staghounds
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2007
- Messages
- 18
I'm not saying that you don't have a right to refuse to talk to them, or a right to slam the door in their faces.
What I am saying is that there are times when standing on those rights is stupid and likely to get you more difficulty. A search under a warrant, like a tax audit, is a very unpleasant and troublesome event and one to be avoided if it's practical.
One of those times might be when the agents come to your house and ask to see a specific, recently purchased gun or two.
The original question was "What do I do when that happens?"
Some of you seem to think that the questioner (the person who asked the original question in this thread) is an idiot, that he isn't capable of controlling himself enough to show them the guns and stop. I don't assume that.
I once read a book, written for people who had been arrested, which said that the criminal justice system is like a big industrial machine, full of gears and belts and sharp corners. And that once the machine grabs you, you don't know how it will deal with you or how you will look at the end of it. So it's best to get loose from it as quickly as possible.
There were never truer words spoken. Sometimes it's best to just be polite and comply.
And as to the Ed McMahon comment, about every other week I see a case where the first time a victim finds out that his house has been burglarized or his car stolen is when the police call to ask "Is this person supposed to be (driving your car, pawning your stuff, etc.)?" I had one today, actually. So it is entirely believable that ATFE agents or police officers would be there to return property.
And finally, sometimes it's plain jackassery. If the agents are there to recover stolen guns, what kind of jerk are you to refuse?
Sure, there are plenty of times when I might slam the door. But to give that as the blanket, every time response is foolish.
What I am saying is that there are times when standing on those rights is stupid and likely to get you more difficulty. A search under a warrant, like a tax audit, is a very unpleasant and troublesome event and one to be avoided if it's practical.
One of those times might be when the agents come to your house and ask to see a specific, recently purchased gun or two.
The original question was "What do I do when that happens?"
Some of you seem to think that the questioner (the person who asked the original question in this thread) is an idiot, that he isn't capable of controlling himself enough to show them the guns and stop. I don't assume that.
I once read a book, written for people who had been arrested, which said that the criminal justice system is like a big industrial machine, full of gears and belts and sharp corners. And that once the machine grabs you, you don't know how it will deal with you or how you will look at the end of it. So it's best to get loose from it as quickly as possible.
There were never truer words spoken. Sometimes it's best to just be polite and comply.
And as to the Ed McMahon comment, about every other week I see a case where the first time a victim finds out that his house has been burglarized or his car stolen is when the police call to ask "Is this person supposed to be (driving your car, pawning your stuff, etc.)?" I had one today, actually. So it is entirely believable that ATFE agents or police officers would be there to return property.
And finally, sometimes it's plain jackassery. If the agents are there to recover stolen guns, what kind of jerk are you to refuse?
Sure, there are plenty of times when I might slam the door. But to give that as the blanket, every time response is foolish.
