Ex-Marines arrested for selling assault weapons to LA street gang

You wouldn't want gangbangers out there on the streets with ak47s

"But, but, I love my country !" Yeah, and ?

SEAL Nicholas Bickle of San Diego smuggled 80 AK-47 weapons

Would love to know what he hid them in. A Tank?

Gangbangers already have AK's out on the streets.

you can't trust the marines.

"Gangbangers already have AK's out on the streets."

They got them from somebody, didn't they? Now there are MORE weapons out there because of these idiots. Hope they go away for a long, long time.

I think the gangs are better armed that the police. Mac 10's, Glocks, AK47s, Uzis and MP5s are out there.

...met with a postal service supervisor...

Selling weapons to gang members is one thing, but selling to post office employees is a step too far.

Gangs want AK's and weopons? Send them to Iraq then.

Dear Americans: Is saying "I love my country" some kind of legal defense that acts as a smokescreen?

But those assault weapons are owned by us, the American taxpayers, not the Feds...

"In all, authorities seized more than 20 handguns and 45 rifles and shotguns, as well as 4,000 rounds of ammunition."

semper fi and yeeeeehaaaa.

But really, that is only an average of 62 rounds per weapon. That is not unreasonable, is it?

He said they were antique weapons. Well, when you consider that automatic weapons were heavily used in Vietnam, well, yeah. They are antiques. So what? Sten and Uzi are antique, so... what is the point?

"Dear Americans: Is saying "I love my country" some kind of legal defense that acts as a smokescreen?"

No. It is a rallying cry for the NRA and any other right wing group to send funds and lawyers to make sure that this guy does not see one day in jail for exercising his right to sell arms to gang members so that they can kill people.

File this story under "only in America."

This is also a big news in Mexico, because these LA street gangs have many Mexicans or Mexican Americans and guess where many of these crazy machine guns go to? Sure, south of the border to end up killing Mexican police, Mexican army, Mexican politicians etc...

File this story under "only in America."

....amongst the developed world nations. This sounds like a story for a country at civil war.

Is this really world news?

Many times there are mis-understandings between the words "separated from military service" and "retired from military service". Being separated means just having gotten out (honorably or not) with no veterans benefits (or very, very limited), and being retired means having served out a full tour (usually a full 20 years but there are exceptions) and receiving full veterans benefits with pay and possession of a military retiree I.D. card. So which category do these guys fall under. That's what I want to know...

No. It is a rallying cry for the NRA and any other right wing group to send funds and lawyers to make sure that this guy does not see one day in jail for exercising his right to sell arms to gang members so that they can kill people.

What other "right wing groups" specifically ?

Can you provide the names of similar criminals the NRA has somehow kept out of jail?

I dont think you can.

File this story under "only in America."

Except that it happens south of our border and after the breakup of Yugoslavia was quite a problem in Europe as well.

Simper Fi

great more guns on the streets of the US like they don't have enough already, the NRA have a lot to answer for sheesh.

Honor has taken a beating in the post-Reagan era.

Reagan actually set the example: arming thugs and murderers of various stripes. These marines were just following the amoral lead of the conservatives' hero.

In the immortal words of (Iran-Contra) leader General Richard Secord: "Can't we supply the guns and make a profit too?"

The biggest arms dealer in the world Yeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa !!!!

Violence begets violence. Simple as that.

The USA as one of the most aggressive nations on the planet has glorified war to a ridiculous degree.

Yabits: Reagan actually set the example

Please tell me that took you a while to come up with that. Tell me that you read the story, searched for an angle, tried a couple of different approaches, did a couple of edits, and then decided on the the "best" post in your eyes. Because if you're saying that you read the article and that was the first thought and you typed it and hit Submit then...well....Jesus H. Christ. That's just creepy.

AuntyAmerican: Violence begets violence. Simple as that. The USA as one of the most aggressive nations on the planet has glorified war to a ridiculous degree.

Posts like these make me feel more at ease because I know someone is going out of their way to put their bigotry on display. You can tell how hard he's trying. Not quite as creepy, just a bit sad.

In this article they are trying to loop the Bickle case (smuggling full auto AKs from Iraq) with this Gitschlag case (suspected assault weapon sale to a suspected gang member). The Bickle case is fairly open/shut where as the Gitschlag case is questionable especially with the assault weapons ban lifted (except for California i think). From what i see here Gitschlag has done nothing wrong and seems to be speaking the truth. How are you supposed to tell if someone is a gang member especially with all the illegals that come in and can get drivers licenses etc.

I hope they throw the book at them.

The last thing LA needs is more guns.

Taka

nradefensefund.org is currently litigating about 30 cases in almost as many states. What do you think? Does this case meet their criteria, Creosote, or will these gun owners be thrown to the liberal wolves?

Anyone is welcome to have their cases considered for free litigation, just drive by their site and fire away. The site lists many bullet points you can set your sights on. If you aim is to defend your rights, but you don't have the firepower, just bite the bullet and pull the trigger. If your case is in their range, you might score a bullseye.

"What other "right wing groups" specifically ? "

Well Mr. Creosote, as far as this case attracting the support of the radical fringe of the right, the fact that you have taken an interest kind of proves my point. Step right up and defend "selling assault weapons to LA street gang". There must be a perfectly acceptable reason why this is a good thing, right?

I think they needed more bullets.

Honor has taken a beating in the post-Reagan era. Reagan actually set the example: arming thugs and murderers of various stripes. These marines were just following the amoral lead of the conservatives' hero. In the immortal words of (Iran-Contra) leader General Richard Secord: "Can't we supply the guns and make a profit too?"

Wow. Assault weapons on sale in LA and it is somehow the fault or old Ronnie Reagan, because of Iran - contra, or something.

nradefensefund.org is currently litigating about 30 cases in almost as many states. What do you think? Does this case meet their criteria, Creosote, or will these gun owners be thrown to the liberal wolves?

What do I think? I think you fail to defend your initial, completely hysterical assertion that the NRA will work on behalf of the accused assault weapons dealers in this story to see them set free.

MisterCreosote: "Except that it happens south of our border and after the breakup of Yugoslavia was quite a problem in Europe as well."

Boy you are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel when you have to use places like the ones in your comment to defend the gun situation in the USA, why not add Somalia and Yemen to your list they are all such bastions of civilization aren't they.

You have to be an idiot to not know the difference between a gang member LATINO and just your average, hard working poor illegal alien, coming across the USA-Mexico border. These so called ex-Marines are are Chicanos, Mexican Americans, raised in rough parts of Los Angeles, they know exactly who is a gang member, and who to sell these weapons to. Why? They grew up together, same kindergartens, same elementary schools, but from say Jr. High, one group went to to the LA county criminal system, and the other tried to keep clean, but if you are from Montebello, Northridge etc...these are the Mexican American versions of Compton, Watts etc...for you white folk who are not familiar with the greater Los Angeles area. And it don't take a a rocket scientist to say, I have all these guns, and in my barrio I have all these hoods who need these guns to settle their scores, so you get jar heads selling big, mean bad ass weapons to their child hood friends. If you need any more info, just rent the dvd, American Me.