Firing Back: Will Other Collectors be Next?
Posted by FirearmsTruth on November 10, 2009 · 1 Comment
A Staten Island man is in jail. He claims to be a collector, and that he applied for gun permits, and was denied. This is just another example of how the tough New York City gun laws make it tough for collectors.
Yes, it is true that Gary Granato has broken the law. He was arrested for having an “arsenal” that included 77 handguns and three rifles. The SiLive.com Web site reports that this clearly isn’t so cut and dry however:
“Some of the weapons, including a ‘pepperbox’-style revolver with rotating barrels, several single-shot derringers and black-powder pistols resembled guns found in the Old West.”
These actually do seem like the sort of firearms that would be of interest to a collector, and hardly would be ideal for street crime. It is a shame that the police focused on this man, who while he did break the law, or his guns, which hardly seems to be of the type used as an example of guns that should be gotten off the streets!
Thank you for your positive comments in regards to this case. It is a shame that the criminal justice system put a 55 year old disabled man who had an antique gun collection into prison. He has been restoring and collecting for more than 30 years. His life will never be the same as he is labeled a violent felon and will live with that for the rest of his life. He is incarcerated on Rikers Island as he waits to be sent god knows where. He never had a chance to tell his story. No one would help him and he is paying quite possibly with his life. He is a very sick man on 12 medications per day. I know this because I am his wife and had a front row seat to this terrible ordeal. We still do not know how this happened. We were under the impression that our legal system is the best in the world. All I can say is shame on all of those responsible for this injustice. Also, yes other collectors, please beware, If you would like more info on this I would surely be willing to give you first hand information from the arrest to the surrender. Again, thank you for your insight into this unfortunate story.