He went almost a year before his bucket sprang a leak.
Dressed in his camouflage T-shirt, Gary decided to take a little outdoor shooting practice Saturday. He set up a white plastic bucket in the backyard, and began firing. This caused something of a stir in the neighborhood, and 911 was ringing with reports of gunfire. Multiple officers responded, and a perimeter was established. The police response was complicated by misinformation Gary provided upon our initial contact. There had been no mysterious drive by shooter, also wearing camo, as he had claimed. Further investigation revealed the true story. After officers located the shiny shell casings and the perforated bucket in the back yard, the truth emerged and Gary fessed up. He was cited for discharging a firearm within the city limits.
Lest you think he lives in a secluded spot, here's the aerial photo of his neighborhood.
Gary got his gun permit, but we now have his gun. His Colt Defender .45 ACP semi-auto pistol was seized as evidence. Hopefully, if he's convicted, the State will see fit to revoke his concealed carry permit. Oh, by the way--we found several spent shell casings, but only one hole in his bucket.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
ReplyDeleteWhats the point of having a concealed carry permit if you can't fire it in the city? Let alone on his property. It's a slippery slope, Chief.
There's a shooting range open every day, up on Hartley, but he had to just pop a few off in the neighborhood. Here's the thing, if you hadn't mentioned that he had a CHP, there would have been no prohibition against releasing his name, would there?
ReplyDeleteImpersonating a PO should be a felony in Nebraska, but no one sees fit to lobby for that law change in this state (like it is in some others), but if it was a felony, the state wouldn't have given him a CHP in the first place. Maybe I'll pen a note to my legislator suggesting it.
Looks like Havalock area
ReplyDeleteanonymous@March 31, 2008 6:16 AM
ReplyDeleteYou aren't seriously making the argument that a people ought not have the right to regulate the use of firearms in densely populated areas, are you? It would be one thing if he had been firing off shots in a custom-built basement firing range. But in a backyard, in the middle of a city, where one poorly aimed shot or unpredictable ricochet could end a life? If the Second Amendment could talk, it would strongly suggest you look elsewhere for your source of outrage.
No, Mr. Wilson, I think that 6:16 was engaging in some extremely lame Floyd R. Turbo-esque parody of gun owners, or gun owners as they view them. I suspect the poster is a Brady Bunch (as in Sarah Brady) type.
ReplyDeleteThey might have instead asked, "What's the point of Grand Island Police having firearms if they can't shoot each other in the chest?" Fortunately, the Officer wasn't seriously injured. Or, they might have asked the same thing regarding reserve officers in Gary, Indiana - that officer wasn't so lucky.
Both incidents were negligent discharges (quality guns don't just go off "accidentally"), serious screw-ups by those who (allegedly) were professionally trained in the use of such devices. However, those statistical anomalies would be shaky ground on which to base an assertion that LEOs shouldn't carry or use firearms.
@ Anon 6:16 - it gets worse - What is the point of having a concealed carry permit, if by using your concealed weapon in a life threatening situation to defend yourself, you are breaking the law? I definitely agree discharging a firearm within city limits (aside from a range) should be illegal for the reasons Mr. Wilson outlined. Simply too dangerous to allow any kind of leeway in an urban environment. However I sure hope there is some sort of provisions for those legal CCW carriers who DO use it to defend themselves in a potentially deadly situation.
ReplyDelete@ the chief - is there any significant cases since CCW was implemented last year in NE, where someone with a permit has shot (or killed) in self defense?
In reality, this story has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he was a CCW holder... it is perfectly legal to open carry in NE and if he was in his own yard with his own gun he can run around with it all he wants. It doesnt' sound like he was trying to hide his handgun from the neighbors or anything. So again CCW had nothing at all to do with this. The guy is just not the brightest bulb in the fixture.
"So again CCW had nothing at all to do with this."
ReplyDelete"The guy is just not the brightest bulb in the fixture."
Uhh, I'm obviously not the Chief here, but I think you just made his point. We've got numbskulls running around with CCW permits who are obviously stupid enough to be popping of their .45 in their backyard located a dense neighborhood. What else is this moron capable of?
Right, I understand what has been said about the loopholes, allowing people to get the permit that maybe shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteBut I guess my point is that this particular incident would have happened whether he was a permit holder or not.
