Connecticut gun dealer sentenced on federal gun charges

[depicts]

This from this evenings Boston Globe web site:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/co...er_sentenced_for_federal_firearms_conviction/

Gun dealer sentenced for federal firearms conviction
September 7, 2007

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. --One of the state's largest gun dealers has been sentenced to 42 months in prison on a federal gun violation.

Federal prosecutors say 62-year-old Frank D'Andrea of Shelton has been repeatedly cited by ATF regulators for violations of gun laws. In February, he admitted to possessing an unregistered destructive device. He pleaded guilty to one count of a 12-count indictment which charged him with possession of an unregistered 12-gauge Streetsweeper firearm.

He ran D'Andrea's Gun Case in Stratford which changed its name to Guns & Safes Unlimited and moved to Milford. Authorities say between January 2002 and December 2004, his store was the source of the second largest number of guns recovered in connection with crimes in Connecticut

At his sentencing in Bridgeport federal court, D'Andrea also was ordered to pay a $75,000 fin and serve three years' probation after his release.

 

[crushtheogre]

typical liberal media hype

Besides the fact the guy did screw up badly on paperwork and go to jail for it(I work in the business and actually know the REAL details of the case), it kills me that the media has to add "his store was the source of the second largest number of guns recovered in connection with crimes in Connecticut"
That's a riot! Not one of those "crimes" was used to bring charges against the dealer because THEY WERE ALL BOUGHT LEGALLY!!!

A large gun store in Bridgeport for 35 years, hmmm, at an average of 2000-3000 guns a year, with about 10-15 ATF traces coming back through the store for guns used in crimes, that's about .5 percent of guns bought legally(they still never proved or even tried to bring charges on these allegations) that were used in crimes. I worked in several other bigger gun stores in CT for the last 8 years and the pattern seems to be consistant. If the dealer did all the necessary and legal background checks, filed the paperworrk correctly, and used good judgement in what we call "dealer disgression"; then why does the media throw in the useless blurb of "his store was the source of the second largest number of guns recovered in connection with crimes in Connecticut"?

Oh yea that's right.....because they sell fear and not facts. But the vast majority of us already know that, but sadly we let it slide and let them say what they want.

It's like us calling a Bushy M4 an "assualt weapon", is it select fire? Then no it is NOT an assualt weapon, now is it? By the real defination it is not. But the media uses the terms automatic and assualt weapon to instill fear and democratic prejudice against gun owners at every chance. It sickens me as we take on their terms and bias without even knowing it.

Anywho, isn't it funny that about 5,000,000 dollars were spent to get one jail term of 42 months and put someone out of business(he sold everything he had to pay for legal defense, million dollar home, 3 businesses, 4 mil in gun stock and safes) and it all comes down to a bullshit charge on a streetsweeper that is only as effective as any semi 12 guage?
The case started with 74 charges. After 6 months it was down to 48(and they let him stay open the whole time), after a year it was down to 20, then 12, then 1.......How much REAL evidence did they have....oh yea it was a scumbag that worked for him that stole guns, sold them on the side, and got caught. And then he gave up FRANK. I bet he's a good DEM....

Frank went to court to fight for gun owner's rights on many occasions. He won valueable ground against the so-called assualt weapon ban in CT(which has never convicted a single criminal....). He stood while so many others cowered and gave in without a word. So many gun owners(and dealers) talk the talk but walk away instead of walking the walk. Unfortunetly his actions brought lots of attention and focus on his business to find a way to quiet him. Well they found a way.

42 months for a shotgun, we let drug dealers and murderers out in less time......

I am very sad even if he deserved it.
Paul

 

[Rob Boudrie]

I work in the business and actually know the REAL details of the case

Care to fill us in, oh enlightened one?

 

[depicts]

crushtheogre, it's good to hear a different perspective on this story.

It sounds like they wanted to get him real bad.

If what you say is true, it's a shame it's ruined a man's life, business and hurt our cause too.

 

[crushtheogre]

enlightenment

We sell an average of 9000 guns a year, do everything by the book(there arel 5000 laws in CT alone), check, double check, and finally triple check paperwork, background check through State Police who use the Federal system to check someone out, and of course use our own disgression to not sell to scumbags, straw buyers(people buying for someone else, usually with them), or whatever unsavory people might come our way. Of course we have to be careful because people are not always what they seem. A biker looking guy who acts suspious may just be having a bad day and actually has every right to buy what ever he wants. I hate to judge people but we have to watch everyone like a hawk. We still get a few ATF traces on handguns from time to time. If it's 45 then that's .5 percent, but's it's under half that. Whatever happens with the item once it leaves the store is the responsibilty of the buyer, not the seller. It's like car dealers being liable for crimes commited with a car bought from them, how ridicolous!! We should charge newspaper owners with malicious thoughts from their agenda being brainwashed into people by their bias and lack of ALL the facts.

Frank's store was in Bridgeport, a dangerous place by any measure. Being very close to NYC and rt 15 it was not uncommon for many to frequent the establishment who looked like thugs, acted like thugs, but had permits and good background checks so could buy. So what do you do- refuse to sell to everyone who looks a certain way? That would be 3/4 of the shoppers in that area, the majority were minoritys who came in a lot(as do most gun buyers). What a great way to get sued or shut down for discrimination.

Frank had a big mouth and made the AG look like an ass in court several times. I think they don't easily forget that. Everytime the media needed a gun store owner to show his strong beliefs in a course(albeit true!) manner(to stengthen their stereotype of the gun nut), they went to Frank and interviewed him. He loved the spotlight but probabely said way too much in front of the camera(as the rest of us NEVER do ).

People miss all this info when reading the silly papers because it is lost in translation, oh wait it was never recorded because then that might support some evidence to the contrary of the liberal agenda that legally bought guns commit all this crime. Liberals cause crime not people who are the most regulated part of society.

We should have recording devices that show all purchases any antigunner makes. Hmmm you mean a record of personal belongings, how outrageous!! Sounds like gun registration to me....

Paul

 

[Cross-X]

Details, man, we want the juicy details! C'mon Crush, share!