Buy a gun, get a letter from Big Brother...

[CountGlockula]

This is what you receive when you buy a gun in the city of LA. Not all parts of LA get this letter. It only applies to specific districts.

Violation or intimidation?

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii303/mrfix7/DOJLetter.jpg

 

[TexasRifleman]

It only applies to specific districts.

Sounds like racial profiling to me. I'd call the ACLU

 

[DaleA]

Gosh! Since they STATED in the letter that they are your 'partners' shouldn't that make them liable too if you do anything bad?

I also think as 'partners' they should pony up some ammunition and range fees from time to time. You'd let them shoot it once in a while if they showed up wouldn't you?

 

[moe.ron]

I live in Camarillo and have never see one of those. Of course its not L.A.

 

[myrockfight]

I don't know if you would call it intimidation, but it sure does give me that icky feeling inside. That is just creepy.

Do you have to register your guns with the city out there? How do they get the information in the first place? Through the gun shop?

 

[CountGlockula]

Do you have to register your guns with the city out there? How do they get the information in the first place? Through the gun shop?

Yes, through the gun shop.

For gun purchases in this state, you have to fill out a Dealer Record of Sale form and there's also a 10-day background check.

 

[iowajones]

Where's the spanish version? On the back side of the one you scanned?

 

[Cougfan2]

Despite my aversion to LA gun laws in general, this letter actually seems to be geared at helping people understand how to make sure they don't unwittingly violate their laws, even if we don't agree with them. I agree that the whole process makes one feel a little icky.

 

[divemedic]

Rewrite it to read:

As you know, subversive literature is a serious problem in Los Angeles. We understand that you have recently purchased a book. It is important that we all do our part to store and keep objectionable literature out of the hands of children and degenerate criminals. We are working in collaboration with the Federal government program, Project Safe Neighborhood.

As partners in keeping the streets safe in your neighborhood, we want to remind you of your obligations as a reading materials owner.

If you decide to sell or give your book to someone, you must complete a "Dealer Record of Sale" (DROS) form. These forms can be obtained from any book store or library. Remember, it is a crime to transfer a book to anyone without first filling out this form.

You know what else? The letter says that you must fill out the form, and transferring a gun without filling one out is a crime. The letter doesn't say that you have to send it in, just fill it out. Is that the case? I am not familiar with CA law.

 

[SomeKid]

Looks like the letter basically says to make sure and register your freedom at the door, and keep it registered or else.

 

[LaEscopeta]

No one can intimate you without your cooperation (apologies to Mrs. Roosevelt for changing her quote.)

The letter informs you of a city law that is not common in the US, and tells you of the possible consequences of not following the law. Why are you intimated by that?

Many people state most firearms used in crime are stolen, using this as a reason gun control and registration is ineffective against crime. If true, and if you accept that one of the responsibilities of government is to fight crime, they should be attempting to improve their ability to track stolen guns.

Back in the 70’s Massachusetts saw a dramatic upswing is car theft, till it became the car theft capital of the country. The State responded by requiring more information to title and registrar a car, and computerizing those records. A lot of people complained about the extra paper work burden imposed on them. But the police found many cars reported as stolen were still being driven by the people who reported them stolen, after they collected the insurance money. And many other people we buying stolen cars not knowing they were stolen. The car theft rings were able to file for a new title claiming they lost the old one. The previous Dept. of Motor Vehicles poor record system was unable to detect these frauds. After a few years of the extra paper work (and good police work) car theft in Mass. fell to below the national average.

In many cities when the cops trace a firearm recovered at a crime scene back to the last person who legally brought it, that person claims it was stolen, they didn’t report it, and they don’t remember when it was stolen. A few years ago the newspaper here reported an 80 year old woman had brought about a dozen hand guns over 2 years, all of which she claimed were stolen from her, she didn’t report any of the thefts, and three of the guns were used in crimes. It is possible LA will be able to achieve a drop is gun crime with the paperwork burden they are imposing on all gun sales. Or not. But if you believe all government is unnecessary, evil, and not capable of doing anything right, you will not be happy with anything the LA city government does or does not do.

 

[Cosmoline]

The letter informs you of a city law that is not common in the US, and tells you of the possible consequences of not following the law. Why are you intimated by that?

No, the letter personally threatens a citizen for purchasing a firearm. There is a threat of felony prosecution actually in the letter. That goes well beyond a friendly reminder. The subtext is clear--big bro. is watching you.

It is possible LA will be able to achieve a drop is gun crime with the paperwork burden that are imposing on all gun sales.

Half the population is illegal and operating totally outside the law, so I find it hard to believe they'll be able to make a dent in crime by threatening the few legitimate gun owners who haven't fled the stinkhole already.

 

[harmonic]

For Pete's sake, it's Los Angeles! One of the five worst cities in the worst state (re gun rights) in the nation.

They sent a letter re a gun purchase?! What's the big deal? I'm amazed they didn't send storm troopers to sell your wife and children into slavery!

I'm just glad I got out of that forsaken state.

BTW, I always despised LA.

 

[ilbob]

My first FOID card came with a letter explaining how to legally buy and sell firearms. I would not be all that worried about it.

