CT: Man with Unregistered Rifle Might Be 1st under new law

[Midwest]

Connecticut man with unregistered rifle and mags might be the first to get charged under CT's new law.

This is newsworthy and relevant because of this
Defense for the First One to be Arrested in CT
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=747567

This is a separate thread but relevant to the other one. Please move if needed, or keep it here so we can discuss it.

http://www.nhregister.com/general-n...ssault-rifle-high-capacity-magazines-cops-say



A man in Milford CT had three unregistered mags and one unregistered "assault rifle" could be the first person in Connecticut to be charged under the new law. The man was shooting at a squirrel with a different firearm at the time. But they found the unregistered items when they searched his house.


"“As the investigation progressed the officers seized several firearms from the home for safe keeping,” Nielsen said. “That included the assault rifle and the three high capacity magazine he did not have registered.”

.

 

[Godsgunman]

Well sounds to me like he's not the sharpest tack in the box if what the report says is all true. What led to the confiscation in the first place was him illegally discharging within city limits from what the report says. I am completely against having to register any firearm but you need to be wise about your actions if you choose not to register if you are unfortunate enough to live where they have passed such laws. The only charge I would dispute would be the "animal cruelty" one. I don't think the article specified what he used so I am guessing at a .22 which is plenty to humanely put down a squirrel. Sucks for this guy but seems to me he lacked wisdom with his actions.

 

[desidog]

When i posted the link in the other thread, I mentioned the "animal cruelty" part... it's tough to get behind a guy getting charged with that. "Hunting out of season" would be more on point...of course, we weren't there and don't know what went down exactly.

 

[Midwest]

My source was a news site out of New Hampshire. I first heard about it through the GOA news alerts on Facebook. Yep, I guess they see it as a reason to search his house. Its not like they just picked him out of thin air like on a fishing expedition, just to see if he had any "unregistered" items.

 

[fastbolt]

Unsurprising.

Unregistered assault weapons are often found here in CA when the owner comes to the attention of LE in a manner that allows LE to lawfully learn of that person's unlawful possession of an unregistered assault weapon. In the last several years before my retirement it wasn't uncommon to come across someone (due to their actions in one manner or another) and subsequently discover they unlawfully possessed an unregistered assault weapon.

Some folks might be surprised at the number of unregistered assault weapons (under CA law) that have surfaced as the result of incidents where EPO's and DV TRO's are involved. (For the folks fortunate enough to have no reason to know what those acronyms mean, they're Emergency Protective Orders & Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Orders)

I imagine a growing number of them will surface and be confiscated that way in CT in the not-too-distant future.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

Connecticut. Another state with which I'll have no truck.

 

[DoubleMag]

You should look for that one perfect person who carries their banned rifle with a banner flying out the barrel as a test candidate.
Support such as...monetarily, facebook, phone call campaign or other types of legitimate, peaceful support, should be for all.

About the only thing to exclude, should be a felony act.

 

[itsa pain]

Well that is another couple of guns for a "pro" second amendment cops gun collection

 

[David E]

What right did the police have to search his house? What right did they have to seize ALL his guns for "safekeeping?"

If the owner gave them permission, then he's an idiot.

But if the police said, "hey, we know you honestly admitted you shot the squirrel, but we are going to have to search your house and seize ALL your guns for 'safe keeping.' Wait here." Then the cops are vigorously pursuing an anti-gun agenda.

 

[Midwest]

What right did the police have to search his house? What right did they have to seize ALL his guns for "safekeeping?"

If the owner gave them permission, then he's an idiot.

But if the police said, "hey, we know you honestly admitted you shot the squirrel, but we are going to have to search your house and seize ALL your guns for 'safe keeping.' Wait here." Then the cops are vigorously pursuing an anti-gun agenda.

Assuming he did not give permission....

Do they need a search warrant to search his house?

Do they need a search warrant to search his house even in Connecticut?

How does probable cause come into play?

Is probable cause enough to search the house?

If they had probable cause ....but no search warrant, can anything...., that was found in the search...., be thrown out of court?

.

 

[JRH6856]

Just speculating.

Since he admitted illegally shooting a squirrel within the city limits, maybe they told a judge they needed to search for evidence of other illegal squirrel hunts or illegal firearm discharges. Some judges will sign off on any logical connection no matter how tenuous.

Or maybe they seized the guns to keep the other squirrels safe.

 

[fastbolt]

Another bit of linked info, which, if correct, puts the actions of the cops into a very different and reasonable perspective.

http://monderno.com/news/first-connecticut-arrested-unregistered-assault-rifle/#more-24403

 

[tarosean]

^ Geesh. Stuff like this is what makes us look bad...

 

[fastbolt]

Unfortunately, (and probably surprisingly, for some folks who think all gun owners are automatically or inherently "responsible") there's seemingly no acute shortage of folks who own firearms who do sometimes do silly, unsafe, unlawful and dangerous things with their guns at one time or another.

Sometimes they make the news.

 

[David E]

With the added info, the search makes much more sense.

But never expect the cops to overlook things that benefit you if they did.

 

[larryh1108]

Stupid is as stupid does.

Hopefully he won't plead this out where the new law can be tested in the courts.
However, I don't have faith he'll do the smart thing.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

This guy is no Otis McDonald or Heller for sure.

 

[DeadMoneyDrew]

Good gravy. This guy is an idiot! There is absolutely no way that you fine folks in Connecticut should use this as a test case to challenge the new laws. What a moron.

This is also a great example of why it's good practice to not form an opinion on something based only on a single source or an early report.

 

[WestKentucky]

So, idiot shoots squirrel and gets cops called. This happens for one of three reasons. #1 guy used a loud gun in town and scared somebody, #2 guy was seen with gun and scared the person, #3 guy is a tool and gives his neighbors reason to call the cops over petty crap.

I haven't read the article, nor do I plan to, but of all three reasons to be speaking to a LEO, he is an idiot. #1 don't shoot guns in populated areas...that's reckless discharge. #2 if your going to do something dumb, make sure there are no witnesses to your idiocy, #3 don't be a tool.

I hope they sentence him to getting an education on how to be a good member of society.

 

[JSH1]

WestKentucky

You should really read the article...

"Toigo decided to shoot a squirrel with his legally owned .22 rifle, shooting out through an open window from a position inside the home towards the street and where officers were standing for their construction job. The shot was close enough that it made the officers jump and they looked up to see the rifle pointed in their direction."​

This guy is a real winner!

 

[19-3Ben]

MENSA will not be recruiting him any time soon. I am very very glad the Hartford Courant and WTNH haven't picked up this story and blasted it through CT to give an example of what all those cray gun owners are like.

 

[nyresq]

This idiot is going to get everything he deserves, and in the process will drive another nail into the casket of gun ownership in CT...

Its people like this that give the gun grabbers all the fuel they need to keep the lawmakers busy...