Philadelphia Policeman Killed by Gun Traced Back to SC

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins, III, stated that Jason Allen Mack, age 29, of Dalzell, South Carolina, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment today by United States District Judge Cameron M. Currie on federal firearms charges. Mack pled guilty last January to illegally possessing two firearms, and making a false statement to a firearms dealer to buy them.

Mack admitted buying a number of guns from pawn shops in South Carolina and selling them to Stephen Lashley, who in turned transported them to Philadelphia. Lashley faces federal charges in Pennsylvania for illegally transporting firearms across state lines and the possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

One of the guns purchased by Mack in Lancaster, South Carolina, and then sold to Lashley, was used to kill Philadelphia policeman Patrick McDonald last September. Federal agents and Philadelphia police are investigating the shooting case to determine how the alleged shooter, Daniel Giddings, obtained the weapon. Giddings was shot and killed by Philadelphia police officers responding to the McDonald shooting.

Mack is an admitted drug user, and is prohibited by federal law from possessing or purchasing firearms.

The case in South Carolina was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), engaged in a joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney, Robert C. Jendron, Jr., of the Columbia office was assigned to prosecute the case.

FLORENCE FELON FACES FEDERAL CHARGES

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced today that a Federal Grand Jury charged Shawn Altego Cato, age 25, of Florence, in a four-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on October 22, 2008, and committing the following federal charges on December 11, 2008: felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

The maximum penalty Cato could receive is life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Florence Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence Office, as a part of Project Cease Fire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office targeting gun crimes.

BENNETTSVILLE MAN FACES FEDERAL GUN CHARGES

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced today that a Federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment against Brian Sentell Brand, age 29, of Bennettsville, South Carolina, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The allegation stems from Brand’s armed stand-off with police last December on Lawson Street in Bennettsville, during which an individual was shot.

The maximum penalty Brand could receive is life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bennettsville Police Department, Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence Office is prosecuting the case as a part of Project Cease Fire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office targeting gun crimes.

Columbia Man Sentences to 151 Months for Gun Thefts, Drug Charge

COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that JOSHUA JUSTON SEIBLES, age 24, of Columbia, was sentenced in federal court to 151 months imprisonment for stealing and possessing firearms, and to possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it. United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour imposed the sentence, which will be followed by three years of supervised release.

In March of 2007, Columbia gun store Wateree Arms was burglarized and numerous firearms and boxes of ammunition were stolen. The investigation led authorities to Seibles’ residence, where they recovered many of the firearms and ammunition, and also located a stash of marijuana. Seibles admitted to breaking into Wateree Arms, stealing the firearms and ammunition, obliterating the serial numbers of many of them, and selling ten of the firearms on the streets. Seibles, who was on state probation at the time, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition based upon prior state convictions for burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

The investigation was handled by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the prosecution of the case.

Are guns the Answer?

Kerri Houston of Regular Folks United suggests in her article that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai would not have occurred or been as deadly had citizens been armed.

Here's a snippet:

Last spring, while preparing for their murderous attack on Mumbai, ten terrorists dutifully took their driver's licenses and proofs of residency to their nearest gun licensing office to ensure that their rifles and handguns were legally registered with the appropriate authorities.

Seriously? Of course not - its ludicrous. Criminals don't stand in line to register weapons, and neither do terrorists. Only the law abiding do, unless - as in the case of India - they can't.

Although private gun ownership in India is allowable by law, bewildering licensing restrictions, bureaucratic red tape, and government policy that makes guns and ammunition prohibitively expensive renders gun ownership unattainable for most people- and provided the Mumbai terrorists unfettered access to their victims.

In fact, gun licensing is so difficult in India that even security guards don't have guns. When the terrorists entered the Mumbai train station and the Taj and Oberoi-Trident hotels, none of the guards were armed. Instead, they are issued bamboo sticks, a traditional Indian defense tool called a "lathi."

Read the full article here. What do you think? Could armed citizens have countered the terrorist? Could it have created more causalties?

2nd Amendment Preserved

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold the individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense and hunting.

Link to ruling to come.