 

[CRITGIT]

Though not popular with us here, folks in CA and especially LA fear gun violence to a point they support this approach and policies.
It's not unlike other campaigns like the "terrorists obsession" which caused the Pat Act & Military Comm Act stripping of our rights!

Fear works so well on the uneducated!

CRITGIT

 

[dogrunner]

Well, La Escopeta, its apparent by what you don't say, that you aren't a subscriber to the philosophy of small and tightly controlled government. Accordingly, to your line of reasoning, more regulation makes every thin' "mo better".

With reasoning of the sort you express, then the Japanese approach of frequent home checks and tightly controlled "people management" is not only acceptable, but preferable!

I seem to recall a rather notable essay from years back that started with: "I do not choose to be a 'kept' American"......what a crying shame that so many have abandoned that line of thought!

Just remember, the more a Government can control, the more it can and WILL take, certainly the freedoms you folks in California have lost stand in grim testimony to that!

 

[M14/11B]

More big brother. Why would I need these politicos to tell me this stuff? I should know it already or suffer the consequences of not. My son got two speeding tickets by the CHP within a short time of each other and the DMV sent him a letter saying he was a bad driver and might kill people and a lecture about driving practices.
This tells me they are meddling in peoples lives, have to much time on their hands and are wasting taxpayers money on this crap. Lay off a few of these bureaucrats or make 'em do real productive work!
M14

 

[harmonic]

My heart goes out to my brethren trapped behind the enema lines of kalifornistan.

 

[Autolycus]

Cosmoline said:
Half the population is illegal and operating totally outside the law, so I find it hard to believe they'll be able to make a dent in crime by threatening the few legitimate gun owners who haven't fled the stinkhole already.

Got any proof of this claim that 50% of the population of LA is illegal?

 

[Steve H]

Where's the spanish version? On the back side of the one you scanned?

I was thinking the same thing.............

 

[LaEscopeta]

…the letter personally threatens a citizen for purchasing a firearm. There is a threat of felony prosecution actually in the letter.

Are we reading the same letter? The one I see by following the link above says:
“We understand that you have recently purchased a gun….If you ever decide to sell or give your gun to someone, you must complete a ….DROS form….If the police recover a gun that was involved in a crime, the L.A. City Attorney will prosecute the gun’s previous owner if that owner did not complete the…form.”

The threat of prosecution (letter does not say felony or misdemeanor) is not for purchasing a firearm. They know you brought the firearm legally because that how they got your name and address to send the letter to. The prosecution threat is if two things happen in the future; you sell/give away the firearm without filing the form, and the firarm is later involved in a crime.

Half the population is illegal…

Source please?

...to your line of reasoning, more regulation makes every thin' "mo better".

No, that is not my line of reasoning. I have no blanket ideology on regulation. Each regulation needs to be judged on its own merit; does it do any good and if so is that good worth the cost/hassle of the regulation? The fact that we have too much regulation, and too much ineffective regulation, now-a-days does not mean everything would be perfect with no regulation. The book The Jungle by Sinclair Lewis, and others from the early 1900s detail what no regulation was like.

 

[Thernlund]

Got any proof of this claim that 50% of the population of LA is illegal?

Source please?

Cosmoline didn't give a "figure" of 50%. He said "half". It is a flip comment meant to express annoyance over the illegal immigrant problem in California.

Read no further into it.


-T.

 

[230RN]

Might be checking addresses, too?

Sounds terse but businesslike: a reminder written by 2/3 attorneys.

If you get tagged: "See, here, we even sent you a letter about it."

But I appreciate the parallel with books noted above and I object to the very "need" to write any letters at all about how restricted your "privilege" is.

Darned Guccibooted thugs.

 

[win71]

The letter informs you of a city law that is not common in the US, and tells you of the possible consequences of not following the law. Why are you intimated by that?

No, the letter personally threatens a citizen for purchasing a firearm. There is a threat of felony prosecution actually in the letter. That goes well beyond a friendly reminder. The subtext is clear--big bro. is watching you.

Actually, person to person sales or gifts of handguns in the State of California has required a DROS since sometime around 1991.
This letter appears to be a way for the City of LA to attempt to educate it's local citizens in perhaps a gang ridden crime area with respect to the existing State law. Obviously it is an attempt to keep legitimate handguns out of the hands of illegitimate users.
If you actually believe that it is intended as a form of intimidation by big brother to threaten your freedom then I suppose any reminder in whatever form that advises of penalties for violating any law could also be considered intimidation. I can only assume the reference to big brother includes any governmental body from the lowest of city governments to the highest of federal governments. If that's the case you must be looking over your shoulder all your waking hours.
California has so many sales of gun laws peculiar to itself I wish they would include a short summary with every purchase . At least it may help some honest person unintentionally do something illegal and get in a jam over it.

 

[LaEscopeta]

Just remember, the more a Government can control, the more it can and WILL take...

Maybe, but US history has plenty of examples of the People taking back control from the Government:
- After the Civil War.
- Supreme Court limiting the control the executive branch can wield over the economy during the FDR administration.
- After WWII.
- Freedom of Information Act.
- Limits on domestic spying imposed on the FBI in the 1970’s.
- Heller vs. DC.