You know the one that featured this picture:
Yes, it is quite real as this article from the Omaha World-Herald proves:
Man who briefly lost AR-15 rifle takes heat from both sides in gun debate
Not only did the person lose an assault rifle, he is a former Nebraska State Patrol trooper. He called losing the rifle a “terrible mistake.”
“This is probably the stupidest thing I've done in my life,” he said.
It seems the gun was lost in middle of South 204th Street, in front of the Gretna fire station after it fell off the back of his pickup truck. It also had a loaded magazine.
The assault rifle has been returned to its owner and is in a gun safe.
Yes, and he went the extra mile to try to recover it. He reported it and then posted the sign, likely knowing full well the BS he was going to take from both sides.
ReplyDeleteActually saw a similar event happen in my unit during my deployment to Iraq. Was definitely an unpleasant experience for the young soldier.
Going the extra mile does not excuse the irresponsibility. Besides, what was his alternative, to NOT try to find the gun?
DeleteIf only there were a lost and stolen reporting law so that the situation would have played out in the exact same way...
ReplyDeleteBut, if we started disqualifying all the irresponsible idiots, there'd be much less of this.
DeleteTS, if there was a mandatory reporting law, this is not the way it would have played out. This sign was just stupid.
DeleteAre you suggesting he should lose his gun rights for reporting one missing? Lose one- lose 'em all. Why would you want to turn this situation into one where he doesn't call the police or try to recover the gun because doing so would strip him of his rights?
DeleteYeah, TS, that's the same nonsense they say about mandatory mental health treatment for people who need it. Severely mentally ill people should be in the hospital and irresponsible gun owners should lose their gun rights.
DeleteDog Gone, he did report it to the police AND he posted the signs.
DeleteSo Mike, you see no unintended consequences from confiscating every gun and banning them for owning again for life when someone reports a gun lost? To you it's complete nonsense to suggest that someone might not file a report with these policies in place where they otherwise would have.
If strict laws were enforced, one strike you're out kinda laws, there would be fewer and fewer incidents like this. Sure people wouldn't report on themselves in the certainty that they'd lose their gun rights, so? Is that worse than what we have now?
DeleteLosing a loaded weapon, not quite like losing your slippers, a garden hose, your dog, or your wallet. And if someone got that gun and committed a crime, or a murder with it; would the owner even be charged with a misdemeanor for not properly safeguarding a deadly weapon? Where is the personal responsibility?
ReplyDeleteGun-rights fanatics don't want to be held responsible for their actions. It's an infringement on their rights.
DeleteStill, it's kind of cool he guy did the old-fashioned thing of hanging the rifle behind the rear window of the cab. Should be legal anywhere in the U.S. Not sure about the loaded magazine part, but this guy is ex-law enforcement, so it must be okay where he lives. I guess he was driving just a little bit to fast to pull this one off successfully. Three suggestions. Maybe less alcohol before driving. Or at least no alcohol when driving around with guns. Either that or don't use the gun racks when you are speeding. Or perhaps try something like tying or fastening the rifle to the racks before embarking on the next leg of your journey.
ReplyDelete"Still, it's kind of cool he guy did the old-fashioned thing of hanging the rifle behind the rear window of the cab."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the link seems to be dead, but I thought that I read that the rifle was cased and he had left it on the tool box behind the cab, which would account for it easily sliding off.
Nebraska does allow open carry of handguns in vehicles, but not long guns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Nebraska