On 11/13/2013 5:17 PM, John H wrote:
On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 07:57:05 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 11/13/2013 7:44 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 11/13/13, 7:38 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 11/13/2013 7:18 AM, John H wrote:


The idea that a cop could search, warrantless, your home and this
would be acceptable is
unfathomable.


John H. -- Hope you're having a great day!




I agree that a search of your home without a warrant showing probable
cause is unfathomable. The sneaky thing about this selectman's proposal
is that the authorization for the cops to search is tied to your permit
to own firearms. In other words, you don't agree .. you can't legally
own a firearm. To me, his idea is that in order to qualify for a gun
permit you must give the police permission to enter and search your home
ahead of time.

If there is a local law requiring guns to be locked up safely, how is
that law to be enforced?

Here's an idea:

If you have a gun and it is supposed to be locked and a kid gets his
hands on it and shoots himself or someone else, *you* go to prison.

Or, if someone steals a firearm and you don't report it right away, you
go to prison.



Those are already distinct possibilities. You can be charged for
negligence and for not storing the firearms in the prescribed manner by law.

This will **** off the Tea Party types here, but I would not object to
an inspection of my firearm storage. If a cop knocked on the door
right now and asked if I voluntarily agreed to him coming in and
checking how my guns are stored, I'd say, "Come on in".


That's fine, but suppose you *didn't* feel like having your house inspected? Should there be
consequences?


No, not under current law that requires a warrant and probable cause.
However, the point I was making about the selectman in Shrewsbury is
that it appears to be an attempt to further restrict gun permits. If
you don't agree to inspections up front ... no permit.



Who here do you consider a 'Tea Party' type - anyone who disagrees with the idea of warrantless home
searches?

John H. -- Hope you're having a great day!


The "Tea Party" and it's followers is such an emotionally charged issue
that I'll keep my opinions in terms of who here support it to myself.
All it causes is hate and discontent. We don't need any more of that.

I will say that some here present opinions and philosophies that are
stronger or closer to those of the Tea Party than others, at least the
way I interpret them.

I don't necessarily disagree with everything the Tea Party represents
either, BTW. I strongly disagree with the manner in which they have
tried to push their causes however.