Thanks for pointing that out for me, P.O.
Times have changed. In my youth I remember riding horses and hunting.. I went to hunter safety classes. I attended rifle club. It was a school activity back then. Imagine that. Guns at school. In the early eighties the state took over the boys home that I lived at. Now those days are gone. No hunting. But the boys still ride horses. I also remember when several LPD officers would take youth from the city and go to the range and shoot. I am sure because of the "fear" that our world breeds that this is a thing of the past. If high risks kids have more of a chance to be responsible it would help them. But today the opportunities are most a thing of the past. Distrust has replaced individual responsibility and accountability. I would guess some LPD folks would volunteer to have gun saftey classes for at risk kids. Give those kids that come from CRAP homes a glimpse of the good peoples world and keep up the work that you do in the schools...thats better than nothing
ReplyDeleteMy entire point is that I think we're being too harsh on the guy. No one was injured. It was just an innocent man, proven by the Board of Pardons, who wanted to do some recreational target practice. Nothing more.
ReplyDeleteToo harsh on the guy??? Seriously??? He was cited for discharging a firearm in the city limits, he won't get the death penalty for that. He was firing a .45 in a dense neighborhood. If a person can't see the inherent danger in that, then I guess I just don't know what to say.
ReplyDeleteFloyd R. Turbo showed up again, I see. These parody types show up on the LJS forums too, just trying to provoke a response from those who (for some reason) take them seriously. It worked, obviously.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he was defending himself from an old guy going to get his knife sharpened or some pirates and accidentally hit the bucket with one shot.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness he was using a less than desirable gun!!! Junky 1911 :-)
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, if this guy was shooting in that backyard of his residence he is an absolute knucklehead, and should have his permit revoked. Of course nothing is to stop him from legally carrying the firearm in the open.
IF..... He is a CCW permit holder, I would think that the LPD officer would have picked up his permit, as the permit holder would no longer meet the requirements to hold a CCW permit, and LPD could bring an application for revocation to the County Attorney.
NE statute requires that a permit holder has no violations of any firearms laws for the previous 10 years. Of course he would first need to be found guilty of this charge (discharging a firearm in city limits), to have his permit revoked.
On a similar knuckleheaded note.... If a Police Officer left his duty gun unattended... say, under a bus bench, and say hypothetically.... a homeless guy picked it up and carried it around for a day... would the officers privilege to carry a firearm be revoked????
Junk? Did he call the 1911 Junk? Where's Jeff Cooper?
ReplyDeleteChris, you mean a transient that was also a convicted felon? Oh that case. I don't know about you, but I'm always fully aware of where my firearms are at all times, and they're too pricey to just give them away like that.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Chief, during your long career, have you had more loaded guns pointed at you by criminals, or by other LEOs that didn't exercise proper muzzle safety (on the range and so forth).
Chief, I think what you mean is "Jeff Cooper is rolling over in his grave."
ReplyDeleteI'll take all those "junky" 1911's off your hands Chris. With a few hours fitting, polishing and tuning they can shoot on a par with a Gold Cup. That is in the right hands LOL.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I find funny is the number of people in the World that think they can instantly become an Ace shot by throwing on a pair of camo pants and jacket.
Good call on Jeff Cooper Chief. I had the pleasure of seeing him shoot at a range in Oklahoma City in the 1970's. What a magician with a handgun.
Gun Nut
Anonymous 5:48-
ReplyDeleteAlright, already. Then where is Massad Ayoob?
"Floyd R. Turbo"? Wow. You're old.
ReplyDeleteMassad........ He carried a Glock on duty :-)
ReplyDeleteJust threw in that 1911 comment to get a rise out of a certain officer I know that reads this blog!
Don't start sicking the ghost of Jeff Cooper on me!
Back in the 80's we had J. D. "Buck" Savage short films in the academy. Anyone remember him?
ReplyDeleteI'll take one of those 'junky' 1911s over anything.
I'm a little disappointed that a goob like Gary has a permit to carry in Nebraska, but my Kansas permit is not recognized by the State. The good news is, our law was written so this moron wouldn't be issued a permit in our state in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThis whole post is about gun control and how the Chief of Police hate guns in civilians hands. He is a bleeding liberal who opinions are based on bad intelligence and hysteria instead of facts. Just look internally at the Police Department and you will see the real truth.
