Tomball hospital standoff--gun licenses?

[cb1000rider]

I had a family member that was subject to a home invasion (he wasn't home). Some of the property that was stolen included several rifles. The investigating agency found the the people responsible and returned all of the property, with the exception of the firearms. They wanted receipts for the firearms and proof of ownership. On guns that had been around for a very long time, it wasn't possible to produce that proof.

Darned if you do, darned if you don't...

[Keith B]

I had a family member that was subject to a home invasion (he wasn't home). Some of the property that was stolen included several rifles. The investigating agency found the the people responsible and returned all of the property, with the exception of the firearms. They wanted receipts for the firearms and proof of ownership. On guns that had been around for a very long time, it wasn't possible to produce that proof.

Darned if you do, darned if you don't...

This is why a gun owner should keep their own record of model and serial numbers, including photos and destinguishing marks on antique firearms, so you have proof of ownership/prior possesion.

[anygunanywhere]

I'm not quite ready to be fitted for the tin foil.

Do I think the current administration would love to do it? Yes.

Have they? You'd need budget, personnel, servers, space, outside contractors, etc., just to get a project of that scale up and running -- all while knowing that it was explicitly forbidden by law. Such a database is no small task given the volume of transactions.

The various agencies have enough trouble keeping the secrets they're authorized to keep. I don't think an enterprise that comes with complementary bracelets and a trip to club fed would survive for very long. The other branches--or even subsequent administrations--would tear that conspiracy apart with a great deal of delight.

These hurdles have never stopped the NSA or any agency from stomping on our freedoms.

[VMI77]

I'm not quite ready to be fitted for the tin foil.

Do I think the current administration would love to do it? Yes.

Have they? You'd need budget, personnel, servers, space, outside contractors, etc., just to get a project of that scale up and running -- all while knowing that it was explicitly forbidden by law. Such a database is no small task given the volume of transactions.

The various agencies have enough trouble keeping the secrets they're authorized to keep. I don't think an enterprise that comes with complementary bracelets and a trip to club fed would survive for very long. The other branches--or even subsequent administrations--would tear that conspiracy apart with a great deal of delight.

I think you're remembering the America of my childhood. At the Federal level the rule of law is dead in this country. The law only applies now to us peons (excepting illegal aliens of course). Subsequent administrations? What subsequent administrations? Whatever Bush started The One has not only continued but expanded. The 2014 election just proved it doesn't matter who you vote for or who is nominally in power. Nothing is going to change for the better after the 2016 election either. The administration just ordered the Border Patrol not to arrest illegal aliens crossing the border right in front of them (or more accurately, told the rank and file that they'd be wasting their time, since the higher ups will order their release anyway). How's that for law enforcement? The law is no longer relevant to those in power. This administration has broken all kinds of laws and continues to do so without consequence. No one in a position of authority is the least concerned about complementary bracelets or club Fed.

This is a police state. You just haven't yet experienced the boot on your neck. There is no longer any impediment by law, tradition, or honor. The only institution left in this country with enough integrity to be worth preserving is the military. You think a government that puts Martha Stewart in prison and won't even try John Corazine is a government that has any concern about the law? The Rubicon of totalitarianism has already been crossed. The law doesn't apply to "them" it is merely a tool to control and punish "us."

[K.Mooneyham]

I will bet the investigators stated he had a several handguns around the house, and that he was 'licensed' (aka CHL) and the ignorant reporter put the info together and formed their own statement which makes no sense in Texas.

To add another thought to this process, it is also possible that the "reporter" is a recent arrival to our fair state. However, unlike the members of this forum who originally hail from elsewhere, the reporter would be much less likely to look up Texas firearms laws and might just work from what they remember from their former residence, coupled with what the police public affairs told them.

[A-R]

Interesting follow up story ...

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/04 ... a-miracle/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After receiving the news from doctors that his son, who had recently suffered a series of strokes, was essentially brain dead and would soon be taken off life support, a desperate father entered a hospital in Tomball, Texas, prepared to kill himself if his son were to die.

With a 9 mm handgun in his waistband, George Pickering, 59, said he went into his son’s room at Tomball Regional Medical Center’s intensive care unit on Jan. 10 and was informed that the life support keeping him alive would soon be removed. The tragic news set Pickering off. He pulled out his handgun and ordered everyone to get out of the room because, the dad explained to TheBlaze, it was his time to be with his son.

Pickering’s actions set in motion what would be a four-hour standoff with police at the hospital — but during that time, he said, a “miracle” occurred.

...

After four tense hours, Pickering surrendered to police peacefully, believing he had done enough to prove that his son should be kept alive. Prior to the incident, he reported being disturbed by hospital staff’s hasty discussions about harvesting his 27-year-old son’s organs.

Later that night, his son woke up.

[joe817]

Wow! Dad did the right thing after all, for whatever the reason. Thanks for posting.

[LSUTiger]

"Investigators did a quick weapons background check..."

They asked his wife what he had? :-)

SIA

That may not be too far from the truth.

When we had a break in several years ago. When I heard our back door being kicked down. I awoke and responded with my gun in hand and told the wife to call 911 while I went to take care of business and see about the rest of the family in the house. When I cleared the house and determined the intruder must have realized we were home and never actually made entry, and fled, I went to tell the wife everything was OK. She was still on the phone with 911 giving them a laundry list of all the guns, ammo and cool toys that I own.

I immediately grabbed the phone and hung up. Then spent the next 7 minutes, while waiting for police to show up, educating her on what to say and not say to 911 operators.

Alerting them to the fact that I, the home owner responding to an intruder, was presently armed was one thing but the 911 operator was also concerned with the rest of my collection rather than the immediate situational circumstances.

IMHO, communicate only pertinent situational and location information needed for them to get to your house ASAP and don't be afraid to hang up and take care of business. Don't volunteer any unnecessary details, it will only detract attention from the task at hand and put potentially put undue focus on you as the potential bad guy. Remember they are forming an opinion of what is happening and who you are based on what their understanding of what you are telling them that may not fit with the facts. Having lots of gun may be normal to you , but to 911 operator may mean something else.

I was expecting the headlines to read, "deputy shoots suspect with massive arsenal" but fortunately the responding deputy was very professional, and courteous and did not treat me as a threat but appropriately as the victim.