Emmett
Active Member
I went to my local probate judges offices recently to renew my firearms license which I have had for close to thirty (30) years. I have renewed it several times before. Every 5 years to be exact. I WAS TURNED DOWN!!!!!
When I went in to see the Judge a few days later to inquire why a man with NO< repeat NO criminal record would have been turned down for his permit I was told this!
It is the law that now a permit can be revoked or refused if the applicant has ever been arrested for a drug charge! NOT CONVICTED, just ARRESTED!
OK, here is the rest of the details. In 1987, some 19 years ago I was hunting in south Georgia. On Sunday afternoon I prepared to come home and my Jeep would not start. I needed to secure a part to fix it which I could not get that evening so I accepted a ride with a fellow who lived somewhat near me and agreed to give me a ride home. On the way home he was pulled over by a Georgia State Patrol officer who searched his car and found a bag of pot in his glove compartment! The officer arrested me and him and took us to jail. At jail I was told I would have to pay 330 dollars to bond out or stay in jail until the next day. I tried explaining that the shit was not mine and that I had only accepted a ride home with the guy. They would have no part of it and I can say they didn't give the slighest shit what I was saying. (Morgan County Georgia). Off to jail I went, you see I did not have 330 dollars CASH on me at the time. I was not allowed to call a bondsman, home or nothing. The next day a friend from work came to Morgan County with 330 dollars and paid my (what I thought was a bond), it was the fine.
I called Morgan County on many occasions after that to find out when my court date would be only to be told that noone could find any record of a charge against me. Over the years I stopped inquiring. Big mistake!!!!!!
My record still does not show a conviction, it just shows an arrest. That in itself prevents me now from being issued a firearms permit.
The amount of pot! Very Little
I had renewed my permit 3 times since those days and was asked each time by the Probate judge about that arrest and each time I would explain the story the same way I did you.
I am a law abiding citizen. I have NOT been convicted of a crime! Why are my second amendment rights being withheld from me? Well, it is because of a change in the law attached to Brady that states just an arrest for a drug charge (leaving out pot form the language) would disqualify someone.
Lets bare in mind this was 19 years ago. Even if I would have been guilty of carrying the 3 or 4 joints this guy had in his car, I think it a bit harsh to restrict someone's basic right to defend themselves against criminals, which is what a handgun is for. I already cannot carry a handgun in my truck (I've written about this before) to defend myself in sleesy truck stops and low budget areas I travel to.
Lets take this into consideration. A "right" should be non-negotiable! You can't take rights from law abiding citizens. I have never been convicted of a crime!!!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!!! How can a right be taken from me. Ones right to protect themselves is not a privledge license a drivers license.
What do y'all think? I can't wait to read what Gunny thinks about this scenario! Jeff, Kathianne, y'all chimne in, I would really like to know what you guys think about my little situation.
When I went in to see the Judge a few days later to inquire why a man with NO< repeat NO criminal record would have been turned down for his permit I was told this!
It is the law that now a permit can be revoked or refused if the applicant has ever been arrested for a drug charge! NOT CONVICTED, just ARRESTED!
OK, here is the rest of the details. In 1987, some 19 years ago I was hunting in south Georgia. On Sunday afternoon I prepared to come home and my Jeep would not start. I needed to secure a part to fix it which I could not get that evening so I accepted a ride with a fellow who lived somewhat near me and agreed to give me a ride home. On the way home he was pulled over by a Georgia State Patrol officer who searched his car and found a bag of pot in his glove compartment! The officer arrested me and him and took us to jail. At jail I was told I would have to pay 330 dollars to bond out or stay in jail until the next day. I tried explaining that the shit was not mine and that I had only accepted a ride home with the guy. They would have no part of it and I can say they didn't give the slighest shit what I was saying. (Morgan County Georgia). Off to jail I went, you see I did not have 330 dollars CASH on me at the time. I was not allowed to call a bondsman, home or nothing. The next day a friend from work came to Morgan County with 330 dollars and paid my (what I thought was a bond), it was the fine.
I called Morgan County on many occasions after that to find out when my court date would be only to be told that noone could find any record of a charge against me. Over the years I stopped inquiring. Big mistake!!!!!!
My record still does not show a conviction, it just shows an arrest. That in itself prevents me now from being issued a firearms permit.
The amount of pot! Very Little
I had renewed my permit 3 times since those days and was asked each time by the Probate judge about that arrest and each time I would explain the story the same way I did you.
I am a law abiding citizen. I have NOT been convicted of a crime! Why are my second amendment rights being withheld from me? Well, it is because of a change in the law attached to Brady that states just an arrest for a drug charge (leaving out pot form the language) would disqualify someone.
Lets bare in mind this was 19 years ago. Even if I would have been guilty of carrying the 3 or 4 joints this guy had in his car, I think it a bit harsh to restrict someone's basic right to defend themselves against criminals, which is what a handgun is for. I already cannot carry a handgun in my truck (I've written about this before) to defend myself in sleesy truck stops and low budget areas I travel to.
Lets take this into consideration. A "right" should be non-negotiable! You can't take rights from law abiding citizens. I have never been convicted of a crime!!!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!!! How can a right be taken from me. Ones right to protect themselves is not a privledge license a drivers license.
What do y'all think? I can't wait to read what Gunny thinks about this scenario! Jeff, Kathianne, y'all chimne in, I would really like to know what you guys think about my little situation.
