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Not open carry related- sorry didn't know where else to post this

sectorsight

Regular Member
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
43
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well, we can all agree that the picture was stupid. pointing a loaded gun (all guns are considered loaded) at a person holding a cell phone camera.

it was the other things that bothered me:
how the cops knew that this picture was taken,
calling an sks an assault rifle,
and somehow infering this is child abuse.
 

ccunning

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
115
Location
Manassas, Virginia, USA
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sectorsight wrote:
brandishing in your home is nearly impossible
While brandishing is a legal term' since the child is not likely being charged with brandishing I think it is safe to assume Detective Steve Hill was using it in the more general sense.
 

Sitrep

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Joined
May 25, 2007
Messages
150
Location
Here and There, Washington, USA
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It seems like he was arested for stealing the cell phone and other stuff and/or having the rifle, not for taking pictures. The pictures, though concerning to some people (hoplophobes), are not in any way illegal.
 

samdavisrises

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Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Messages
25
Location
Richmond, Virginia, ,
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"Police said the photos aren't enough to charge Allen with child endangerment, but they said the girl is safe and Allen, who has a long criminal history, is charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon."


He is a felon, therefore forfeiting his rights to posess a firearm. Thus he goes to jail. This is inarguable. There are a LOT of problems with this case though, especially since the fellow lived with a roommate.

1. Allen was "arrested after putting the gun in her hands and FORCING her to pose for the pictures". I can't see her face, but I would imagine she is smiling, personally. She is likely to be proud to handle a gun like her daddy (and has inherited his poor trigger discipline).

2. He seems very proud of his SKS, but is it his? Was it confiscated at his residence? Was he posing with his buddy's gun? (What are the state's rules on posession of firearms, by felons? Is straight up posession enough if only for a minute, or is it a ban on sales to felons?) I assume the roommate bought it, and that on paper it is his. He can justifiably probably still claim, since they share a residence, that it is in fact his. This obviously does not mitigate that a felon was freaking stupid enough to be photographed with a gun, but it indeed would muddy the waters I would think.

3. Were the pictures of the gun in the girl's hands taken in front of the body? Even if taken on a cell phone camera, she does not have to be pointing it at someone for the pictures to be taken. And the revolver at least is unloaded. Aside from bad trigger discipline, is it that different from the pictures many other proud parents have posted over the years?

4. Were the pictures of the girl with the revolver taken by him, was he even there? Obviously that particular cell phone (stolen) has a tangled ownership history.

All in all, it sounds like a felon is going back to jail, and well-deservedly so. The tone of the article really grates me though, especially the police's dismay that they can't get a child endangerment charge. Where is the mother anyway? Is she staying with her mom now, if the parents were seperated or is she interened with child services?
 
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