MILLER: Witaschek surrenders to D.C. police ‘Gun Offenders Registry’

[Oceander]

Washington Times

MILLER:  Witaschek surrenders to D.C. police ‘Gun Offenders Registry’
Businessman convicted of having unregistered muzzleloader bullets

Businessman Mark Witaschek submits to a mugshot for the D.C. Gun Offenders Registry at Metropolitan Police Department. March 28, 2013.

Mark Witaschek never had a firearm in the District of Columbia, but he is now on the city’s Gun Offenders Registry.

This bizarre case has drawn national attention because an upstanding citizen was tried and convicted of possessing unregistered ammunition for muzzleloader bullets, which are simply pieces of lead and copper.

On Friday afternoon, I accompanied Mr. Witaschek and his wife, Bonnie, to Metropolitan Police Department headquarters to abide by the terms of his sentence, which meant registering within 48 hours.

Immediately inside the front doors and metal detectors is the Gun Offenders Registry Unit, which has suddenly appeared in the same office space as what was the Firearms Registry Unit. A white piece of paper taped over the existing painted sign indicated the office switch.

“They label it ‘gun-offender registry’ to sound like a sex-offender registry,” Mr. Witaschek noted.

There were five uniformed officers and one plainclothes cop manning the unit. We were the only civilians. Mr. Witaschek quietly gave his name and said why he was there.

“We’ve been waiting for you,” said Officer Flores, which startled the Witascheks.

“We have emails about who is coming. We check off a list,” explained Officer Robinson.

The cops gave Mr. Witaschek forms to fill out, including the “initial gun-registry unit form” which asked for information such as name, address, height, weight, race, work, contact name and parole officer.

He had to sign into an old, thick hardbound book that was inscribed on the front “Gun Offenders Registry.” It sat on the counter between the cops and the public. I asked Officer Flores what the book was used for and where it was stored.

“You’ll have to file a Freedom of Information to know that,” she replied. I told her that I would.

Next, it was time for a mugshot.

Officer Robinson told Mr. Witaschek to stand against a white wall while she took three pictures with a point-and-shoot camera on a tripod.

During the registration process, Mr. Witaschek was repeatedly told by the police that the requirements of the registry didn’t apply to him, since he now lives in Virginia.

That’s why he filled out a form “Gun Offender Registry Requirements for Non-Residents,” that says that the District of Columbia Gun Offender Registry Law does not apply to people who don’t work, live or attend school in the city.

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[Oceander]

This bizarre case has drawn national attention because an upstanding citizen was tried and convicted of possessing unregistered ammunition for muzzleloader bullets, which are simply pieces of lead and copper.

So just how much further will this be pushed by the proto-fascists?  For example, someone going fishing will generally have lead weights in his tackle box and pennies containing copper (though not that much anymore) in his pocket; should be be arrested because those two items could be readily converted into muzzleloader bullets?

[mountaineer]

Insanity.   

[PzLdr]

Sorry, but I remember Mr. Witashek on FOX or some other cable show, explaining how he was going to trial because the law was illegal, the facts were bogus, etc. And he was correct.

BUT, to make the point, Mr. Witashek should have refused to pay the fine, refused to sign the registry, and forced the judge to send him to jail for the five days, or whatever. In the alternative, he should have asked for a stay of sentence pending appeal. He has now played ball with the gungrabbers. A reversal of his coinviction won't change that.

[Fishrrman]

[[ So just how much further will this be pushed by the proto-fascists? ]]

As far as they can go, until they are stopped.
You ain't seen nuthin' yet....

Aside:
Why didn't Mr. Witashek simply "get outta town" after his arrest?
To a gun-friendly state such as Montana or Wyoming?
Would the governors of such states sign an extradition order for a "crime" as bogus as this?

[Oceander]

[[ So just how much further will this be pushed by the proto-fascists? ]]

As far as they can go, until they are stopped.
You ain't seen nuthin' yet....

Aside:
Why didn't Mr. Witashek simply "get outta town" after his arrest?
To a gun-friendly state such as Montana or Wyoming?
Would the governors of such states sign an extradition order for a "crime" as bogus as this?

that would be the worst thing he could have done.  generally speaking, a state would be obliged to extradite him:  Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2:

    A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.