Calaveras County Safe Again
By Jeff Knox
(Manassas, VA, April 27) The people of Calaveras County - the remote
central California mining region made famous by the gold rush of 1849
and the jumping frogs of Mark Twain - can breath easier now that Richard
Wilmshurst has been brought to justice. Wilmshurst was convicted last
month of illegal possession of a machinegun and illegal possession of
"Assault Weapons" in California. The judge sentenced Wilmshurst to three
years probation and ordered that he dispose of his "arsenal".
Wilmshurst, by the way, is a car dealer and land speculator with a law
degree, a federal firearms import license, and a class 3 license.
This could be the Second Amendment case we've been waiting for or it
could be another case of a white-hat taking a fall because white-hats
are easier targets than black-hats.
Wilmshurst's troubles began in January of 2003 when an ATF agent
performing a routine inspection of his import inventory mentioned that a
couple of the guns were not legal for Californians to own. Wilmshurst
wasn't worried; the guns were within the umbrella of his import business
and were intended for distribution outside the state of California for
sale to law enforcement.
In February, officers from the California Department of Justice Firearms
Enforcement Division, using information obtained from ATF, staged raids
on Wilmshurst's home and Angel Camp car dealership. The raids were
conducted in full "storm-trooper" fashion with black "ninja" suits,
heavy body armor, and true assault weapons. This being "people friendly"
California, the assault force included a medic to monitor 69-year old,
stroke survivor, Wilmshurst's blood pressure as they dumped the contents
of his safe and confiscated every gun he or his businesses owned.
Even though it is a violation of federal law for information obtained
from records generated in compliance with import license regulations to
be used directly or indirectly as evidence against the licensee, the
judge refused to hear arguments that the warrants were illegal and that
all evidence seized was inadmissible. Instead, he barred any mention of
federal law in the courtroom and instructed the jury that if the
prosecutor proved that Wilmshurst was in possession of the firearms in
question (something that Wilmshurst never denied), that the jury must
return a guilty verdict.
The guilty verdict was summarily returned and last week, Wilmshurst was
sentenced to three years probation and, as a convicted felon, ordered to
dispose of all of his firearms.
The judge in the case - who happens to be the same judge that ruled
against Wilmshurst in a property case currently on appeal - expressed
dismay that Wilmshurst is showing no remorse for his crimes.
Wilmshurst is planning to appeal the conviction and has filed suit
against the Attorney General of California for violating federal law in
conducting the raid and for violating Wilmshurst's civil rights under
the Second Amendment.
The Firearms Coalition is bringing the Wilmshurst case to the attention
of Second Amendment scholars and firearms civil rights organizations in
hopes of generating "friend of the court" briefs and perhaps getting Mr.
Wilmshurst the specialized legal assistance this case clearly deserves.
We will keep you posted as the case develops.
In the meantime, let this be a reminder: Your white hat is no defense
against aggressive police, prosecutors, and judges. There are many
things that Richard Wilmshurst would rather be doing with his time,
money and midnight oil. Cross your T's and dot your i's.
Yours for the Second Amendment,
Jeff
Jeff Knox
Director of Operations
The Firearms Coalition
By Jeff Knox
(Manassas, VA, April 27) The people of Calaveras County - the remote
central California mining region made famous by the gold rush of 1849
and the jumping frogs of Mark Twain - can breath easier now that Richard
Wilmshurst has been brought to justice. Wilmshurst was convicted last
month of illegal possession of a machinegun and illegal possession of
"Assault Weapons" in California. The judge sentenced Wilmshurst to three
years probation and ordered that he dispose of his "arsenal".
Wilmshurst, by the way, is a car dealer and land speculator with a law
degree, a federal firearms import license, and a class 3 license.
This could be the Second Amendment case we've been waiting for or it
could be another case of a white-hat taking a fall because white-hats
are easier targets than black-hats.
Wilmshurst's troubles began in January of 2003 when an ATF agent
performing a routine inspection of his import inventory mentioned that a
couple of the guns were not legal for Californians to own. Wilmshurst
wasn't worried; the guns were within the umbrella of his import business
and were intended for distribution outside the state of California for
sale to law enforcement.
In February, officers from the California Department of Justice Firearms
Enforcement Division, using information obtained from ATF, staged raids
on Wilmshurst's home and Angel Camp car dealership. The raids were
conducted in full "storm-trooper" fashion with black "ninja" suits,
heavy body armor, and true assault weapons. This being "people friendly"
California, the assault force included a medic to monitor 69-year old,
stroke survivor, Wilmshurst's blood pressure as they dumped the contents
of his safe and confiscated every gun he or his businesses owned.
Even though it is a violation of federal law for information obtained
from records generated in compliance with import license regulations to
be used directly or indirectly as evidence against the licensee, the
judge refused to hear arguments that the warrants were illegal and that
all evidence seized was inadmissible. Instead, he barred any mention of
federal law in the courtroom and instructed the jury that if the
prosecutor proved that Wilmshurst was in possession of the firearms in
question (something that Wilmshurst never denied), that the jury must
return a guilty verdict.
The guilty verdict was summarily returned and last week, Wilmshurst was
sentenced to three years probation and, as a convicted felon, ordered to
dispose of all of his firearms.
The judge in the case - who happens to be the same judge that ruled
against Wilmshurst in a property case currently on appeal - expressed
dismay that Wilmshurst is showing no remorse for his crimes.
Wilmshurst is planning to appeal the conviction and has filed suit
against the Attorney General of California for violating federal law in
conducting the raid and for violating Wilmshurst's civil rights under
the Second Amendment.
The Firearms Coalition is bringing the Wilmshurst case to the attention
of Second Amendment scholars and firearms civil rights organizations in
hopes of generating "friend of the court" briefs and perhaps getting Mr.
Wilmshurst the specialized legal assistance this case clearly deserves.
We will keep you posted as the case develops.
In the meantime, let this be a reminder: Your white hat is no defense
against aggressive police, prosecutors, and judges. There are many
things that Richard Wilmshurst would rather be doing with his time,
money and midnight oil. Cross your T's and dot your i's.
Yours for the Second Amendment,
Jeff
Jeff Knox
Director of Operations
The Firearms Coalition
