IL - Be Very Careful Selling in/around Cook County

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wtr100

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Mods I hope this isn't too far out of bounds


This DID NOT happen to me but to another AR15.com member.


Mind your P's and Q's on sales in Northern IL

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Link to whole thread

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_8_23/519611_BEWARE_OF_THE_COOK_COUNRY_SHERIFF_The_Games_Have_Begun.html

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BEWARE OF THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF

I had a rifle on armslist that I was looking to dump, nothing important. When I received a email from a buyer telling me they wanted to purchase the rifle. We exchanged phone numbers. I received a text last friday asking me to meet the buyer. I was working, but wasn't busy.

They wanted to meet in Oak Park, I said NO WAY.

They recommended a different spot. I agreed, the Portillos on Roosevelt and DesPlanes. There is a gun range a couple of blocks from there that I thought would be a better place but, it was Friday and I was more afraid of rush hour then I was of the location.

Long story short, it smelled and looked wrong. the car was a pick up with black windows. I'm thinking gangbanger. When I pull up two guys get out of the car, but they are both older white guys. They didn't match the car. They look over the rifle, but when it comes time to sign the paper work, the guy doesn't have a FOID card. He tells me he has a domestic arrest.

I tell him I can't sell him the rifle, he offers more money, I reject his offer. He keeps try. I keep saying NO.

Next thing I know, there are 50 cops surrounding me, they are searching my car, and handcuffing me and toss me in the back of a car.

Within 15 minutes I'm in the Maywood sheriff station. They are asking where I live, how many guns do I own, how many I've sold. The experience was rough and distressing. I didn't want to answer any questions.
All I can think is that I'm in handcuffs for some reason, did I break a law I wasn't aware of. If I answer a question wrong I end up in a jump suit.

Turns out, I didn't break any laws. They want me to give them information that I didn't have. I almost had a heart attack. I walked out an hour later with my rifle.

What the bloody hell was that. Is this how we threat citizens when political fortunes are on the line. It took me a week before I had the nerve to post on this site. I use be mad at people who refused to sell to cook county residents. Now I understand, its not worth it.

How native was I, be-careful. FTF is hard enough without having to worry about bogus stings.
 
This probably should be posted in the "Legal" section. Sorry to hear about this. The best solution, simply always follow the firearms laws. Sounds like you did.

Geno
 
Like I said I wasn't involved we're really working to spread the word
 
We do from time to time hear about stings like this. It's worthwhile for anyone who buys or sells guns privately to (1) know and thoroughly understand the applicable law; and (2) walk quickly away from any deal in which you're being asked to not follow or to skirt the law
 
Oops. Sorry. Man, I knew it didn't happen to you. How the Hades did I mess that up?! Old age is a horrid thing. Dang! If I'm this bad (tired) at 52, what will I be at 104?! :D For my part, I sell only to active duty LEOs, MCPL-holders or firearms dealers. Once this whole current firearms/ammo fiasco started, I swore I'd never again sell a firearm. I got what I want, and I'm keeping what I got.

Again, sorry for the confusion, and I appreciate the very decent way that you redirected my attention.

Geno
 
I'd be extremely cautious anywhere near Cook county. OVERZEALOUS anti-gun politicians encourage this kind of behavior in police and eager left wing prosecutors can make a persons life miserable even if you don't do anything wrong. Always follow the law and if ANYTHING smells bad walk (no RUN) away.
 
So why is this person posting on an internet forum instead of suing them?
If you had read the ARFCOM thread you would know there is an attorney and NRA rep trying to get in touch with him about the incident.

Some people don't keep an attorney's contact info handy. FWIW I would have contacted mine, and I would not have posted about this on the internet.
 
If it was posted on ARFcom, it was likely written by a teenager from his parent's basement.
However, if it is a legit story, he has a fine and dandy lawsuit ahead of him, which God willing he will win.
 
Once you established he is not legal to buy, I would have simply left right away.

To an upstanding and ethical Illinois prosecuter, it sounds like you were haggling over the cost of an illegal sale.
 
wow thats crazy, thats why I don't like selling/purchasing weapons from individuals unless I know them.
 
Something like this serves two purposes.

They could indeed stop/discourage unlawful sales.

The secondary benefit to the government however, is that you won't want to sell privately again, nor will some who read this. So they can intimidate the public into what they really want if they can't legislate it.

Good on you for not falling for it. Bad on them for wasting your time and the governments money. How about they go kick in a gang bangers door and leave you alone?
 
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