ATF agents search home of Atlanta rapper
ATLANTA (AP) -- Rapper T.I. was arrested Saturday after federal officials said he paid his bodyguard to purchase machine guns and silencers for him and arranged to pick up the weapons just hours before he was to take the stage at the BET Hip-Hop Awards being taped blocks away.
The arrest Saturday afternoon was the result of an investigation that began earlier this month when a federal firearms licensee contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives about a man inquiring about purchasing a machine gun without registering the weapon as required by law.
After attempting to purchase several machine guns from an undercover ATF agent, the unnamed individual began cooperating with the government and said that he was buying the machine guns and silencers for Clifford Harris, T.I.'s given name. According to the bodyguard, he had purchased approximately nine firearms for T.I. and the rapper had given him cash to buy guns on four different occasions.
Harris allegedly brokered the deals through the bodyguard because he is a convicted felon. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to have another person purchase or acquire firearms on their behalf.
As the BET Hip-Hop Awards were being taped in Atlanta tonight, federal authorities were executing a search warrant at T.I.'s home. He was expected to perform at the show and was nominated in nine categories.
ATF Documents: http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=104675&provider=top
The arrest Saturday afternoon was the result of an investigation that began earlier this month when a federal firearms licensee contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives about a man inquiring about purchasing a machine gun without registering the weapon as required by law.
After attempting to purchase several machine guns from an undercover ATF agent, the unnamed individual began cooperating with the government and said that he was buying the machine guns and silencers for Clifford Harris, T.I.'s given name. According to the bodyguard, he had purchased approximately nine firearms for T.I. and the rapper had given him cash to buy guns on four different occasions.
Harris allegedly brokered the deals through the bodyguard because he is a convicted felon. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to have another person purchase or acquire firearms on their behalf.
As the BET Hip-Hop Awards were being taped in Atlanta tonight, federal authorities were executing a search warrant at T.I.'s home. He was expected to perform at the show and was nominated in nine categories.
ATF Documents: http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=104675&provider=top
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another rapper down the tubes[:)] 0 -
This is racist injustice!!!! This is GW Bush's Fault!! 
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We should all support this man. The second amendment clearly states that he is allowed to own any and all firearms. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mlincoln
We should all support this man. The second amendment clearly states that he is allowed to own any and all firearms.
+10 -
I don't understand why he tried to purchase them illegally. He's a famous rapper, and therefore (I assume) he makes more money than me. Why not just purchase the legal necessities to own these types of weapons?
Or does that diminish his street cred as a gangsta?0 -
quote:Originally posted by callktulu
I don't understand why he tried to purchase them illegally. He's a famous rapper, and therefore (I assume) he makes more money than me. Why not just purchase the legal necessities to own these types of weapons?
Ignorance. You would be amazed how many people ask me if I have all my firearms licensed and if my AR-15 is legal and so on. I mean, a gun owner here in CO, who's lived here for number of years and just retired from USAF thought firearms have to be "registered". Ignorance is scary.0 -
quote:Originally posted by callktulu
I don't understand why he tried to purchase them illegally. He's a famous rapper, and therefore (I assume) he makes more money than me. Why not just purchase the legal necessities to own these types of weapons?
Or does that diminish his street cred as a gangsta?
Mainly because he is a convicted felon, so no matter how much money he has he still is not allowed by law to own a firearm, especially class 3 firearms.0 -
The man IS NOT allowed to own any firearm. He is a CONVICTED FELON.
On June 1, 1998, HARRIS was convicted of a Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act in the Superior Court of Cobb County, and received a sentence of 7 years probation. HARRIS has additional arrests and at least one probation violation for unlawfully possessing firearms.
Fellow gun owners, we should not say we should support him 100% and back him up because the 2nd says "shall not be infringed". There are some people who should not own firearms...and a convicted felon who has clearly shown a lack of regard for civil law is one of these. Harris and his bodyguard knew they were breaking the law by not only possessing but also by committing STRAW PURCHASES.
