Definitely a pro-gun celebrity (though his celebrity star has dimmed since 1996)

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lysander

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I did a search but didn't find the story posted already...I apologize if it is a double.

Link to Article (includes some pictures of a very nice set of trunk guns)

Troopers clock 'Blues Traveler' singer's SUV going more than 100 mph

Story Updated: Mar 7, 2007 at 5:58 PM PST
By Associated Press
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Blues Traveler singer and harmonica player John Popper was arrested near Ritzville after the vehicle he was riding in was clocked going 111 mph, the Washington State Patrol said Wednesday.

Popper, 39, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 90 near the Spokane/Lincoln county line, the Washington State Patrol said. Inside the black Mercedes SUV, officers found a cache of weapons and a small amount of marijuana, the Patrol said.

Popper, who lives in Snohomish, Wash., is the owner of the vehicle, which was being driven by Brian Gourgeois, 34, of Austin, Texas, said state patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney. Sevigney confirmed that Popper was a member of the popular band and that the pair was traveling from Texas to Washington

While the two men were administratively booked into the Adams County Jail in Ritzville, they were released on their own recognizance, Sevigney said. That's because Popper lives in the state and the crimes involved are misdemeanors, Sevigney said.

Gourgeois was placed under arrest for reckless driving and, after troopers reportedly smelled marijuana, Popper was arrested for drug possession, the Patrol said.

A police dog searched the vehicle, finding numerous hidden compartments. Inside those compartments were four rifles, nine handguns and a switchblade knife. They also found a Taser and night vision goggles.

Popper told officers he collected weapons, the Patrol said. The vehicle also had flashing emergency headlights, a siren and a public address system, the Patrol said. "Popper indicated to troopers that he had installed these items in his vehicle because (in the event of a natural disaster) he didn't want to be left behind," the Patrol said.

Officers also recovered a small amount of marijuana and a marijuana pipe. The vehicle was seized.

Popper achieved fame as a harmonica player and frontman for Blues Traveler. The band won a Grammy award in 1996 for the song "Run-around," which Popper composed. Popper recently formed a group called The John Popper Project with DJ Logic, which released an album in 2006 and is scheduled to go on the road later this month.
 
As far as I can see the driver was charged with a driving offense, and Popper charged with drug possession.

Notice that the charges did not include anything about the firearms. Our enemies in the media once again just had to sensationalize officers seizing a weapons "arsenal" or "cache", yet there was nothing illegal about possession of those weapons. :cuss:
 
According to Fox News he wasn't charged with any firearms violations so why is his "arsenal" newsworthy?

Yes, going 111MPH is stupid, and having pot is dumb, but it appears that he was well within his rights to have the weapons that he had. A couple of Steyr Scout rifles, a Mini-14, an unidentified bolt rifle and a pump shotty. I couldn't really make out the makes of the handguns from the picture, but it looks like he really likes lasers on pistols.
 
Blues Traveller is still relevant, they just wrote a new song if I'm not mistaken.

Anyways, typical sensationalized reporting. My truck has strobes too, has little to do with anything.
 
If his tires were rated for better than 111 mph and no traffic, big deal. :evil:

Looked like the way I pack so I'm ready to go to the range at a moment's notice.
 
The one problem I can see is being in posession of drugs and weapons at the same time is not cool. I believe some states have laws specifically against being in posession of firearms and drugs at the same time. Personally, I could care less if someone does drugs or not, but driving around going 111 MPH if you are on them is another story .
 
If he was on dope and driving that's neither right nor careful on his part.

They'll seize his stuff under 0-T laws and spank him. Depending on where he lives however, he may forfeit his gun rights for the sake of that refer bud :eek: .

I'm a softy for gun loving musicians and maybe excuse too much.

What about Art Garfunkel--he hasn't been arrested with dope for something like 25 days now?
 
I believe some states have laws specifically against being in posession of firearms and drugs at the same time.
Those laws usually only kick in when the quantity of drugs is enough to be considered "intent to distribute".

In Washington State, the line is at 40 grams.

Posession of less than 40g is a misdemenor with a max sentence of 90 days and a $250-$500 fine.

OVER 40g is a felony with a 5 year max and a $10,000 fine.

I bet he had less than the 40g (which is a hair under an ounce and a half).



If his attorney is worth his salt he'll do one day (which is the MMS) and pay a $250 fine and thats it. He'll get his guns back and he'll not lose his RKBA.
 
Personally, I could care less if someone does drugs or not, but driving around going 111 MPH if you are on them is another story .
I doubt the driver was high. Notice the driver got no drug charges. I've never known anyone to go 111mph when they were high. Not saying it is impossible, just not typical.

As for the speed, the handling properties of Mercedes are vastly overrated, but if the tires were rated, I don't see the problem. I've done sustained triple digit speeds in a convoy of minivans of various manufacture, and none of them ever exibited any instability at speed. Most of today's cars are capable of going that fast if properly maintained.
 
I met him in 2002 when I helped organize a BT concert at my college. My friend's band got to open for them, it was awsome. John popper is a very nice and personable, polite guy, based on my limited experience (about 15 minutes), no surprise he is a gunny. :)

I still have a signed harmonica, somewhere. . .
 
As a Washington resident, he should have been aware that Ritzville is the most notorious speed trap in the state. I slow down to the speed limit 10 miles before the town, and stay at that rate until I'm 10 miles past. Otherwise, I average about 10-15mph over, as there is not much to hit in Eastern Washington.
 
I doubt the driver was high. Notice the driver got no drug charges. I've never known anyone to go 111mph when they were high. Not saying it is impossible, just not typical.

A lot depends on the situation. As the car was registered to John, anything in it is "his", automatically. If the pot was actually being carried by the driver, then it belongs to him. If the pot was in an area that both people could've had access to, then it could have meant "constructive possession" charges for the both of them.
 
Having listened to Blues Traveller...

officers found a cache of weapons and a small amount of marijuana, the Patrol said.

I'm shocked. SHOCKED I say!

:rolleyes: :D
 
I remember an old interview he did on Howard Stern years ago. John Popper is a BIG gun nut, maybe as bad or worse then Ted Nugent. I remember him mentioning that he a range on his property, and that he had licenses for full auto weapons and destructive devices (aka I think he owns a cannon).

The speeding and pot possession does not make him the best celebirty spokes person for firearms though.
 
Here in Lincoln Nebraska he would have lost his RKBA. The city council passed a law making it illegal for anyone convicting of a drug offense in the past 7 years (no matter how minor) to possess a firearm in the city limits. This law was passed as a compromise to allow CCW in the city (which many of the sheeple opposed).
 
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The speeding and pot possession does not make him the best celebirty spokes person for firearms though.

It does if you are a libertarian type.

Hell yeah! Who says we want rollover PC panderers to represent us?
 
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