Ex-NBA player arrested after gunfire heard near White House

[DouglasW]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Secret Service officer arrested a former NBA player after gunshots were reported just blocks from the White House early Wednesday morning.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said officers arrested the former Charlotte Bobcats player Lonny Baxter, 27, and his passenger Irvin Martin, 35, around 2:30 a.m. He said officers saw used shell casings in plain view and a handgun.

Zahren said it is unclear why the weapon was discharged and what the intended target was. The men were arrested for possession of a pistol without a license and for having unregistered ammunition and a firearm.

Zahren said a person flagged down the officer to report gunshots near the White House. The officer pulled Baxter and Irvin's SUV over on 17th and I streets and arrested the two men.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/16/nba.arrest/index.html

I knew about the draconian handgun restrictions, but have they really started requiring 'registration' for ammunition in DC? Good grief!

edit: or is this just another example of clueless reporting?

 

[duckslayer]

Surely that is just inaccurate reporting.

 

[Coop de Ville]

Yes.

You may register a rifle or shotgun to keep in your home (Shotguns must have a minimum bbl length of 20"... not 18").

The ammo you possess must be "registered." You do not actually register the ammo itself, but you may only own ammo that matches your registered firearm.

Any other ammo carries a misdemeanor count for each and every round..... Each round is techically a 6 month charge.... you do the math.

A note on the long guns.. only those that are designed to accept a maximum of 10 rounds are allowed.

Hope this helps -Coop

 

[Silver Bullet]

The men were arrested for possession of a pistol without a license

But ... but ... doesn't making it illegal to possess a firearm insure that the bad guys won't have one ?

 

[benEzra]

You may register a rifle or shotgun to keep in your home (Shotguns must have a minimum bbl length of 20"... not 18").

And it can't be assembled, if I understand correctly.

 

[Coop de Ville]

It is suggested that the weapon is dissassembled or rendered inoperable (trigger lock). Yeah OK.

The big idea is that the weapon is not accessible to unauthorized individuals. It does say, however, on the application, that it may be used to protect oneself from death or grave bodily harm.

Despite the draconian gun laws and laws for that matter, you can defend yourself. For example, a recent man was robbed at gunpoint for his northface jacket. He pulled out an illegal handgun and shot the robber. He was arrested for CPWL (carrying a pistol without a license) but the shoot was ruled self-defense....

I'm not defending the laws here. They are bass ackwards, but they will never change.

I truly believe that DC is going to see an uprise and riots in the near future. Socio-economically motivated. This city is changing very rapidly and a lot of its population is being displaced.

Yes, I keep my stuff dissassembled..........

Best Coop

 

[Diomed]

Actually, fake ammo is illegal in DC. Those dummy rounds on keychains? They'll put you in jail. As are components, i.e. bullets, casings, primers.

DC is probably the single most restrictive place in the country when it comes to guns. But man is it ever safe there!

 

[saltydog]

But ... but ... doesn't making it illegal to possess a firearm insure that the bad guys won't have one ?

Yes, Yes, but lots of stupid Liberals, stupid Politicians, stupid people in general, and some stupid law inforcement agency's have not figured out that those idiot laws don't work.