Sorry...but as a LAW ABIDING gun owner and hunter, I cannot defend the actions of this man. He is a felon...he shouldnt own firearms. He has not completed his sentence in order for his rights to be restored.
Along the same lines, would you say a child molester who completed his/her prison tem be allowed to become a primary school teacher or day care worker???0 -
No problem..All we gotta do is pass some more laws, and he won't do it again.... 0 -
Medic, what we need to do is make people go through a back ground check to own keyboards, use the internet, own printers in any form. Who need their first amendment rights either? It is for the childerens saftey after all.
Poeple that break laws should be put in prison and do the time. Those people should NOT be released if they are not fit to be among society again. However if they are released they are a free citizen then and are ENTITILED to the rights of a free person. You are either free or your not. You don't ever get a little pregnant do you?0 -
Freemind,......I understand what you are saying, but this guy is still a felon, and "serving" his sentence.
He was given probation, that was his sentence, even though he is walking around, "free".
When his probation was up, and no violations, he should be considered a free man.
This is how our judicial system works today,.......not everyone sits in a prison cell.
Guess that might be a mighty big probation violation, huh?
I'm really upset for him![}:)][;)]0 -
"Medic, what we need to do is make people go through a back ground check to own keyboards, use the internet, own printers in any form. Who need their first amendment rights either? It is for the childerens saftey after all.
Poeple that break laws should be put in prison and do the time. Those people should NOT be released if they are not fit to be among society again. However if they are released they are a free citizen then and are ENTITILED to the rights of a free person. You are either free or your not. You don't ever get a little pregnant do you?"
-freemind
Yep.
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by freemind
Medic, what we need to do is make people go through a back ground check to own keyboards, use the internet, own printers in any form. Who need their first amendment rights either? It is for the childerens saftey after all.
Poeple that break laws should be put in prison and do the time. Those people should NOT be released if they are not fit to be among society again. However if they are released they are a free citizen then and are ENTITILED to the rights of a free person. You are either free or your not. You don't ever get a little pregnant do you?
That has always been my thinking, but,if you get convicted of driving over the legal limit more than once.... You're screwed for life... Sad.
Jeff0 -
Whether or not a person has been convicted of a felony or is in prison is irrelevant. The second amendment clearly states that all people at all times regardless of circumstances should be allowed to purchase any firearms they want.
Does this, in the most extreme cases, mean that prisoners should have access to firearms? Yes, it does. It will make the jailer's job difficult and will require the jailer to go armed, but it is only by adhering to our rights in the most difficult situations that we protect them in the most mundane.0 -
quote:Originally posted by mlincoln
Whether or not a person has been convicted of a felony or is in prison is irrelevant. The second amendment clearly states that all people at all times regardless of circumstances should be allowed to purchase any firearms they want.
Does this, in the most extreme cases, mean that prisoners should have access to firearms? Yes, it does. It will make the jailer's job difficult and will require the jailer to go armed, but it is only by adhering to our rights in the most difficult situations that we protect them in the most mundane.
i hope your joking
i don't see how any of you could support this idiot rapper 1 bit, regardless he broke the law that all of us law abiding citizens follow, it is idiots like this that gives the brady bunch the ammo they need to take our guns away, he is a CONVICTED FELON he was buying unregistered class 3 weapons, it is not like he is a member of a gun range and was buying a rifle for target practice or hunting0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sturmgewehr
This is racist injustice!!!! This is GW Bush's Fault!!
BEST POST OF THE DAY AWARD ! ! !0 -
Imagine that, a rapper is a convicted felon. And trying to get illegal class 3 guns to boot. I'm not suggesting that anyone do it but it is easy to find out how to convert your legal semi to full auto and do it yourself but you're a complete and total idiot if you do it. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
Freemind,......I understand what you are saying, but this guy is still a felon, and "serving" his sentence.
He was given probation, that was his sentence, even though he is walking around, "free".
When his probation was up, and no violations, he should be considered a free man.
