Getting an assault weapon is as easy as getting a cheesesteak

[reels18]

Monday, May 5, 2008
Posted on Mon, May 5, 2008 Zoom + | Zoom -
Assault weapons easily obtained, U.D. police superintendent claims
By Vicky Thomas, vthomas@delcotimes.com

According to Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, obtaining a high-powered assault weapon like the one used in Philadelphia Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski’s murder is simply too easy.

“It’s probably as easy to obtain an assault weapon in society today as it is to buy a cheesesteak,” said Chitwood.

Liczbinski was hit at least five times with a military-style assault rifle Saturday morning after confronting a group of robbers who had held up a bank inside a grocery store, authorities said. Police recovered two vehicles, one of which contained an AK-47 with 25 live rounds that authorities believe was used in the shooting.

“Those types of weapons are in every community in our society. They’re either buying illegally, obtaining it through straw purchases or stealing it from a home or dealership,” said Chitwood, who said police can’t compete with that kind of firepower.
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“You’ve got a police officer armed with a 9 mm and you’ve got a group of terrorists, for lack of a better word, armed with AK-47s. AK-47s should be banned from existence because they’re nothing but kill weapons. You don’t hunt with them, you just kill.”

Purchasing assault weapons in Pennsylvania licensed gun shops and gun shows has been legal for the past four years.

Federally licensed gun dealers telephone state police to run a criminal background check on the buyer and require state-issued photo identification.

The seller and buyer also must fill out an ATF Form 4477, which includes questions about restraining orders, the buyer’s criminal history, and whether the person is buying the weapon for another person.

The Federal Assault Weapons Act, banning the sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, expired in September 2004. The 1994 ban signed by former President Bill Clinton outlawed 19 types of military-style assault weapons ranging from the AK-47 and Colt AR-15, used by the Russian and U.S. military to the so-called Street Sweeper and other revolving-cylinder semiautomatic shotguns. It had also set the maximum capacity of an ammunition magazine at 10 rounds.

The “sunset” provision of the act required it to be renewed by 2004.

“The fact that politicians won’t stand up is outrageous, in my opinion,” said Chitwood. “When the baddies outgun the police officers, it’s a sad commentary of society. It’s just amazing the amount of firepower we see in streets.”

Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green declined comment Sunday on the weapons issue.


Not one word about the 17 prior felonies of the shooter. This guy isn't fit to wipe the boots of a real cop.

[CommonHighrise]

Originally Posted by reels18

“You’ve got a police officer armed with a 9 mm and you’ve got a group of terrorists...armed with AK-47s. AK-47s should be banned from existence because they’re nothing but kill weapons. You don’t hunt with them, you just kill.”

Cause, yanno, I hunt all the time with 9mm semi-auto pistols. Why do so many people think the argument over a weapon's legality is based in hunting? Nobody who owns one loves their AK or AR for its deer-slaying ability, but in its thug-slaying ability in defense of our own lives.

[45acp]

[quote=reels18;294657] Police recovered two vehicles, one of which contained an AK-47 with 25 live rounds that authorities believe was used in the shooting.[quote]

One other mistake in a lot of the reporting done on the shooting is that the rifle used has mostly been called an AK-47. It was actually an SKS carbine with a fiberglass instead of wood and a colapisble stalk. See link for photo of the SKS which was used. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/top_...xecution_.html

Philadelphia's new illegal laws would have banned this configuration of the SKS, but it would not have banned the unmodivied version with a 10 round internal magazine with a wood stock.

[PocketProtector]

Chitwood is an avid anti-gun advocate, I've seen him interviewed several times on the idiot box and he always blames the guns. All the perps would be choir boys without evil guns.

[eXceLon]

Purchasing assault weapons in Pennsylvania licensed gun shops and gun shows has been legal for the past four years.

Because somehow the bullets that came out of that gun would have been less lethal if only it didn't have a pistol grip and a folding stock and therefore had been in accordance with the now-expired "assault weapon ban".

[Pector55]

It reminds me of how I raised my kids versus how the neighbors raised theirs.

If my child reaches for something, I pull their hand away and say, "no." If they reach again, I slap their hand. It doesn't happen a 3rd time.. my children know better.

If my neighbor's child reaches for something, they take the object and move it further away. Later, we hear a crash because the child stood on something to get a better reach. They fell to the floor, dropping the object (breaking it) and smacking their mouth on the floor. The reply, "I hate hardwood floors... they are slippery."


AAAAAUUURRRGH!!!

[redman900]

when he worked in philly he thought he was Batman.he needs to get over himself

[BSH]

"...said Chitwood, who said police can’t compete with that kind of firepower."

This idiot obviously knows nothing about gun violence and LEO casualties. If he did, he would know that more officers die after being shot with their own weapon than are killed with any of the AK/SKS family. (source: FBI study on LEO fatalities) He should be calling for officers to be banned from carrying sidearms. Rifles or shotguns secured in the vehicle, maybe, but NO SIDEARMS. After all, it's dangerous.

[louie]

Originally Posted by redman900

when he worked in philly he thought he was Batman.he needs to get over himself

Yep.

Superiority Complex.

When he was a detective in Philly, it was his own inaction that cost the life of an undercover PPD officer during a drug-deal sting. This was back in the 70's. A good friend of mine was a juror for the trial of the accused "cop killer." Chitwood was never made to answer for his absence from his surveillance vehicle, and abandoning his post for hours, while his undercover detective was being murdered and wrapped up in a piece of carpet. Damned shame.


He used to claim that he never carried a weapon on duty.

[rflynn]

Originally Posted by louie

Yep.

Superiority Complex.

When he was a detective in Philly, it was his own inaction that cost the life of an undercover PPD officer during a drug-deal sting. This was back in the 70's. A good friend of mine was a juror for the trial of the accused "cop killer." Chitwood was never made to answer for his absence from his surveillance vehicle, and abandoning his post for hours, while his undercover detective was being murdered and wrapped up in a piece of carpet. Damned shame.


He used to claim that he never carried a weapon on duty.

You dont need one if you are not around to do your Job! He is a Scumbag!