What would you do

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Sunliner

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I have been doing some flight instruction part time for a few years now. It doesn't really pay but I enjoy instructing new aviators and I get to stay current with my ratings. Anyway there is a assistant manager, office guy, telephone answering guy whatever you want to call him at this very small airport. I've never really liked the guy which is unusual for me. The fellow is kind of a power tripper and I see him exerting his limited power from time to time to push the fueling and luggage guys and the secretaries around. He likes to <deleted> with their schedules, push em around such. You know with the type.

OK so I'm sitting and eating a sandwich with one of the gofer kids in the shop other day and he's complaining about what an ass the office guy is. Apparently the kid had put in for a day off a couple months ago and the guy had scheduled him to mess up his camping trip. So he's complaining and I'm just listening. Anyway the kid is ranting and he goes on to say the office guy is a <deleted> bag felon and did some time for beating his ex wife pretty badly on more than one occasion. Bad enough to become a felon and spend close to a year in jail. This was news to me but it kind of fit the mold with this guy. Pushing powerless underlings around.

So today I have a 2 hour jet rating instruction. I'm killing some time surfing the weather sites and reading the news. The office <deleted> starts bragging about his badass Glock he bought off a buddy last weekend. This guy can shoot a can five times in a row at 100 yards with his new 3.5 inch barrel Glock by the way. Well I immediately remember my conversation with the kid in the shop and I'm thinking this guy can't own a gun. In SC felons cannot own a pistol especially violent felons. I didn't want to say anything to the guy cause people are crazy these days. I really don't like the idea of snitching but this guy gives me a bad feeling.

What would you guys do. Turn him in? Let him be? If I turned him in which is what I'm leaning towards, who would I contact; the police, ATF? Sorry for the long winded prose guys and thanks in advance for any advice.
 
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I think I would do a little research and find out if the felony is real first. That should be public record.
 
I'd just call the police (not 911, but a commercial police department number) and say you want to report a violation. There's a difference between being a "snitch", and reporting a dangerous situation. If you know he has a violent history and should not legally have a gun, you have the capability to do something to prevent a future violent act.

The way I see it, being a "snitch" is when you report someone for every little thing they do. "He was looking at CNN instead of working...he took a 32-minute lunch today...he called me stupid because I couldn't find my manual." Those are snitch-like things.
"He showed up for work and took a 3-hour nap...he yelled at me and cussed me out in front of a customer...he illegally owns a weapon" are things worthy of reporting.
 
Federal crime for any felon to own a firearm, and in most states domestic violence will get your gun ownership rights cancelled. This guy sounds like a candidate for some quality federal time.
 
If you can confirm he is indeed a felon, and he is an <removed> I'd drop an anonymous tip. How bad will you feel if something happens and he uses that gun on his new wife/girlfriend or something?

Anyone who can beat on a woman is subhuman to me anyway, so I'd call just to give the guy trouble. If you can confirm it is true that is.
 
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Call the police and tell them the "facts" you've been given. "I've been told he's a convicted felon and he's bragging about owning a gun he bought off his buddy..." They have the resources readily available to confirm the truth of these stories and the authority to do something about it. I wouldn't let it slide, though. I was rolling into position on the active once in an Arrow after the run up and declared a take-off at an uncontrolled field when a guy in a Bonanza pulled out from a taxiway further down the runway and proceeded to take off. His comment to my protest was "catch me if you can." I understand he had a discussion with the FAA. If he's still flying I bet he's a safer pilot.
 
Drop a dime on this dirtbag maybe he is a felon or maybe like in Montana after he has completed his period of probation all of his rights are reinstated and he is allowed to possess a firearm. It is your call, too many crimes are committed and the GUN is blamed not the criminal........ I would hope we are all honest and promote responsible gun ownership. Make sure you call from a pay phone if you can find one. Just my 2 cents worth from the great state of Montana.

Westy39
 
How bad will you feel if something happens and he uses that gun on his new wife/girlfriend or something?
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Probably not as bad as I’d feel if I turned him in and the police did nothing because they couldn’t find or prove anything (or he wasn’t a felon – people do sometimes exaggerate about people they don’t like) and he somehow found out I had reported him.

I probably mind my own business unless I thought someone was in immediate danger.
 
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mind my own business???.....If the guy IS a convicted felon and is willing to brag out in the open about his new pistol then it very much so is his business. He is around this "felon" quite a good bit. Theres a reason felons cant own a pistol, cause they aren't rite in the head. plain and simple. I would confirm this man is a felon, and if he is. notify the police and let them take care of it.
 