This is how our judicial system works today,.......not everyone sits in a prison cell.
Guess that might be a mighty big probation violation, huh?
I'm really upset for him![}:)][;)]
its been 9yrs since his arrest, the 7yrs is up0 -
Freemind / joker
I agree that in MOST cases once you do your time you should be able to get your rights restored...that is one of those fine lines that we as a civilized society must walk. He was given 7 years probation, however it appears in the sworn deposition of the agent that he violated/broke that probation somewhere along the way and therefore may still have not completed his sentence.
As I said, not EVERY person should get the right to keep and bear arms reinstated. My wife and I have a girlfriend who had a very abusive boyfriend...to the point that he pulled a pistol on her and stated he would kill her before he ever let her leave him. He is now on the 2nd year of a 3 year sentence. Would I like to see this a-hole get his right to own a firearm again? Not on your or our friends life!!
I am not for any new gun control laws, instead I think that we use the penal codes that are on the books and that make sense and abolish those that do not.
We all know that criminals will still get guns to commit crimes. I just prefer that they have to get them illegally. Otherwise, we will have the anti crowd using the stats of "legally purchased guns used in violent crimes" against us. Right now the numbers are fairly low for the number of legally obtained guns used by violent criminals.0 -
quote:Originally posted by mlincoln
We should all support this man. The second amendment clearly states that he is allowed to own any and all firearms.
Well, he shoulda joined the NRA.0 -
This is obviously some sort of racist attack. It simply is impossible for such a class individual to have been involved in such an activity.
Mr Harris' intention was undoubtedly to show the younger members in the tremendously popular BET Hip Hop Awards crowd the dangers of becomming involved in the untrained use of firearms.
Mr Harris is a talented artist whose melodious contributions to the musical arts are well known to music aficionados worldwide, and his heartfelt concern for youth - especially downtrodden minority youth - is also well known.
The white Christian male establishment should be ashamed for yet another unwarranted attack on a member of a poor mistreated group of people who only want to forget their unpleasant past and go forward quietly and peacefully.
[;)]0 -
did the rapper USE a gun in a crime or was his possion of a gun the crime ? personally, i only think we should criminalize people who USE guns in crimes, not the guns themselves being the crime. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by medic07
The man IS NOT allowed to own any firearm. He is a CONVICTED FELON.
On June 1, 1998, HARRIS was convicted of a Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act in the Superior Court of Cobb County, and received a sentence of 7 years probation. HARRIS has additional arrests and at least one probation violation for unlawfully possessing firearms.
Fellow gun owners, we should not say we should support him 100% and back him up because the 2nd says "shall not be infringed". There are some people who should not own firearms...and a convicted felon who has clearly shown a lack of regard for civil law is one of these. Harris and his bodyguard knew they were breaking the law by not only possessing but also by committing STRAW PURCHASES.
Sorry...but as a LAW ABIDING gun owner and hunter, I cannot defend the actions of this man. He is a felon...he shouldnt own firearms. He has not completed his sentence in order for his rights to be restored.
Along the same lines, would you say a child molester who completed his/her prison tem be allowed to become a primary school teacher or day care worker???
Why not?. A drunk driver can kill someone and then get their drivers license back after an obscenely short period of time.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Dakota308
another rapper down the tubes[:)]
[8D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rocklobster
This is obviously some sort of racist attack. It simply is impossible for such a class individual to have been involved in such an activity.
Mr Harris' intention was undoubtedly to show the younger members in the tremendously popular BET Hip Hop Awards crowd the dangers of becomming involved in the untrained use of firearms.
Mr Harris is a talented artist whose melodious contributions to the musical arts are well known to music aficionados worldwide, and his heartfelt concern for youth - especially downtrodden minority youth - is also well known.
The white Christian male establishment should be ashamed for yet another unwarranted attack on a member of a poor mistreated group of people who only want to forget their unpleasant past and go forward quietly and peacefully.
[;)]
Don't let Jesse see this or he will be all over you[:D]0
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