Who Guards the Guards: Former NYC Transit Officer Faces Federal Weapons Charges
A police officer turned furniture store owner faces federal weapons charges for allegedly attempting to sell a handgun and semi-automatic rifle to a convicted felon. The Albany Times Union reports the Stephen Dorfman was arrested after reportedly selling the firearms to Lance Potter, a convicted felon. Read more
Should the Charleston Police Keep Inventory Records of Legally Owned Guns?
The Charleston Police Department is trying to combat crime in a few unique ways, including offering monetary incentives up to $100 to information on illegal guns, as well as the usual calls for individuals to hand in unwanted guns. But the city’s police are making a step that might seem to be crossing the line. Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Veteran Police Officer Hoarded Guns For Years
A Bristol, Conn. police sergeant with nearly 30-years of time on the job has been placed on a three-week suspension for “procuring guns associated with crime incidents” reports The Bristol Press. Sgt. Rodeny Gotowala may have good intentions, but his methods are truly questionable. Read more
NYC Police Commissioner Comments Following Harlem Shootout
As a former resident of South Harlem this reporter lived only about 30 blocks from this past weekend’s shootout that occurred early Sunday morning. During this confrontation police officers fired 46 shots, with five people hit and one killed. This is a disturbing fact of life in some parts of the country, and while an isolated event, the words spoken by New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly make us actually question the gun laws in the Big Apple once again. Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Long Beach Officer Charged With Stealing Guns
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that veteran Long Beach Police Officer Damian Ramos has been charged with more than a dozen felony counts for allegedly stealing weapons. These guns had been turned over by a local business.
The paper noted:
“Authorities allege that Ramos took the weapons between Aug. 2 and Aug. 5. According to police officials, he handled guns that had been turned over to the department by a Long Beach business. But police officials later found that the number of weapons taken from the business did not match those catalogued in evidence. Ramos took four firearms that were supposed to be booked as property, prosecutors said. The department has recovered one, but the other three are still missing, prosecutors said.”
The result is now that three firearms could be on the streets, and thus we can thank a former lawman for putting guns on the streets. But it also makes us question the policy of handing in guns. The business that had handed in those guns could have easily kept them and said firearms wouldn’t actually be on the streets now, would they?
Police to “Purchase Unwanted Firearms”
In a new program that isn’t limited to a single weekend buyback, the El Monte Police Department in the San Gabriel Valley of California has launched a program that is asking those in the community to turn in unwanted firearms and ammunition. This program, according to The San Gabriel Valley Tribune is paying a mere $50 for each gun, and will gun through September 30. Too bad many individuals will likely hand in potentially valuable items for just $50.
Who Guards the Guards: Oklahoma City Police Officer’s Gun Stolen
Imagine coming outside and finding that your personal pickup truck was stolen? That wouldn’t be the start of a good day, but it far worse for Lt. Mike Jackson of the Oklahoma City Police Department. It seems Officer Jackson left his gun in the car. Read more
Instead of Buyback Chesapeake Looks to Pay for Information
We’ve long been following gun buybacks and often question whether those events actually get “guns off the streets,” but now some communities are trying something different. The Virginia Pilot noted that the Chesapeake police “will soon start offering $100 cash to individuals who relay details leading to the seizure of illegal firearms.” Whether this program will work needs to be seen, but it is better than handing out gift cards in exchange for guns in our opinion.
Who Guards the Guards: Gallaway Police Guns Gone Away
MyFox News in Memphis reported that several police issued shotguns have gone away in Gallaway, Tenn. The news site noted that the City of Gallaway if offering a $500 reward for information on the guns. The crime seems particularly brazen: Read more
Gun Traffickers Arrested in Chicago – What is the Source of the “Illegal” Guns
This past weekend we followed a story that was making the rounds, on how at least 25 individuals were arrested in Chicago on illegal drugs and gun trafficking charges. What is interesting about the latter charge is that only a few media outlets have noted that the guns have an international connection. Read more
