[Drizzt]

Music minister arrested in gun raid

By ROB JOHNSON
Staff Writer


Tip leads agents to find 15 machine guns in home

A Mt. Juliet music minister with a cache of vintage firearms was arrested yesterday on federal weapons possession charges after agents found 15 machine guns stashed in his home.

Acting on a tip, agents from U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms obtained a search warrant yesterday and entered Mark S. Lancaster's two-story brick house at 267 Page Drive. Their informant told the agents they would find automatic weapons in a room near Lancaster's big-screen TV, affidavits show.

The agents found 15 weapons, including a Thompson .45-caliber submachine gun; a M3 A1 .45-caliber machine gun; two Czech machine guns; two British Sten 9mm machine guns; and a German MG-34 8mm machine gun.

Court records show that the case began with worried members of Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, where Lancaster has worked as minister of music since 1998.

This month, agents were shown a church bus that had been peppered with bullet holes. The bus, agents were told, had been converted ''into a shooting range.''

Other informants told ATF agents that they had been out shooting with Lancaster when he was firing weapons that could squeeze off a burst of bullets with a single pull of the trigger and that he had been known to borrow the church's welding torch to work on his guns.

Agents, who had been told that Lancaster was ''a Nazi buff,'' according to court records, arrived at the house prepared for a confrontation. But ATF Special Agent in Charge James Cavanaugh said Lancaster was taken into custody easily.

''We did bring an ATF negotiator,'' he said. ''We dealt with it very low key. He was very cooperative.''

Agents think Lancaster reassembled many of the weapons from parts purchased through gun-parts suppliers, and they found blueprints indicating he might have been manufacturing machine guns.

They said they do not think he was in the business of selling them and have no information linking him to any hate group. He had a federal firearms license as a collector of relics and curios at an earlier address but didn't have registrations for National Firearms Act weapons, they said.

''Some of these items collectors may want because of the historical value,'' Cavanaugh said of the World War II-era weapons. ''Others are very cheaply made and are remanufactured.'' He added: ''We don't want these things around. They are illegally possessed.''

Lancaster is charged with having unregistered machine guns. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted, according to U.S. Attorney James Vines. He was in U.S. marshals' custody pending a detention hearing later this month.

http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/01/27474948.shtml?Element_ID=27474948

[rock jock]

When good hobbies go bad. Gives new meaning to the song "Praise the Lord and pass the ammo."

[Blackhawk]

And his crime is...?

I've owned unregistered cars and other dangerous stuff. Should I get a hide out...?

[Chainsaw]

The old 1-800 Rat Out Your Neighbor number, in this case their minister.

Glad to hear they brought along a negotiator to round up this dangerous guy.

What does this mean?
''Some of these items collectors may want because of the historical value,'' Cavanaugh said of the World War II-era weapons. ''Others are very cheaply made and are remanufactured.'' He added: ''We don't want these things around. They are illegally possessed.''

Its a rat race and the rats are winning.------------Chainsaw

[Gordon]

I can see the "good religous person" explaining to St. Peter exactly why he turned in the music minister. St. Peter pulling the garbage chute lever and:evil:

[4v50 Gary]

Can you imagine this guy in prison? He could be teaching the cons how to make full autos.

[Gordon]

In my experience guys like this get short or no jail time, Felony probation for years , good sized fine and big time community service hours. That is how it is supposed to work for 1st offenders who have been good citizens and acted without malice.;)

[PATH]

Beats the hellout of him holding up liqour stores. He'd probably get less time if he murdered someone.

[Beren]

I thought that U.S. v. Miller stated that the 2nd Amendment protected weapons that were useful to a militia? I'd say all of his qualify.. Here's hoping some young lawyer uses this as an excuse to challenge the NFA.

[Tamara]

Suppose he offers to pay the $3000 in back taxes?

[BenW]

I think the main point of this incident is that it's just another example that shows we have become a nation of frightened, suspicious tattletales.

If it's not someone reporting a robbery because they see money flying out of a car, it's someone reporting their neighbor because his or her guns look scary.

The motto of the modern American is fast becoming, "squeal first, ask questions later.":mad:

[Chris Rhines]

Government informants are the lowest scum on earth, right down there with child molesters and tax agents.

I love the little "Nazi buff" addendum. And he's a religous figure too, no less. Why not go for the trifecta, and claim he had a meth lab in the basement?

- Chris

[ojibweindian]

I just love the way that "Americans" are ratting out their neighbors nowadays. This speaks volumes about the future, doesn't it?

I need to start polishing my jack-boots if I want to fit in.

[Tamara]

Remember when Gladys Kravitz was a comic figure and not a role model?

[ojibweindian]

:D

[P95Carry]

Sounds more than anything like he was way too over confident and way too careless. Someone owning these things is bound to get caught out in the end ..... particularly if they are fired ...... ''loose tongues'' etc.

Some ''citizens'' it seems have little better to do than ''squeal'' on their neighbors .... and usually thery are unconcerned about any truth .... they just want to cause trouble. They are scum.

[Kharn]

Hopefully this guy does better than Haney did over the summer (Haney got arrested for machine guns, his case was poorly managed and the Supreme Court refused to hear it at the same time they refused to hear Emerson).

Kharn

[Kharn]

Whoa, thats weird, I posted and then Tyme's post moved down to be under mine, something must be wrong with the time stamp.

Kharn

[tyme]

Gordon, I believe federal sentencing guidelines require a minimum term of 1/3 of the statutory sentence, and there's no parole at Club Fed. 18USC922(o) violations are 10 years, so this guy's probably looking at a 40-month stretch even if all the sentences run concurrently.