ReplyDeleteHis real name and address are in the Journal Star today.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon 5:31 AM. The Chief may be all for gun control, I don't know, that is a question for him.
ReplyDeleteHowever when there are idiots like the man shooting at a bucket in his backyard in a densely populated neighborhood every law abiding gun owner suffers.
I was fortunate to have a Father and Uncles that taught me how to shoot and handle firearms. I have to wonder how a gun owner in his sixties has made it to that age without accidentally shooting himself. What I really find funny in the whole affair is the fact that out of 7 or 8 rounds there was only one HOLE in the target. WOW, what marksmanship. LOL.
Gun Nut
After talking to my neighbor I have to write this letter to the editor. It is not a nice one but a true one as we see it. I have to say that LPD is doing a poor job when it involves drug arrests. How many years has it been with a large drug bust and compare that with how many drug users are found every day. Where are the sellers? LPD gets several and says it puts a dent in the trade. You gottah be nuts to think it puts a impact on any drugs in this city. My kids can get more drugs in this city than you will find at the corner drug store. Some Lincoln people will take as truth any information LPD feeds them. The political vermin who lead those misinformed people to think this is progress are full of air (what they are really full of I can not print). With the exception of an every ten year small bust, Lincoln is a great place to do the business of dealing drugs. I point to that fact by how easily available drugs are. I support that by pointing out how few Narc Officers LPD has and the RARE bust that LPD gets to boast to the media. Don't even get me started about the Mayors slum prevention program. This city needs a Mayor who will fund the Police department like it is important and quit the political grandstanding. It is of no fault of the Police or the Chief that the funds are not available for aggressive enforcement.
ReplyDeleteChief. I am curious to know your take on CCW. Do you support or oppose it? I myself support it for the fact that I can not have a police officer in my pocket 24/7...but I can have a 9mm. Curious as to your stance on this issue.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:59
ReplyDeleteYou'll get no argument from me that there is a healthy drug market in Lincoln. We have to work with both the Constitutional law and with the resources we are provided to combat drugs. I'll take more help any day.
But do you really operate under the misconception that drug arrests by LPD are rare? We made 2,137 last year, and around 35 Federal indictments. A day rarely goes by that you don't read about a conviction or a few convictions in the daily court records.
I realize that nowhere close to every case makes the news, and perhaps you just missed these two other major cases last week.
Anonymous 1:26
I was not in favor of the bill when it was in the Nebraska Legislature, because of a variety of loopholes like those detailed in A hole in his bucket, and Gary got his gun permit. It makes no difference now. It is the law, and I support the law.
Just out of curiosity, who makes the final determination if a candidate receives a CCW permit in Nebraska?
ReplyDeleteCan you prove if that hole was there before or after the shots fired? I don't believe that he could hit the bucket, even if a pirate was holding it on its head.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness this goober didn't harm anyone. Maybe the CCW permit process needs to be tweaked, but then I remember Alaska and Vermont, where no permit at all is required. Hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteMaybe a law banning stupidity might work?
I find it strange that some get all panicky at the thought of honest folk carrying a concealed weapon but don't seem to be bothered at all by the prospect of those same people buying all the cold offsale beer they like.
State statute has the final say (aka "shall-issue", if you aren't statutorily disqualified), but the CHP is signed by (well, not signed, but their names are on it, in tiny print) Col. Tuma (NSP Commander) and Gov. Heineman.
ReplyDeletePlease, a ban on stupidity? We'd need lots more jails and 1000% more cops to enforce that law.
ReplyDeleteEnough with the pirate jokes already. It's not funny anymore.
ReplyDeleteJ.D. "Buck" Savage on DWI enforcement..."Saw drunk...arrested same". I have to say the best "Buck" Savage video was the rookie episode when "Buck" was explaining safety in approaching a vehicle stop...opend his passenger door and rolled completely down the hill...quite an example. "Buck"..AKA Dave Smith of LETN is still alive and kicking but now I think he's with Line of Duty. Aaahhh the good 'ole days
ReplyDelete