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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Empty Shell Casing: $1,000 Fine, One Year In Jail

No, not in North Korea or Jamaica, but Washington, DC:
Washington police are operating under orders to arrest tourists and other non-residents traveling with spent bullet or shotgun casings, a crime that carries a $1,000 fine, a year in jail and a criminal record, according to a new book about the city's confusing gun laws.
"Empty shell casings are considered ammunition in Washington, D.C., so they are illegal to possess unless you are a resident and have a gun registration certificate," pens Emily Miller in her investigative book, "Emily Gets Her Gun: ... But Obama Wants to Take Yours."
Under the law, live or empty brass and plastic casings must be carried in a special container and unavailable to drivers. Having one, for example, in a cup holder or ash tray is illegal.
Yes, an empty shell casing is so dangerous!  Why, you might be driving down the street, pull out your reloading equipment, prime it, load the powder, squeeze the bullet in, and be ready...to do what?  Throw it at someone?

Sebastian at Shall Not Be Questioned recounts the story of what happened when the maintenance guy somewhere he used to work found an empty 9mm casing, and caused an astonishing overreaction.  I keep waiting for evidence that someone in Washington DC has a working brain.

2 comments:

  1. I think that's prima facie evidence that they *do* have working brains. They want to make having guns so expensive and dangerous, that people just don't risk it. Laws like this are very effective at achieving that goal.

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  2. I concur with Rob. A Congresswoman from NY that is a leader of the gun ban agenda was on CNN back in Dec/Jan after the Connecticut massacre and she was really big on ammo taxes and regulation.

    There is a segment that is smart enough to realize that going after ammo is the most likely way to be successful at achieving the eventual limiting of gun rights. I see them as the most dangerous!

    How many people are going to be priced out of being able to shoot a gun or become proficient at practicing with the ammo prices we have these days? Even if you can find reloading components the prices are darn high especially with brass. $30+ for 100 brass cases is common these days.

    The days of sub 30 cents per round of center-fire factory ammo is likely just about gone for ever--certainly much harder to find it even in the low quality import stuff for that low or less. I think the average is more like ~.50 per round these days for most of the common calibers these days. Hunting rifle calibers are darn high too.

    And then there is much of the magnum ammo and defense "hot" ammo is closer to $1 per round if not more!

    Shooting is less affordable then ever!

    There's even more scary regulations they will never give up on until they get it through.

    I'd like to know what the legislative and case law is with respect to ammo, etc. Is it also covered by the 2nd amendment like the actual firearm? I assume it is less protected. If that's the case then there is much to worry about.

    No doubt this is driving at least some of the record ammo sales.

    Then there are storage laws and regulations around possessing powder, ammo, etc....a nightmare!

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