VERY Disturbing MSI Email

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Status
    Not open for further replies.

    DD214

    Founder
    Apr 26, 2005
    14,080
    St Mary's County
    In case anyone isn't on the MSI mailing list, this is from the latest. Reading this made me feel physically sick. This is straight up police state stuff, and someone could have been murdered by the police had it gone down a little differently. This has got to stop. Something HAS to be done.

    Hello Henry.

    I just wanted your organization to know what Our State Police are up too. The incident below happened to me, a legal gun owner in La Plata, Maryland two nights ago (August 4, 2008 at 12:30 PM). Next time, they won't get in without a warrant. You live and you learn. Below, is the e-mail I sent to Mr. Chris Contee NRA, Chief Counsel at his request. I know I'm not an isolated incident so I hope your members keep their doors locked.

    Dear Chris,

    It was great to speak with you today by phone. Sorry but also glad you are so busy with our legislative matters. What would we do without you and the NRA?

    As I told you by phone, my Wife and I were unfairly besieged late last night by the Maryland State Police. I have also relayed this occurrence to "Citizens Group for the right to keep and bear arms". I believe they are in Seattle Washington. Enclosed is my summation for your review. Good luck on your trip and safe travel.

    Last night at 12:30 pm a MD State Police "Armed Response Team" showed up at our door. I was dead asleep, my Wife was laying some ceramic tile on our basement floor when our driveway alert went off several times. She looked at the camera monitor and screamed that Police in Assault gear were running up to our front door. That made me sit straight up from a dead sleep.

    We thought they were there for my Brother in Law who had just been mailed Bench Warrants to our home, but he doesn't live here and he is already incarcerated, so my Wife opened the door for them. Then I heard one of them say he had some papers for me or needed to speak with me,so I got up to speak with them 6 or 7 officers in full assault vests, etc. and NO ONE in uniform. Four heavily armed police came into the house while at least two others walked around outside of our home.

    One, began to talk to me asking me about the types of weapons I own. Remember now, I was just startled from a dead sleep and I kept asking why are you here, why do you want to know about my guns? Every gun I bought in Maryland I bought from a MD Dealer. Well this Trooper said that I had purchased a "large amount" of ammunition recently and wanted to know why. When I questioned why he was asking, then he changed his tune to what type of Handguns I had. I told him I just purchased my first handgun in Maryland last week, but had not even picked it up from the Store . He questioned me about other handguns I might own and I realized that he was "fishing" to match his list of my ammunition purchases with handguns that I owned. Then I told him about my C&R license that I had purchased 2 with that but was not required to register them with ST. Police. Moreover, I told him it was the MD. ST. Police who approved me as a "designated collector" so why are they here in storm trooper fashion at 12:30 pm maybe to kill me because I legally bought some handgun ammo? He told me that most of the ammo I purchased was for weapons that they had no record of me having registered so the "SYSTEM" Flagged me. Flagged me for what? Death, Harassment at midnight by 7 Storm Troopers?

    I asked, "... does your system know that it is stupid to buy ammo with your own ID if your are going to do something illegal, Does your system know that I have a C&R and can buy weapons of various calibers without your knowledge, Does your system know that you yourselves registered me as a designated collector, who "collects" so it is not unusual for me to buy any type or manner of ammunition and finally, Does your system know that it is NOT illegal to purchase handgun ammunition in the State of Maryland whether or not you own that caliber handgun?"

    The Trooper (plain clothes), had a list of ammo calibers that he referred to and I agreed, there's no secret that I bought the ammo, but so what? And I'm still not sure of the States definition of a "large amount". Look, I'm not outfitting a Militia, hate group, or giving it to someone who can't buy it, or even buy ammo for a stolen weapon I don't want to register. Any weapon I have every owned has either been purchased at a Gun Store or I personally knew the individual I bought it from and its origin. And, last time I looked it is not illegal to buy handgun ammo, even if you don't own the caliber weapon OR you don't own a weapon at all !! So unless the law is changed, Police cannot harass people who do so.

    That being said, the young Trooper told me I "should" voluntarily register all my weapons or this would happen again... because the "system" flagged me. And another thing, he kept asking where I kept my weapons, in a safe? I never answered him and he asked me three separate times as to the locations of any weapons I might have. I got the distinct impression he wanted me to voluntarily let him see/inspect the handguns for the calibers I bought ammo for, but I was ready for that. No warrant, no see. I mean, I would hope you could trust the Police, but why should I let six or seven or so strangers know where I keep guns? If indeed I had the calibers he was inquiring about?

    The point here though, is that Police came to my home without a warrant, dressed to kill, trying to intimidate me about something that is NOT illegal !! This was not an Interview it was an interrogation under duress.

    Funny the last thing he said to me before leaving was "... Mr. Curtis, sorry to have HARASSED you, you have a good night." Now that struck me as an odd thing for a Police Officer to say, especially if he was justified in doing his job. The last thing I'll say was that Trooper was courteous and having worn the badge, he and the team were sent by someone else, they're just following orders. However, whoever sent them to my home at 12:30 at night left a very bad taste in my mouth and NO ONE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES TO ME NOR DO I KNOW THEIR NAMES. But rest assured they WERE the Maryland State Police. Word has it that there is a Special "Firearms" squad within the State Police and they have been asking gun dealers to keep a log of people who purchase handgun and other regulated weapon ammunition by making them show ID and signing their name when purchasing ammunition (not required under Maryland Law). Their MVA / DMV information is put in the log by the FFL Dealer right beside the ammunition you buy. Then once a week they (Police) come back to the stores pick up the logs of ammunition purchases and as in my case, they are comparing handgun ammunition purchases against known handgun registration files. This practice was first started by the Howard County or Baltimore City Police (I believe), and the MD State Police adopted this tactic as well. Perhaps it works, some criminals are stupid enough to purchase ammunition with their own ID. I am not a criminal nor am I stupid, but I was duped into signing those ammunition logs, without the FFL Dealer advising me that it is NOT mandatory or disclosing the log's true purpose.In fact I was told that if 'you' refuse to sign this ammunition log, the Dealer will refuse the sale. I will NEVER buy ammunition from that Dealer again.

