Your Government At Work...GRR...
A long time ago, I sold a pistol to a buyer on Gunbroker. He sent his payment and a FFL copy, so I shipped the gun. Some months later, I got a phone call from an assistant U.S. Attorney regarding the transfer. Seems the buyer (not the FFL dealer) was buying guns and re-selling them illegally. The U.S. Attorney made a case against the buyer and is now prosecuting him. He requested that I send him copies of all documents relating to the transaction and a notarized statement, in hopes that the judge would accept those documents in lieu of direct testimony. So, I sent him what he asked for.
Then, I got another call. Bad news. The judge would not accept the documents in lieu of testimony. Now, they want me and other dealers to travel several states away to testify in U.S. District Court. They gave us less than a week's notice. I told the attorney that their plans were causing me and others a great deal of inconvenience. Seems we had some training planned and I was scheduled to be out of town during the same time for a Colt armorer school. I told the attorney to get me a subpoena, and I notified the other people at my PD affected by these events. The class was already paid for, so we assigned another officer to go in my place, and did some other juggling.
Then, I got another call. Sorry, but we don't need you in the week previously mentioned, and we may not need you at all. Seems they now realize that the witnesses have not had much notice, and they have requested a continuance, and the case may even be dismissed. Great. Well, the changes have already been made, so we will leave everything as is. I didn't really want to go to the school anyway, since it was away from home and in a city that I don't like much. So, changes were made, I was staying home, and other people were inconvenienced.
Then, I got another call. Now they do need me in court, and will be re-contacting me for travel arrangements. Now, I am irritated. I told the attorney that I MUST have an official subpoena, or I am not going anywhere. I also will have a plane ticket, a reserved rental car, a paid-for hotel room, and a per diem for meals. I also told the attorney that I was having to burn up MY vacation time to go, plus I was missing time at my second job for which I have no vacation, so there is no way this trip is not going to cost me money, even if the government does cover all my expenses.
I haven't heard back, and the trial is set to begin next week. I guess I could sit here and wait for the U.S. Marshal to come get me and escort me to court, but then they would have to buy two plane tickets.
If the government's case preparation has been as efficient as the treatment of their witnesses, the suspect is going to walk.
Then, I got another call. Bad news. The judge would not accept the documents in lieu of testimony. Now, they want me and other dealers to travel several states away to testify in U.S. District Court. They gave us less than a week's notice. I told the attorney that their plans were causing me and others a great deal of inconvenience. Seems we had some training planned and I was scheduled to be out of town during the same time for a Colt armorer school. I told the attorney to get me a subpoena, and I notified the other people at my PD affected by these events. The class was already paid for, so we assigned another officer to go in my place, and did some other juggling.
Then, I got another call. Sorry, but we don't need you in the week previously mentioned, and we may not need you at all. Seems they now realize that the witnesses have not had much notice, and they have requested a continuance, and the case may even be dismissed. Great. Well, the changes have already been made, so we will leave everything as is. I didn't really want to go to the school anyway, since it was away from home and in a city that I don't like much. So, changes were made, I was staying home, and other people were inconvenienced.
Then, I got another call. Now they do need me in court, and will be re-contacting me for travel arrangements. Now, I am irritated. I told the attorney that I MUST have an official subpoena, or I am not going anywhere. I also will have a plane ticket, a reserved rental car, a paid-for hotel room, and a per diem for meals. I also told the attorney that I was having to burn up MY vacation time to go, plus I was missing time at my second job for which I have no vacation, so there is no way this trip is not going to cost me money, even if the government does cover all my expenses.
I haven't heard back, and the trial is set to begin next week. I guess I could sit here and wait for the U.S. Marshal to come get me and escort me to court, but then they would have to buy two plane tickets.
If the government's case preparation has been as efficient as the treatment of their witnesses, the suspect is going to walk.
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Sounds like a typical prosecuting attorney! 0 -
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on them to actually need you. A few years back I was involved in a similar deal. I had bought some gun frames from a non-dealer off GB. The BATF guy said he would appreciate me not selling them as they may be needed for evidence. I gave him a price to purchase them as I didn't want to keep my money tied up. Never heard from them again. 0 -
Gov't 'tards. 0 -
You gotta learn to screen your calls. 0 -
use your answering machine 0 -
don't answer phone & leave a message on your answering machine that you are on an extended vacation & cannot be reached by phone & have hired a house sitter 0
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