S
ecurity Information Publicly Disseminated

Monday, July 18, 2011

Castaway: A Fish Story


The ATF and local Florida law enforcement went after a private gun seller, Hugh Crumpler. Local and national news media as well as ATF describe Hugh as an international arms smuggler, NOT TRUE.  Hugh was described by people that have known him as “grumpy” and  “A codger on a good day” but certainly not a gun smuggler.

Mr Crumpler a lifelong fisherman and an expert in Chug Bugs, Poppers and Spinner Baits not a smuggler. Hugh’s Bio. indicates that he is quiet the fisherman and if I was a Large Mouth Bass i would be petrified.


Hugh Crumpler is a Professional Bass Fishing Guide and a Tournament Pro. Hugh Crumpler has been involved in bass catching for more than fifty years and full-time pro fishing for more than fifteen. Hugh has been on many national TV programs and hosted his own regional TV program " The Bassin Coach Show". When he was asked what his most regarding fishing accomplishment is Hugh responded with: "It has been watching and participating in my clients catching more than 400 bass over ten pounds. Hugh Crumpler is sponsored by the industry's leaders in professional quality tackle, gear, and equipment. From fine trolling motors & outboards down to the line between the lure and the fisherman, Hugh endorses nothing but the best.

Hugh also has a charter service in southeast Florida. No bass fishing guide in Florida has more satisfied clients or more catches over ten pounds than angling pro Hugh Crumpler. Clients quite commonly catch between 30 and 50 bass a day, and even 100+ days happen regularly. For the ultimate in professionalism and value, spend your next Florida fishing trip with Hugh Crumpler on the legendary Stick Marsh & Farm 13!

ATF officers Routinely go undercover and enter gun shows posing as buyers with the intent of stinging a seller. Most of the time they come up empty or catch a minnow in a bad sale. This time ATF was thinking they caught a big fish. After spying on Mr. Crumpler for a few months ATF made there move only after they considered Mr. Crumpler’s sales to significant enough for a longer Jail sentence. A big part of the Hoopla surrounding this case was the fact Mr Crumpler 
was selling The FN-Five-seveN@ pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal  and distributed by FNH-USA. The five-seven has been publicized by ATF as a “cop killer” and that the pistol fires a “rifle bullet” capable of penetrating a bullet resistant vest. First of all the pistol and ammunition was designed to be used by law enforcement and Military. The pistol is completely legal and commercially available. The ammunition for the pistol that is currently available to the general public is not capable of penetrating a Level II bullet resistant vest. The “rifle bullet” assertion is extremely misleading, currently there is only one rifle that i am aware of that has been designed to fire the 5.7 x 28mm ammunition and it is in limited production. Any pistol ammunition can be fired from a rifle if the the rifle is so designed.

Modified weaponry is one of ATF’s common Umbrella terms that falls into several categories such as AOW  (any other weapon). These AOW weapons according to ATF must be registered and require you to pay a $200.00 tax and the weapon with be listed by serial number and description along with your finger prints and photograph with ATF’s NFA (National Firearms Act) data base. For example if a optional grip is attached to a pistol then it is now considered an AOW weapon because it can now be fired by the use of two hands. This is ridiculous, any firearms instructor will teach a two handed pistol technique.

The weapons that Mr Crumpler was accused of selling where short barreled rifles or AOWs. By looking at the ATF provided photograph it can be assumed that the AR styled weapons in question where purchased as pistols and a butt stock was attached. Under the current law this is illegal, how ever the sale of the butt stock is legal and the sale of the AR style pistol is legal. If Mr Crumpler sold the two items separately then it would have been legal. He may have done that and the ATF may have attached the butt stocks themselves thus bolstering there case?
As far as the weapons being sold at a gun show. A private sale of a weapon at a gun show is completely permissible under the laws of Florida. Section of the rule included hear.
Florida has no law generally requiring a background check on the purchaser of a firearm when the seller is not a licensed dealer.  However, the Florida Constitution permits counties to adopt laws that would require such background checks for sales occurring in or on "property to which the public has the right of access" within the county. The Florida Constitution states that, "[e]ach county shall have the authority to require a criminal history records check…in connection with the sale of any firearm occurring within such county. The term "sale" under this section "means the transfer of money or other valuable consideration for any firearm when any part of the transaction is conducted on property to which the public has the right of access. Concealed weapons permit holders are not subject to these laws.

Florida does not explicitly regulate gun shows, although retail sales of handguns at gun shows are subject to the state’s mandatory three-day waiting period.  In addition, the Florida Constitution permits counties to enact ordinances requiring criminal history records checks and three to five-day waiting periods in connection with the sale of any firearm occurring on property to which the public has the right of access. See the Florida Private Sales and Florida Waiting Periods sections for more information.

In a September 20, 2010 article By Amy L. Edwards of the Orlando Sentinel Mr Crumoler’s attorney was quoted as saying “Crumpler's gun hobby was a situation that clearly got out of hand for him." and "There was no criminal intent on his part," The attorney went on to say. "He is a person who wants to help the government … not someone who wants to help criminals."
The Bass fishing pro is a Vietnam veteran who also once worked as a teacher and football coach testified, and said his interest in guns began when he inherited two guns from his father. He sold one of those at a gun show. This apparently gave birth to Mr Crumpler’s cottage industry and entrepreneurial spirit he said, he had the need for more guns. He sold some weapons, and then bought more. Mr Crumpler said he never expected to make so much money from selling the firearms.

The press release from the ATF quoted an agent as saying that 1000 weapons have made there way to Porto Rico and Honduras due to the sales that the Bassmaster was involved in. If the ATF was so concerned about the weapons circulating around the Caribbean and south America then they would have an operation round up and retrieve all these guns. They won’t do that because they don’t give a dam about dead Porto Recons, Hondurans or Mexicans. This operation and others like them are justification for more restrictions and a way for the Democratic political machine to beat on there moral chest and declare a victory for liberalism.

No comments:

Post a Comment