    We've contemplated moving back to VA or even go down to Florida for a while. But that was yesterday. Now there is nothing that will hold us back from moving back to a "Free State". Or at least a State where subversive tactics are not practiced by the Police.

    FYI: I have been in contact with Attorney Chris Contee, NRA Legal Council and He/NRA is very interested in this case. Hopefully this Tactic can be publicized, excised and stopped.

    Sincerely

    Don Curtis
     

    Norton

    NRA Endowment Member, Rifleman
    Staff member
    Admin
    Moderator
    May 22, 2005
    122,853
    I gotta tell you, it gets harder and harder to refrain from using profanity these days.

    Remember guys, this COULD and MAY happen to any one of us.
     

    Norton

    NRA Endowment Member, Rifleman
    Staff member
    Admin
    Moderator
    May 22, 2005
    122,853
    This is EXACTLY why I pitched such a bitch at the Cambridge Wal-Mart over their illegal collection of personal data for ammo purchases.

    The government has no business being involved in our legal purchases.
     

    DorGunR

    R.I.P.
    Mar 7, 2007
    1,259
    Severn
    I gotta tell you, it gets harder and harder to refrain from using profanity these days.

    Remember guys, this COULD and MAY happen to any one of us.

    Hmmmmmm................why am I not surprised???

    EDIT: At least they didn't shoot his dogs ..............this time.
     

    Norton

    NRA Endowment Member, Rifleman
    Staff member
    Admin
    Moderator
    May 22, 2005
    122,853
    Between this and the Berwyn Heights debacle, even I'm becoming jaded with some of the agencies in this state.
     

    txiyo

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 18, 2008
    1,705
    I better go buy a "large amount" of ammo now. BTW, what is a large amount of ammo? what ever the police think is too much for you to have?

    I didn't know there was such a thing. I have thousands of rounds, but most are because I have so many .22's.
     

    hughmon

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 5, 2008
    1,630
    I'd like to what the definition of a "large" amount is as well. When I to my Glock 19 out the first time and 100 rounds though it, my wife thought that was a lot. Maybe I am cynical, but I get the feeling that a "large" amount of ammo is what you happen to have on hand when your number comes up in the magic MSP Harassment lottery.

    Have there been other incidents such as this?
     

    Adams74Chevy

    Hits broadsides of barns
    Oct 3, 2007
    2,699
    Carroll Co.
    I better go buy a "large amount" of ammo now. BTW, what is a large amount of ammo? what ever the police think is too much for you to have?

    I didn't know there was such a thing. I have thousands of rounds, but most are because I have so many .22's.

    it's abritrery (sp?) just like the rest of the "gun laws" in this free state :mdpatriot
     

    Splitter

    R.I.P.
    Jun 25, 2008
    7,266
    Westminster, MD
    My guess is that the victim here got onto somebody's radar. Maybe it was because he belonged to a cetain group. The ammo thing was merely an excuse for the intrusion.

    I won't ever give my personal info to anyone unless I have to, especially where ammo is concerned. PA, VA, and even WVA are not that far away.

    FWIW, at the Walmart in Frederick, I was asked if the .22LR and .22 Mag ammo I was buying was for a rifle or handgun. Apparently they are starting the same BS. The Walmart in Westminster does not ask....at least on my last trip there for ammo.

    I would suggest that we start a list of which stores ask for personal info and which do not. That way, we can avoid the ones that do and support the ones that do not.

    To anyone who would ask, "why do you care?"....because it's none of their damned business.

    Also, I will never again buy "Magnum Condoms" because I do not own a gun of that calibre either...or at least I do not want to have to show it to a bunch of police in assault gear :).

    Splitter
     

    Adams74Chevy

    Hits broadsides of barns
    Oct 3, 2007
    2,699
    Carroll Co.
    FWIW, at the Walmart in Frederick, I was asked if the .22LR and .22 Mag ammo I was buying was for a rifle or handgun. Apparently they are starting the same BS. The Walmart in Westminster does not ask....at least on my last trip there for ammo.
    ...Splitter

    Splitter,

    I purchase ammo at both the walmarts in frederick once a month or so, the first time I was asked if it was for rifle or handgun I stated rifle, what difference does it make, they tell me it's because of the lovely md law that if your under 21 you can't buy handgun ammo, and they just look to verify if your 21 if you say handgun, just like at a liquor store, no book of names and dl#'s.
     

    Bang

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 3, 2008
    1,113
    Baltimore Co.
    Wish we could find out where he got the ammo that turned him in. Would be nice to spread the word about places like that.
     

    Houndkeeper

    Gardez Bien
    Jeeeeez. It is hard for me to imagine, but it could happen, to have these dudes banging down my door at midnight. I am a female that happens to by guns twice a year.......does that raise their eyebrows? Lordy.
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,921
    Messages
    7,258,988
    Members
    33,349
    Latest member
    christian04

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom