the laws of most other states if I'm not mistaken) it's verboten.
That's reason for the visit from the po-po IMHO...
Still, I see what they consider an "arsenal" and I have to laugh - hell, I've got more than that in my closet... (all fully locked up and secured, of course).
Did you have the same thought I did, weer'd?
"Wonder if it was anyone from NES?"
" he wasn't bothering anyone? "
The fact that he had ON NOES! GUNZ!!!!111 bothers the GFWs in the media........
The report I heard indicated that his wife actually turned him in, fearing he had had some sort of psychotic break. The way I heard it she called the police from a neighbor's house because she was afraid to go home. I guess that's a subjective judgement, but that was the reason I heard for the police investigating.
I'm willing to vote for "80% of the story hasn't been reported yet, and the 20% that has is mostly incorrect."
We'll see more of this, or we won't. If we see more, it's because something is actually going on, and the trial will be reported. If we don't, it's because everyone overreacted, the guy didn't do anything wrong, and everything will get dropped down the memory hole.
I wonder if the NRA should form a legal defense insurance fund, for everyday Joes who get caught up in PSH?
I saw this one last night and was bleeding from the eyes when I read it.
Reading the article, his LTC-A should cover owning firearms and the tear gas/oc rounds. AFAIK there are no rules on those other than possession which should be covered by the LTC.
It is probably leagal to stockpile food and TP. But like open carry in MA, you better conceal the extra groceries when to not rile the neighbors.
Shooting indoors would probably be a town ordinance violation which would likely be served by a ticket.
Is shooting indoors really illegal in MA ? I can think of a few indoor ranges in MA, one at a club that got a lot of scrutiny recently.
Indoor discharge is legal in ME if you are not in a town with a discharge ordinance. On rainy days, I set up on the kitchen table, open the sliding door and fire into the backyard. (must foster your inner redneck!)
NES ? On ARF where they are taking attendance to find out whom is missing.
Wally, in MA you can't shoot less than 500 feet from an occupied dwelling without consent of all abutters (I think, IANAL). Public ranges get zoning permission, etc. - hence why there are so damned few of them...
They panned over the items taken - it fit on a folding table. I'm looking at it thinking to myself, BFD - that's one table out of like 10 at a bloggershoot...
"What's higher than "cache" or "arsenal"? Armory?"
Your place would probably be described by the media as an arms depot.
FTA: "McKiel added police are not allowed to ask applicants why they are seeking a firearms permit." Since when? I thought you had to basically plead your case. MBTS is now shall-issue ?
Jay, Agreed that he is in trouble for discharge with neighbors, discharge in a snooty town, etc, but is there any law broken specifically by shooting indoors ?
Well, indoors = within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, so, yes...
This is the most vague nonsensical gun story I've read in the Press since the last one!
Since it happened in Massachusetts (in an absurdly english sounding town, New England indeed) I had to pass it on to Jay.
Yeah but if you are the owner you can give yourself permission :-) I do it all the time.
Wally,
Only if you own (and control -- renters generally have the right of "quiet enjoyment") everything within 500 feet.
So, expandable batons, like an Asp, are verboten in Mass? Where does it end in that state? I don't want to give them 100$ a year for the privilege of driving through a few border towns but WTF
I tell people "zombie apocalypse".
Swords, rifles, pistols and revolvers, battle axes, assorted knifes and bayonets.
Along with a chemistry teacher and sone of an chemical engineer.
Recently a kid here in OH was expelled from his high school for carrying weapons. What the TV newsies described as an "arsenal of weapons" consisted of a police tonfa (side-handled nightstick), several sword-like objects, a BB pistol (but apparently no BBs), and a lone .38-caliber cartridge (for which he had no firearm).
Shit, I had better stuff when I was in sixth grade.
Latest update: most charges dropped, and at least to me it sounds like he should be found innocent on the rest. http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_076004820.html
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