[JohnBT]

Are we a nation of laws or not?

Do we have a duty to support those laws?

Let me get this straight. If he'd been seen molesting small children his 'neighbors' should not have 'ratted him out' ? Oh, you like that law. How about moonshining? You like that one? Do I need to come and ask your permission before I call the cops for anything?

Maybe they turned him in because they knew he was making, and owning, unlawful fully automatic weapons. I'd like one, but I don't want to pay the money.

And I find it particularly disheartening that members of this board rush to judge these individuals' motives and throw about names like 'government informant'. Were they actually in the employ of the government or just trying to be good citizens?

A very disturbing trend.

John

[Tamara]

Molesting small children? Yeah, I'd fink on him for that.

Machine guns? None of my business. I'm not going to rat on someone for breaking an unconstitutional law.

Tell me, when the guns are banned, are you going to tell the heat where your neighbours buried those suspicious PVC pipes? Are we a nation of laws, or not?

[P95Carry]

Have to agree with you there Tamara ... totally!

[Marko Kloos]

Prior restraint laws and malum prohibitum laws are immoral and repulsive. If you cannot point to a victim, no crime has been committed. I'd rat out a child molester, but it's none of my business whether my neighbor owns machine guns or makes moonshine in his backyard.

[ojibweindian]

"We are a nation of laws."

Okay, let's run with this for a sec.

Jim Crow laws. Would you enforce them?

Segregatiion laws. You were okay with them?

Thoreau, King, and Gahndi realized that not all laws are conscienable (sp?).

[80fl]

John BT Hmmmmm

Jack is slang for John.

Middle initial B. Boot, perhaps?

Last initial "T". Could this possibly be "Thug".


Well Mr. John (Jack) B (Boot) T (Thug)

Anyone who obviously proclaims themself as a JBT is certainly welcome here.

What other unconstitutional laws do you have a special fondness for?:fire:

[Gordon]

Tyme: how do you get Gremlin status? My best friend got unfairly popped on 10 counts of manufacturing full auto weapons inn 86. He was convicted on 3 even though their were 0 full auto weapons found.He had a drawer full of (10) auto sear kits and a complete gunsmithing facility and a gun store with ARs for sale. I was an expert witness for the defense until feds had me eliminated for knowing too much. Their contension was they were in the crime PREVENTION business.They completed the AR's that were on open display in gun shop with his auto sears. He got 0 time, $10000 fine, felony probation for 5 years and 1000hrs comunity service. Guy had to change his carreer path; he was a gunsmith/firearms instructor. He now is a successfull produce broker and city councilman. He was pardoned by some government figure(deleted) but does not have federal firearms rights restored of course.Oh did I mention this guy was highly decorated green beret captain in Vietnam and 10 year sherrifs deputy prior to conviction?:rolleyes:

[BenW]

...or just trying to be good citizens?
John -- you seem to be missing the point. If I see a robbery taking place you'll have to race me to dial 911 and report it. If I see (check other threads here) money flying out of a car window, do you expect me to report THAT as a robbery? If I see a neighbor carry a firearm from their car into their home, should I report them because some people commit crimes with guns and who knows -- my neighbor just may be a criminal?

If they're carrying an AR15 into their home, should I report them because it may be actually be an M16? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. If they aren't threatening anyone with it and are not committing a crime in my presence it's none of my business.

Do you feel comfortable with a government, that during the DC sniper incident, was telling people to report neighbors with guns? Reporting people just because they had a firearm, not because they had done anything illegal with it?

So yes, I AM judging people's motives when they turn their neighbors and fellow citizens in. I'm judging them on whether they have an ounce of common sense or not.

We are indeed a nation of laws, and the SPIRIT of the law is just as important as the letter of the law.

[Byron Quick]

Personally, I don't follow laws as lemmings follow their leader...right into the sea. If your behavior does not involve interfering with the rights of others then it is no business of either me or my government.

Based on my observations of federal "law enforcement," this gentleman has exactly one chance to get sentenced to 1/3 of the statutory sentence: he has to know someone else who is in violation of F Troop's interpretation of the law and roll over on them. Otherwise he didn't cooperate.

[Seeker]

''We did bring an ATF negotiator,'' he said. ''We dealt with it very low key. He was very cooperative.''

Well sure, most folks are coopertive when the guy with the flame-thrower shows up.

[chaim]

Do you feel comfortable with a government, that during the DC sniper incident, was telling people to report neighbors with guns? Reporting people just because they had a firearm, not because they had done anything illegal with it? Ohhh Ohhh, can I answer that one.:fire:

During the "sniper" situation I had a fun FBI encounter because I "had bought an awful lot of guns recently" (about a dozen in just over a year). Basically someone who knows me or someone someone who knows me talked to gave them a call "reporting" me as suspicious and a potential sniper suspect. :cuss:

So, as uncomfortable as everyone else is with neighbors and acquintances feeling the need to turn people in who they don't even know if they are breaking the law (full-auto is legal in most states if you've paid your federal tax stamp), and an unconstitutional law at that, I am at least as uncomfortable. Is the USA 2003 or Germany 1943?:uhoh:

[JohnBT]

I didn't miss any points. He let some folks know he had full auto guns and they felt it necessary to turn him in. Why call them names just because you don't like the law?

Maybe they knew he was crazy. Maybe they knew something we don't. We don't know why they did it, but I still believe that calling them government informants is a misuse of the term. They appear to believed that they were doing the correct thing.

If you can't do the time...etc. HOW many machine guns did he have? Doesn't sound like an accident or simple case of ignorance of the law does it?

John