Saturday, July 30, 2011

Tucson FFL Gun Dealer Arrested

The Tucson Sentinal reports

A federally licensed firearms dealer was indicted Wednesday on nine counts relating to making fully automatic weapons and straw purchases, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
The indictment mentioned another thing besides the making of machine guns and the allowing of straw purchases by "losing" the paperwork.  Mr. Gesty also made a false statement on his FFL licence application that he does not use marijuana. It turns out he's an habitual user, at least according to the police.

Now, even though I fully support the legalization of marijuana, and strongly oppose the incarceration of pot users, I believe smoking dope should be a disqualifier to gun ownership and even more so to obtaining a Federal Firearms License.

I feel the same way about habitual alcohol use, even moderate daily drinking.

What's your opinion?  Is it possible for people to enjoy mood-altering substances and still be responsible gun owners?  Is anything wrong with requiring folks who claim to be responsible gun owners to maintain total abstinence from drugs including alcohol?

If we did that, do you think there's be fewer gun mishaps?

Please leave a comment.

9 comments:

  1. As long as an individual is "law abiding" that should be all that is required to legally own a gun.
    Your proposition that someone should not be allowed to possess a firearm if they regularly partake of alcohol or marijuana would be an extremely high hurdle for a law abider to clear. How would this be verified and who would pay for the investigation this would require?
    It is well established that those who are willing to commit murder or other heinous crimes have no problem with violating gun control laws.
    By the way, isn't this the same police force that shot a former marine over 60 times in his own home.

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  2. MikeB: “Is anything wrong with requiring folks who claim to be responsible gun owners to maintain total abstinence from drugs including alcohol?”

    Yes. Very wrong.

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  3. Let me rephrase, since I agree enforcing legislation along these lines would be problematic to say the least.

    What would the principle of Best Practices require?

    A. total abstinence.
    B. moderate drinking or using pot is acceptable.
    C. anything goes it's none of our business.

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  4. I will go with C, but with the condition that one not handle a gun while under the influence of any impairing substance. I like whiskey and I like shooting, but they are pleasures which need to be enjoyed separately.

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  5. But, GF, don't you see the problem? Many gun owners who like shooting also have a gun or two for home defense. If that extremely rare event does take place, a break-in, while you've been enjoying your whiskey, what then? Or, what if you, like many people do once in a while, drink too much of that whiskey and say "fuck it," to not using the gun while drunk, maybe during a fight with the wife.

    It's bad news man, and difficult to separate the two.

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  6. Or, what if you, like many people do once in a while, drink too much of that whiskey and say "fuck it," to not using the car while drunk, maybe after a night out with the wife.

    It's bad news man, and difficult to separate the two.

    See that is why it is illegal to drive a car while drunk but not illegal to be drunk and own a car. The same is for guns. I don't know of a single place where it is legal to be drunk and in possession of a gun. So if it is already illegal, what more do you want?

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  7. Jim, you asked, "So if it is already illegal, what more do you want?"

    What I want is for you to admit that drinking and smoking pot don't mix with guns, ever, without any hemming and hawing and all the other bullshit.

    I want you to answer my little survey with the letter A. Best practice demands nothing less than total abstinence.

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  8. Mike this is ridiculous. I agree with Jim's point about owning a car and drinking alcohol without mixing the two. I know many responsible drinkers who own both cars and guns. I think your problem is that you lack self control and you know there would be problems if you were a drinker and owned guns. Just my .02

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    Replies
    1. Of course everything I say is based on my own perceptions, but I also read the news every day. "I know many responsible drinkers who own both cars and guns," just like you. But I also realize that there are too many who are dangerous and unfit. This is what you seem to choose not to see and admit.

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