Sometimes the stupidity of activism is mind-boggling, and when you throw in the widespread availability of social media, the stupidity is amplified.
Take the story of a guy from Massachusetts who claims that e-tailer behemoth Amazon shipped him some firearm ammunition by mistake.
As reported by Gun Free Zone, a fan of David Hogg, former Florida high school student-turned-anti-gun activist, recently disclosed on Twitter that he “mistakenly received rifle cartridges (that I did not/never would order) in my Amazon Prime shipping box…”
The user, “This is not normal,” claimed the discovery “was literally terrifying” as now “I’m…involuntarily tasked with their safe disposal.”
That prompted Hogg to respond, “You shouldn’t be able to buy a gun, gun parts or ammunition over the internet,” Gun Free Zone noted.
Well, that’s his opinion, of course; lots of respectable, reputable firearms companies sell online and there’s nothing wrong with it because a) guns are constitutionally protected; and b) all applicable state and federal laws still apply.
Nevertheless, the ‘normal’ user was widely mocked and ridiculed by other Twitter users who are well aware of Amazon’s ‘no guns, gun parts, or ammo ever’ policy — so much so he proceeded to provide ‘photographic evidence’ — a picture of Fusion ammo sitting atop what appears to be an opened, flattened Amazon Prime box.
What could be more convincing than that?
“I don’t know if it was too smart to bring Amazon into this load of BS as they may take it personally and send lawyers to check veracity,” Gun Free Zone noted, before adding more about the identity of the “This is not normal” user: He’s from Massachusetts, according to his profile.
“Has anybody told genius here that Massachusetts requires a firearm license to purchase or possess ammunition” he wrote. “If that ammo appeared magically in his home, he is now in violation of the law… and told everybody on the Internet… He needs a round of applause.” (Related: Second Amendment battle line: Colorado sheriff says he’ll go to jail before he enforces ‘unconstitutional Red Flag’ law.)
According to the law office of Lefteris K. Travayiakis, a Massachusetts attorney:
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269, Section 10(h) criminalizes the unlawful possession of ammunition. The crime of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition carries a penalty of up to 2 years in jail or House of Corrections.
This guy isn’t too smart
To be convicted of illegally possessing ammunition, prosecutors must prove:
— The defendant actually possessed an item (as noted on Twitter);
— The item meets the legal definition of “ammunition” (seems so, according to the box in the photo);
— The defendant knew that he possessed ammunition (verified by the fact that “This is not normal” admitted to receiving and being in possession of actual firearms ammunition).
According to the anti-gun Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence:
Massachusetts law does not regulate or prohibit any types of unreasonably dangerous ammunition. Massachusetts does, however, do each of the following things, as described below:
— Require a license for the purchase or possession of ammunition;
— Impose a minimum age to purchase or possess ammunition; and
— Require a license to sell ammunition.
It gets better (if you’re an enemy of the Second Amendment). You can buy guns in Massachusetts, but only after you obtain a “valid firearm identification (FID) card.” You can’t just utilize your ‘constitutionally-protected’ right to keep and bear arms; you must first get permission from the state.
Oh, and then you have to get more permission, via a license, in order to buy ammo for the guns you had to first get permission to buy.
Doesn’t sound like the guy on Twitter met any of those requirements. But then again, is he really responsible, or is it all Amazon’s fault?
You be the judge. We think we know the answer.
Read more about David Hogg’s anti-Second Amendment activism at HoggWatch.com and SecondAmendment.news.
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