What gha mean ? Protect and serve themselves.. biggest mistake was making them heros and putting them on a pedestal. Went straight to there heads ..
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Target practicing in woods; in Trouble NEED HELP!
- Thread starter Surefire
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Public (state or federally owned) land is all managed for different purposes and each area has their own rules. If you were out on public hunting lands during hunting season with unapproved means, they can write you up for that. There are a few different ways this can go. I wish you luck.
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This makes a really good case for only having a limited number of guns with you when you're shooting. I know that when I drive out into the forest to shoot I usually take several, but up until now I'd never really considered the possibility of having them confiscated.
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... well put! Couldn't have said it better myself! Actually trying to get out of this blue sheeple state for I can't stand it anymore.. it's getting worse & worse!
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Good luck my friend. They take cash, guns and cars. Even property. Even if they don't charge you. It can take years.
My buddy lost a classic 68 Chevelle to forfeiture in the 80's. No charges were ever filed. He requested his vehicle back. They said it was lost. Spent thousands trying to find it. In 2023 he found it at a classic car auction in Albuquerque. It had been kept in a police impound garage for 40 years and sold to fund police programs. He hired another lawyer and is still trying to get it back.
I lost a .22 target rifle the exact same way. A woman was shot through the wall in her house. They rounded up 4 guys they found shooting in the area and took their rifles. One if them was me. I was about 15 when that happened. I never got that rifle back.
In Albuquerque if the cops take your gun you need the ORIGINAL PURCHASE RECEIPT to get it back. Even if the judge demands they release it. Unless you have the ORIGINAL SALES SLIP you will never get it back. Even recovered stolen guns they will often hold for a receipt.
I hope you prevail. It happens daily and it shouldn't. But that's just the way their game is played.
My buddy lost a classic 68 Chevelle to forfeiture in the 80's. No charges were ever filed. He requested his vehicle back. They said it was lost. Spent thousands trying to find it. In 2023 he found it at a classic car auction in Albuquerque. It had been kept in a police impound garage for 40 years and sold to fund police programs. He hired another lawyer and is still trying to get it back.
I lost a .22 target rifle the exact same way. A woman was shot through the wall in her house. They rounded up 4 guys they found shooting in the area and took their rifles. One if them was me. I was about 15 when that happened. I never got that rifle back.
In Albuquerque if the cops take your gun you need the ORIGINAL PURCHASE RECEIPT to get it back. Even if the judge demands they release it. Unless you have the ORIGINAL SALES SLIP you will never get it back. Even recovered stolen guns they will often hold for a receipt.
I hope you prevail. It happens daily and it shouldn't. But that's just the way their game is played.
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I thank God I didn't take out my heavily modified Bulldog.357 as well as my .30 LCS-SK19... But I wouldn't have anyway for they're big & geared more towards long range shooting & hunting. I took out my "new Dreamline compact" that made into the tactical version with folding UTG stock & FFP strike eagle 5-25x50 scope still paying for.. as well as my Notos that had a nice Lazer & Trijcon Mro HD with 5x flip 2 side magnifier! SMH. Im about to grab something else small & compact in the meantime.. didn't want to brake the bank but was looking into a Fx Pantera compact hunter, or the new Dynamic compact in .25 if it has the bigger 115 plenum that's found on the other .25 & larger bore Dynamic's... Also like the Brocock Commander XR .25 as well as the Raw HM1000x.. they're all around same $ 1500 or so give or take a few hundred bucks... There's also the Raw Micro Hunter, but I'd rather have the option of power when if needed, than not. Not sure if the micro hunter can be modded besides the aluminum bottom to CF... If the power can be upped a bit by way of modding than I'd go after it in a heartbeat, perhaps some1 could chim In to help me decide... ...or I could wait this out for months without another small powerful compact air rifle.. ...I didn't think I can wait that long tho lol. Thanks for all the help & support! -SF
That's just insane! If that happened to my 1980 Z28 Bored, (original 350 Stroked to a 383), balanced & blueprinted... Completely restored I think I'd probably would be in jail by now! Even my Harley 100th gen Sportster 1200 screaming eagle stage 3! I'd go bonkers! I can't imagine/fathom what your friend went through! Sorry to hear truly! I'm not going down without a fight & Yes @Firewalker I will be doing everything that you mentioned! Thank you for that advice! Thank you all! I'll keep you all updated. When I get the summons in the mail I'll post it or read off the charges to let you guys know what's going on. Thank you again -SF. Oh & yes I have all of my receipts to all of everything that they took! It's sickening the total is over $4,000 worth of stuff I'm sick to my stomach even typing this! But this is not going to stop me from having fun and doing it right this time to make sure that I'm not on or where I shouldn't be! Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law this I know but I really did think that I was okay or I was before I've been going to the same spot for years. Just unlucky day...
