So would ANY of the anti-gun supporters' proposed laws worked in this case? How many laws were broken? - Granite Grok

So would ANY of the anti-gun supporters’ proposed laws worked in this case? How many laws were broken?

Gordon Potter weaponsFrom the UL (reformatted, emphasis mine):  Warner felon caught with silenced sub-machine pistol, drugs

A car stopped by police for weaving along Route 28 on Thursday led to the arrest of a Warner man on parole who had a silenced sub-machine pistol, a shotgun and drugs.  Gordon Potter, 35, was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail following his arraignment on Friday morning in 10th Circuit Court—Salem Division. Potter was charged with felon in possession of firearms, being in possession of heroin and prescription pills, and making a false report to law enforcement…

During the conversation, the detective spotted a large hunting knife tucked into the side of the seat next to Potter. Police said that Potter became upset with the detective and refused to comply with commands. That prompted several back-up units to respond to the parking lot, police said. Police said officers found a small amount of heroin and prescription pills in Potter’s possession. Potter gave police a false name, but he and Drouin were taken into custody without incident, according to police. Officers searched the car and found a Kel-Tec 5.56 silenced sub-machine pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun in the vehicle.Deputy police Chief Shawn Patten said the type of weapons – especially the silenced pistol – drew concerns from officers given Potter was a convicted felon.

Let’s count the ways:

  1. Potter is already a felon – he broke a serious law to get that tag.
  2. Felons aren’t supposed to have guns.  Period.  He did.
  3. Did he undergo the background check to have an NFA device (the silencer)?
  4. Did he undergo the background check to have another NFA device, a submachine gun (automatic, vs semi-automatic; more on this later)
  5. Had a controlled substance with him: heroin
  6. Had other controlled substances with him: prescription pills
  7. Concealed weapons – a knife, the Kel-Tec, and the shotgun (was the latter loaded?)
  8. Had an active parole violation warrant out against him
  9. Gave police a false identity

OK, it is CLEAR that he didn’t bother with a background check at all if the Kel-Tec and the shotgun were new.  If not new, then did he pose as a person that was legally able to purchase a gun (that would be ANOTHER law broken)?

Sidenote: and how SURE is the author of the article (who shall remain nameless) that the pistol IS an automatic weapon?  Which if it is, and it does look like a PLR-16, that would probably be ANOTHER law broken – modifying it into an automatic outside of the legal path.

So, would a Universal Background Check have worked?  Right, felons aren’t always the brightest bulbs but most would not go that route, I reckon.  So much for that.  Mental Health issue check?  Not really.  Besides, he’s already on the “can’t buy” list if he tried to go through NICS.  Ditto for the NFA stuff.  So it is obvious that NOTHING that we have heard from the antis would have worked.  And if I knew someone was a felon, no WAY would I sell a felon a firearm – but another “shady” person might.  You know, the type that wouldn’t do background checks either.

So what would have worked?  Nada, zip, nothing.

I do take exception to Deputy police Chief Shawn Patten’s remark:

“Your normal hunter or sportsman doesn’t carry these kinds of weapons in their trunk,”

Er, gosh, that’s where my shotgun goes (unloaded, of course).  And I know that AR-15 pistols are growing in popularity and I bet those that have them wouldn’t have a second thought about putting them in their trunks.

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