Video: 1M,43S. ATF gets convictions for gun smuggling.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.kens5.com/news/ATF-cracking- ... 38964.html


The above video is 1 minute, 43 seconds long, and is out of San Antonio's KENS 5 TV News.

The ATF is cracking down on illegal gun smugglers. They have gained a conviction against
a 25 year old man who sold a machine gun (model unspecified) for $1400.

SIA

[seamusTX]

Something about this story reeks.

Machine guns that can legally be bought by non-LEO civilians in the U.S. cost upwards of $10,000. The only way that someone could acquire one and sell it for $1,400 is by theft or converting a legal semi-automatic.

The video showed a momentary glimpse of what looked like a legal document stating "machine gun."

I can't find anything about this story on other sites, neither the AFT or FBI.

I have to think that Mexican "drug lords" could get better prices overseas. I've read that AK-47s sell for less than $100 in places like Afghanistan.

Here's a story about a similar bust in Colorado: http://www.atf.gov/press/releases/2010/ ... sives.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[chabouk]

Horrible writing. NO evidence of a "machine gun", nor any "illegal guns". Illegally bought or sold, perhaps.

The ATF agent did make the point of saying "AK-47 type of gun" (although they almost clipped off the last part). And of course the camera zoomed in on the "MILITARY & POLICE" as if that was some legal restriction, not a model name.

[WildBill]

The ATF agent did make the point of saying "AK-47 type of gun"... the camera zoomed in on the "MILITARY & POLICE" as if that was some legal restriction, not a model name.

I noticed both of these, too. Obviously they were trying to get in some subliminal message to the viewers.

[srothstein]

I just wanted to point out that the ATF did not need to show any evidence in this case. The defendant pled guilty. That means he admitted that he sold the illegal machine gun for $1400. If the defendant admits the crime and pleads guilty, how can any of us even ask for more evidence from the ATF than that?

[seamusTX]

People plead guilty to things they didn't do all the time.

The government must have had evidence against him, but we may never know exactly what. They had enough evidence to get an indictment.

If the defendant's lawyer told him that the plea bargain was better than what he might get from a trial jury, the defendant would probably take it.

I still think the accusation of selling a machine gun smells like a bait bucket.

P.S.: I think the government considers parts that could convert a semi-auto to full-auto the equivalent of a functioning machine gun. I don't know much about that area of law.

- Jim

[shootthesheet]

This was an engineered story to try to convince people Mexican violence is caused by guns being smuggled into Mexico from the U.S. . That is a lie and the story confused the few self-loading guns smuggled from the U.S. with automatic weapons and explosives being bought on the international black market by criminals in Mexico.

These “news” stations seem to be trying to convince the people of the same lies Obama and his friends in D.C. are about smuggled guns. Is it possible they are doing the same thing on other issues too? Maybe like TEA party people, Arizona laws, healthcare, bailouts, banks, insurance companies, etc.?

[joe817]

This was an engineered story to try to convince people Mexican violence is caused by guns being smuggled into Mexico from the U.S. . That is a lie and the story confused the few self-loading guns smuggled from the U.S. with automatic weapons and explosives being bought on the international black market by criminals in Mexico.

These “news” stations seem to be trying to convince the people of the same lies Obama and his friends in D.C. are about smuggled guns. Is it possible they are doing the same thing on other issues too? Maybe like TEA party people, Arizona laws, healthcare, bailouts, banks, insurance companies, etc.?

Notice how the Federal Law Enforcement official(ATF agent in charge) refers to the gun you are looking at as a "machine gun" and not "a fully automatic weapon". Shirley, someone who's supposedly an expert in weapons violations and enforcement would refer to an M4 as a "fully automatic weapon" instead of a "machine gun".

Obviously catering to the anti-gun crowd, and grossly bias against the 2ND AMENDMENT of the U.S. CONSTITUTION. Getting the facts straight SHOULD be a prime objective of ATF. But that is not the case. I would LOVE to fully support them, in stopping ILLEGAL arms smuggling. But something is terribly wrong....and I don't understand why. I am a law abiding, loyal citizen of the U.S. but I feel like I am being oppressed by the very people who should be encouraging my/our Constitutional Rights. That used to not be the case......my how times have changed. *sigh*

[chabouk]

Going back to the report, I listened carefully to make sure that what I thought I heard the first time was actually true. And it was: Patlan was convicted of "helping to facilitate" the sale of the "machine gun", in exchange for $1,400.

He didn't sell a machine gun, not for $1,400 or any other price. It sounds like he was busted for collecting a transaction fee, or finder's fee. In short, he hooked up a buyer and seller, and had nothing to do with the actual transaction.

[Griz44]

I have an idea of how to slow the illegal traffic way down!

We return all of the ILLEGAL Mexicans back to Mexico. Build that fence we have all been talking about for several years, and protect the border with the Phalanx system. Anything on the border moves, rip it apart. Nothing crosses the border "illegally" - guns or otherwise. They want "machine guns"? Let's give them some!

[wheelgun1958]

I have an idea of how to slow the illegal traffic way down!

We return all of the ILLEGAL Mexicans back to Mexico. Build that fence we have all been talking about for several years, and protect the border with the Phalanx system. Anything on the border moves, rip it apart. Nothing crosses the border "illegally" - guns or otherwise. They want "machine guns"? Let's give them some!