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In some states it illegal to target practice in the woods during hunting season. Some it’s illegal period. I believe you are leaving out a key issue. And that issue is what got your stuff confiscated and now the investigation. Turned your power down, doesn’t matter. Low targets and rock backstop, doesn’t matter. All irrelevant because of the key issue. Hopefully you can work it out that you can pay your fines and get your stuff back. If not, some lessons are very expensive. Especially if they’re making an example out of you.
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I would like to say thank you for your service and hopefully you get your gear back. Unfortunatly there are alot of over zealous unlawfull officers who seem to always be on a powertrip and out for personal gain. I hope all of your gear isnt being enjoyed by your friendly L E O . Best of luck my friend
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12.04: Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties - Generally
(5) No person shall have possession of or discharge any firearm or pellet gun in violation of the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth.
(6) No person shall discharge any weapon that discharges projectiles including, but not limited to, bow and arrow and crossbow, unless such items are being utilized for hunting in compliance with laws and regulations governing such activities.
Number 6 sure reads like target shooting is not allowed in Mass. state parks.
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Lawyers, as with doctors, have individual areas of interest and expertise. Don't hesitate to ask about relevant experience. This is probably not an area that has generated a lot of legal precedent, so finding someone who has been involved in it might be worthwhile. A local gun club might offer a referral.
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If this is the case...then a simple explanation from the officers would have been good enough. And then escort you off the property. Seems someone got their panties in a bunch.
Sorry but being a combat vet as well, there is no way they would have taken my guns. Would have been on the phone myself with my CCW lawyers. Seems a bit over zealous if you ask me. Keep on them and call them as much as you can stand to ask what is going on. Don't let them think you forgot about your property. I mean we do have a constitutional right against illegal search and seizure.
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Well said. Yes I do believe I am in the wrong. I should have checked (better) I did go online & saw that it was only illegal in Massachusetts to possess a pellet gun; being under 18, to fire across railways, out in public streets, or committing a crime ... It was very vague. But it seemed to rule out anything about me being in the woods doing it so I "thought" I was fine to see if it was illegal to target shoot in the woods closest to my house. Need time looks like I'll have to go to a real gun range... Not sure if one can bring an air rifle to one. For I never saw anyone bring one when I usta go when I got out of the Core. I probably would have laughed @ it back than (early 20's) but now especially that @ age (turning 40 next year) hindsight is 20/20 20 years ago lol, if you know what I mean. Thank you for your input. -SF
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Wow that's an idea
I didn't even think of that! My lawyer is in his 70's & has never seen anything like it! This an awesome idea. I'll be on phone tomorrow, or looking around online.. maybe we even have someone on this site who's into our sport. Or perhaps a lawyer who just follows this site to pick a case up.. would be a smart idea for one to do so.. ...but absolutely going to follow up on your advice as to finding someone who knows/specializes in this issue! An airgun law expert would be ideal tho. If there's any of such. Ty, -SFUpvote 0
Yup, I'm definitely screwed on that. That's what they have on me.. can't deny it. How to get off doesn't seem to apply, was caught red handed so to speak. ... definitely feeling that pit in my stomach getting worse... ...I also know if found guilty my airguns will be "Destroyed" as the State Trooper said... Fu*k!
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For some reason airgun guys just do what they want. Not all, but a large percentage. Shoot stuff out of season, shoot in unsafe directions and shoot places that you really shouldn’t be sending projectiles with that kind of heat behind them. I guess because they aren’t loud or a powder burner, we think they are exempt. But stories like yours help to remind us that we need to be mindful that Airguns are way more popular now and we are no longer little Timmy with his BB gun that nobody pays attention to.
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He was on the phone with his Superior for almost 20 minutes on what to do. So that explains it. His commanding officer went and pulled out that law statue & red it to him over the phone...
Im a "never say die" person, & will have to fight it. I have no choice especially when I'm going to receive a summons in the mail.. it just seems that they won this fight before it even started due to my negligence. Now I may have made a very big ever and took a really big financial hit! On both ways now lawyer of fine not to mention my property etc! After that I am fighting this anyway! Even though it seems like a losing battle. That's all it wasn't Afghanistan and how! Thank you for that I needed that little pep talk! Especially after reading that Law statute!
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Correct, not to justify for sure. I just don't have a big back yard & am limited to where I can go. I always put safety first. But I just made a mistake. I also put a friend in trouble do to my negligence. This is not a good feeling to have. I've finally been getting better over returning home from combat with all that comes with it. Losing brothers & taking life... That will never fully go away...now I put someone @ risk who also has young children to take care of. This definitely a back step in everyone who looks up to me for their safety, & overall well-being. I also just fought for over 10 years & spent over 100G'$ to my child safe... I guess fun is out of question as we age. We'll dependent on one circumstances that is.. ty, SF
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my suggestion find a place to live that is more conducive to your lifestyle.
At the rate my state is growing, there are a lot of people doing just that
At the rate my state is growing, there are a lot of people doing just that
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