http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44183
WEAPONS OF CHOICE
Bill: Seize homes that contain 'illegal' guns
New Jersey lawmaker wants buildings, cars taken if firearms not permitted
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Posted: May 10, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Ron Strom
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
A New Jersey state assemblyman has introduced a bill that would allow the
government to seize the home or car of anyone whose property contains an
illegal firearm.
The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Louis Manzo, D-Jersey City,
authorizes the forfeiture of "motor vehicle, building or premise" if a
firearm is found in it that is not possessed legally per state law -
"even if the firearm was not possessed by the owner of the motor vehicle,
building or premise," states a summary of the bill, A3998. The
legislation was introduced Thursday.
Manzo pointed out his bill extends government power now reserved for
targeting those in possession of illegal drugs.
"If we will do this when someone is caught with illegal drugs, it only
makes sense that we should do it for when someone has an illegal weapon,"
Manzo told the Hudson Reporter.
"We currently allow this to take place when illegal drugs are found. This
is to keep a landlord or someone driving the car from turning a blind eye
to the drugs people in an apartment or passenger in the car is doing," he
said. "I think if a landlord knows there is an illegal gun in the house,
he or she should do something about it. And this may encourage someone
driving a car to keep a person from carrying a gun."
Under the proposed law, an unlicensed machine gun, handgun, rifle or
shotgun are considered illegal.
Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, slammed the
proposal.
"It looks like [Manzo] is going to have a go at the Second Amendment and
the Fifth Amendment," said Pratt, referring to constitutional rights
involving firearms and private property. "Way to go - a 'two-fer'!"
Pratt told WND police skullduggery could cause law-abiding citizens to
lose their property.
"So if an officer plants a gun in your home, you lose your house," he
said. "It's the same drill they've been using in the war against drugs.
Now they want to use the same tactics against people who have a gun for
self-defense."
Of the bill, Pratt stated, "I hope it's going nowhere, but you never know
with New Jersey."
Manzo compared the cost of his proposal to a current gun buyback program.
"This is one more tool that law enforcement can use in an effort to do
away with illegal weapons," he told the Hudson Reporter. "Unlike the
buyback program, this doesn't cost the taxpayers money to get rid of
illegal guns."
WEAPONS OF CHOICE
Bill: Seize homes that contain 'illegal' guns
New Jersey lawmaker wants buildings, cars taken if firearms not permitted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: May 10, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Ron Strom
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
A New Jersey state assemblyman has introduced a bill that would allow the
government to seize the home or car of anyone whose property contains an
illegal firearm.
The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Louis Manzo, D-Jersey City,
authorizes the forfeiture of "motor vehicle, building or premise" if a
firearm is found in it that is not possessed legally per state law -
"even if the firearm was not possessed by the owner of the motor vehicle,
building or premise," states a summary of the bill, A3998. The
legislation was introduced Thursday.
Manzo pointed out his bill extends government power now reserved for
targeting those in possession of illegal drugs.
"If we will do this when someone is caught with illegal drugs, it only
makes sense that we should do it for when someone has an illegal weapon,"
Manzo told the Hudson Reporter.
"We currently allow this to take place when illegal drugs are found. This
is to keep a landlord or someone driving the car from turning a blind eye
to the drugs people in an apartment or passenger in the car is doing," he
said. "I think if a landlord knows there is an illegal gun in the house,
he or she should do something about it. And this may encourage someone
driving a car to keep a person from carrying a gun."
Under the proposed law, an unlicensed machine gun, handgun, rifle or
shotgun are considered illegal.
Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, slammed the
proposal.
"It looks like [Manzo] is going to have a go at the Second Amendment and
the Fifth Amendment," said Pratt, referring to constitutional rights
involving firearms and private property. "Way to go - a 'two-fer'!"
Pratt told WND police skullduggery could cause law-abiding citizens to
lose their property.
"So if an officer plants a gun in your home, you lose your house," he
said. "It's the same drill they've been using in the war against drugs.
Now they want to use the same tactics against people who have a gun for
self-defense."
Of the bill, Pratt stated, "I hope it's going nowhere, but you never know
with New Jersey."
Manzo compared the cost of his proposal to a current gun buyback program.
"This is one more tool that law enforcement can use in an effort to do
away with illegal weapons," he told the Hudson Reporter. "Unlike the
buyback program, this doesn't cost the taxpayers money to get rid of
illegal guns."
