An Army veteran in Texas is fighting for his Second Amendment rights after learning that a misdemeanor pot conviction from 1971 has disqualified him from ever owning a gun.
Ron Kelly, who retired from the Army in 1993 after 20 years of service, was recently turned away when he tried to buy a .22-cal rifle at a Wal-Mart in Tomball, Texas, after a computerized background check flagged the 42-year-old arrest. The story was on the front page of the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday.
Kelly said he had forgotten about his minor pot violation from high school — the federal government, on the other hand, has not.
The Army vet spent one night in jail and was given one year of probation. Though he didn’t realize it at the time, he was also apparently stripped of his Second Amendment rights for a lifetime.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
What part of illegal doesn't he understand?
ReplyDeleteAre these the same soldiers coming home claiming flash backs of the war? The ones claiming they can't get or hold a job because of what they experienced in war areas? Now they want to carry guns again?
ReplyDeleteThe law is the law. As much as I hammer about the new gun laws being garbage, I have no problem with him failing a background check.
ReplyDeleteTo hell with the law. You can't take gun rights away from a Texan. He needs to go to a gun show and buy an AR-15, a real man's gun, and quit worrying about filling out stupid paperwork. Everyone knows paperwork is for women and cops. That's why secretaries are always women. Then, he should put the gun on top his head like a Swaumi and walk around wherever he pleases.
ReplyDeleteThe amendment refers to felonies. Although in Texas back then, I'm surprised is wasn't a life sentence.
ReplyDeleteFelonies-schlonies.
ReplyDeleteShall not be infringed. That includes misguided state laws.
It is gun control and taking away rights under the guise of public safety and crime prevention. As if any law can prevent any crime from being committed.
Career, hardened criminals are one thing. But to apply such restrictions to everybody? For life?
How many of those "not allowed" to own a firearm actually own one? How many obey that nonsensical law?
There are so many laws, unknown to most people, if a prosecutor really wanted to, he could charge ANYONE with 3 felonies any day of the week.
Each of us break some law, probably a few, every day, not even being aware of it.
Feel safe?
Feel safer because someone is not legally allowed to own a gun?
Do the words, "hook, line and sinker", mean anything to any of you?