Feds Raid Springfield, Mo., Gun Shops

[Obiwan]

By CONNIE FARROW, Associated Press Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Federal authorities equipped with sealed search warrants raided three gun dealers early Tuesday in Springfield, looking for evidence of firearms violations.

The raids were the culmination of a three-year investigation, said Larry Scott, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He would not say what agents were looking for or whether anyone was taken into custody.

"I can tell you it's federal firearms violations," Scott said.

Agents were seen carrying what appeared to be weapons from two businesses, Gunsmoke Gun & Pawn and a dealer specializing in Wesley Richards rifles. The two businesses are owned by the same person, he said.

A third dealer, Gunsmoke Gun and Gold Exchange, also was raided, he said. It is owned by a second person.

Scott would not identify the owners of the three businesses.

Scott said about 100 agents were involved, including state and local police, the ATF and the Internal Revenue Service.

He said he didn't expect charges to be announced Tuesday.

Businesses in Marshfield and another in Mountain Grove also were raided Tuesday for alleged federal firearms violations, but Scott said those were the result of a separate investigation.

 

[Balog]

Forgive my ignorance, but *** are "sealed search warrants?" Is that like a "no knock" raid?

 

[cordex]

Balog,
I think that's warrants with undisclosed contents. In other words, they're not telling the general public what they were looking for (but the Judge still has to okay the items).
I may be wrong, though.

 

[Balog]

Sounds like more of the ATF's "Go in with blank warrants because you're sure to find some kind of violation. Even if you have to plant it yourself."

 

[geekWithA.45]

IIRC, A "sealed search warrant" was used during the raid of Jackson Games in the early 80's...I don't have time to google it right now.

Apparently, the federales knocked on the door, announced that they had a warrant, but that the owner wasn't allowed to see it, and proceeded to tear the place apart, mistaking the manuals for the role playing game "cyberpunk" for hacking manuals.

At least, that's how I remember it, and I don't know how it ultimately turned out.

 

[standingbear]

Must be something like "Super secret probation"

 

[Langenator]

Have these 'sealed warrants', and the evidence thereby obtained, ever been challenged in court?

IIRC, a warrant has to describe the premises/area/location to be searched, and the criminal evidence believed to be there. What is being searched for can be key: If the warrant says they think you have, say, illegal Gatling guns, the joint found in your jewelry box is illegally obtained, because, unless you've got a huge jewelry box, there's no way a Gatling gun could be in there.

 

[Fly320s]

A question about warrants:

Is the owner of the business that is being searched allowed to read the warrant before the officers begin the search? IOW, can the owner delay the search until he has finished reading the warrant?

Additionally, if the warrant is wrong on some piece of information, such as the owner's name, does the owner have recourse to refuse the search?

 

[Standing Wolf]

...a three-year investigation...

That's a lot of coffee and doughnuts at the tax payers' expense.

 

[zahc]

IIRC, a warrant has to describe the premises/area/location to be searched, and the criminal evidence believed to be there. What is being searched for can be key: If the warrant says they think you have, say, illegal Gatling guns, the joint found in your jewelry box is illegally obtained, because, unless you've got a huge jewelry box, there's no way a Gatling gun could be in there.

That's definately the way it should be, because it makes a lot of sense. That's also the reason it probably isn't the way it work. I don't know though.

 

[ballistic gelatin]

Anybody read "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" yet?

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Scott said about 100 agents were involved, including state and local police, the ATF and the Internal Revenue Service.

Douhgnuts. Krispy Kreme opened 3 new franchises just down the street

Why does it take 100 agents to take down 2 pawn shops? Seems to me that Barney Fife could have handled this one.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Followup on Steve Jackson Raid

http://www.sjgames.com/SS/

http://www.sjgames.com/SS/decision-text.html

 

[JohnBT]

Great. Just what we need, more (alledgedly) crooked gun dealers.

John

 

[Balog]

Hehe, I had forgotten about the Cyberpunk raids. I read about that years ago but I'd forgotten about it. Thanks for the info geek.