This is an interesting posting and a tough situation. I'm going to come down on the side of the guy who suggested telling the police what you know. The situation could very well be legal, and if it is, great. But it is not in the interests of any of us who are law abiding to knowingly accept a dangerous situation to exist regarding firearms. A felon with a gun is dangerous. Anonymously report what you know. Then say no more. Let the law handle it.
 
I would mind my own business.
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This

Personally I would stay clear of something that doesn't affect me.
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And this.
I would leave it alone.
First, do you know for sure he is a felon.
Second, do you know for a fact he has a gun.
He could just be talking out his a--.
Shoot a can 5 times in a row at 100 yards, yea hes talking out his a--.
 
Unless the police can obtain reasonable suspicion that he is a felon in possession of a firearm, there is nothing they CAN do anyway. You calling to report that he talked about having a gun is not going to establish that reasonable suspicion. I could call the police and tell them you grow marijuana in your kitchen. What would you expect them to do about that?
 
Personally, I'd call the cops, IF you believe that he has violent tendencies. If you don't honestly believe that, then don't.

As far as Jeff's response, if he's NOT a felon, the cops wont do anything, because there wouldn't be an issue.

If he doesn't have a gun but IS a felon, then why the heck would he brag about it? That's like me going out and bragging about shooting someone, whether I did or not, it's a bad idea, and will NOT end well.

The claim of his accuracy obviously is BS, but, that doesn't mean it ALL is.
 
He might be lying about his accuracy, that doesn't mean he is lying about the gun.

Turning him in isn't saying "guns commit crimes", but it is saying "criminal with a gun is a bad idea, because that gun might be used to commit crimes."

As has been said, if you're around a convicted felon who owns a gun, it is your business. It's his business as much as it is for a mother to know if a registered sex offender is living near her and her children. It's his business because A) the guy brought it up at work, and B) the guy could potentially bring the gun to work. I'd be concerned.

"What if he found out?" That's why I like the suggestion of an anonymous tip. Sounds like he's irked enough people that he wouldn't know which one gave the cops a tip.
 
NavyLCDR said:
Unless the police can obtain reasonable suspicion that he is a felon in possession of a firearm, there is nothing they CAN do anyway. You calling to report that he talked about having a gun is not going to establish that reasonable suspicion. I could call the police and tell them you grow marijuana in your kitchen. What would you expect them to do about that?
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Nail you for harassment or filing a false police report.



I would call and ask that your name not be revealed. If he is a felon with a firearm, and is unstable or prone to the behaviors you indicate, and you do nothing, you will feel awful if he does something that harms an innocent.

Minding your own business is a good thing to do. However, it can also lead to massive regret that can last a long time.
 
Let's say the subject is a felon. Let's say he does have a Glock pistol. Let's say the OP calls the police and tells them the subject is a felon and has a Glock pistol at home that he bought off the street.

Exactly what are the police supposed to do? I guess they could go to the guy's house and ask for consent to search his house; and anybody with half a brain, felon or not would refuse.... but the police CAN'T do anything more because they have no REASONABLE suspicion that the subject is a felon in possession of a firearm just because someone calls them and says so.
 
NavyLCDR said:
Let's say the subject is a felon. Let's say he does have a Glock pistol. Let's say the OP calls the police and tells them the subject is a felon and has a Glock pistol at home that he bought off the street.

Exactly what are the police supposed to do? I guess they could go to the guy's house and ask for consent to search his house; and anybody with half a brain, felon or not would refuse.... but the police CAN'T do anything more because they have no REASONABLE suspicion that the subject is a felon in possession of a firearm just because someone calls them and says so.
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Even if the police can't DO anything, I personally would feel a lot better knowing that I did everything in my power to try and take care of a potential threat.

This, of course, AFTER I confirmed that he was at least a convicted felon - which should be a public record. It would also be much easier if you knew which state he was convicted in.
 
If the guy really is a felon and he really does have a gun, then to turn your head, ignore a crime and allow a violent felon to have a gun in their possession is bringing yourself down to the level of the criminal. But do it because it is right, not just because the guy is an ass.
 
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Skribs said:
I'd just call the police (not 911, but a commercial police department number) and say you want to report a violation. There's a difference between being a "snitch", and reporting a dangerous situation. If you know he has a violent history and should not legally have a gun, you have the capability to do something to prevent a future violent act.

The way I see it, being a "snitch" is when you report someone for every little thing they do. "He was looking at CNN instead of working...he took a 32-minute lunch today...he called me stupid because I couldn't find my manual." Those are snitch-like things.
"He showed up for work and took a 3-hour nap...he yelled at me and cussed me out in front of a customer...he illegally owns a weapon" are things worthy of reporting.
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using your story for a basis to make my decision..
I agree with quote listed
 
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