Warren County man surrenders gun under Red Flag law

[Madmallard]

A Warren County man is one of the first gun owners in the state to surrender his firearm under the state’s new Red Flag law after he sent threatening letters to public officials.

Mario Hepp, 75, surrendered his handgun after a judge in Warren County issued a temporary suspension order for his handgun permit. Hepp could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. A woman who answered a phone number associated with him said they did not want to talk about the matter.

“I expressed myself. They took it as violent,” Hepp told the Post-Star, which first reported the case. “I’m an upstanding citizen. I’ve never been in any trouble in my life.”

The law, which went into effect in August, allows family members, teachers, doctors and law enforcement to ask courts to order the seizure of firearms from people who are legally deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation in February.

Warren County man surrenders gun under Red Flag law

 

[spat]

I hope he sues for this obvious violation of his first and second amendment rights

If he had truly threatened someone they would/should have arrested and incarcerated him for it.

They didn't, so whatever he said obviously wasn't a credible threat.

 

[Jezman]

First Amendment right Violated. Get an Attorney please!

 

[Celt]

I fucking despise this shit!

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

No more free speech and telling politicians (or anyone else for that matter) what's on your mind. Twist the words until it sounds the way you need to so a red flag can be issued. No more rebellion from the peasants thank you very much.

 

[Karpteach]

This is the shot across our bow. Folks should be very worried about what you say and how you say it. Welcome to the Big Brother state.

 

[MothMan]

What I gathered from the article before being prompted to subscribe inorder to read the rest is that Letitia wants to be the first black female governor of NYS.

 

[Deplorable Me]

First Amendment right Violated. Get an Attorney please!

The solution is clear, people of opposition need to improve writing skills. You can send the same message and at the same time cover your ass. As a collective conservatives, libertarians, and independents are generally smarter than the mass mob mentality that wants to suck them in. You don't need a college degree to have a strong vocabulary and be articulate. You can have fun with it too:

Cuomo is the illegitimate son of a feminine cur K9 and should go fornicate himself and the loins he came from.

(Although telling someone to GFY saves a lot of time and energy. )

 

[tirwin1]

IF he truly used the phrase "someone should put a bullet in” a politician then he is an idiot and has no one to blame but himself. Language like that is going to trigger a visit from the cops. You can bet all politicians are salivating over this new law and will use it to get back at persistent critics.

He's probably just a cranky old man that was letting off steam but you can't use language like that. The quote from churchill above is priceless and one of my favorite sayings.

 

[Phauxtoe]

IF he truly used the phrase "someone should put a bullet in” a politician then he is an idiot and has no one to blame but himself. Language like that is going to trigger a visit from the cops. You can bet all politicians are salivating over this new law and will use it to get back at persistent critics.

He's probably just a cranky old man that was letting off steam but you can't use language like that. The quote from churchill above is priceless and one of my favorite sayings.

There are Legal standards Here in the USA that must be met to be an actual Threat!
Saying "Someone" doesn't fit that definition, i am pretty sure!
I think State laws cover this, but its not as simple as what he said.

 

[GOPerfect]

I would love to know what was written that is so horrible!

 

[spat]

IF he truly used the phrase "someone should put a bullet in” a politician then he is an idiot and has no one to blame but himself. Language like that is going to trigger a visit from the cops. You can bet all politicians are salivating over this new law and will use it to get back at persistent critics.

He's probably just a cranky old man that was letting off steam but you can't use language like that. The quote from churchill above is priceless and one of my favorite sayings.

If it was legally a threat then why wasn't he arrested for it ?

The fact that he wasn't tells me that it wasn't considered a threat, they are just attempting to chill any speech critical of the administration.

 

[Apeman]

If it was legally a threat then why wasn't he arrested for it ?

The fact that he wasn't tells me that it wasn't considered a threat, they are just attempting to chill any speech critical of the administration.

The letters did not rise to the level of criminal action because Hepp never threatened to carry out violence himself.

This was in the article. Its obvious his 1st amendment rights were violated along with his 2nd. Everyone in this country has the right to criticize anyone they want and can say anything they want as long as it's not threatening. He didn't threaten anyone. He just voiced his opinion.

 

[Celt]

If he said something like this


"If you guys keep trying to take away our rights someone is gonna end up putting a bullet in your face.."

I would commend him.

If he phrased it this way:

"If you guys keep trying to take away our rights Im gonna end up putting a bullet in your face.."

That gets a little more dicey. I still dont think it deserves to have his due process denied and property stolen by the govt. But it would deserve a knock on the door and some questions, in my opinion.

 

[libertysnake]

I hope he sues for this obvious violation of his first and second amendment rights

If he had truly threatened someone they would/should have arrested and incarcerated him for it.

They didn't, so whatever he said obviously wasn't a credible threat.

Apparently he spoke in a way that was most displeasing to the majesty, which is the need for the "correction." Ye should take heed, lest ye be granted a "correction."

 

[Steal2B]

"Hepp wrote a series of letters with “violent” and “derogatory” language to elected officials"

So, if we don't mail our FUAC comments and just post them here we might be ok.

Otherwise ... the poor schmucks whose weakly protected wi-fi I use to post on this forum are in for a suprise.

 

[RBean]

Ive got a potential client, un-named at this time. The Nassau County Police say he threatened someone, name undisclosed. It is not known what was allegedly said by him. They revoked his pistol license and told him he had to get rid of all his long guns are he would be arrested. Trouble is he has no money and I am tapped out doing gun cases pro-bono. I think he has a good case but just can't do it pro-bono and pay the expenses too. Of coarse the police know this, that is why they pick on people who do not have the mean to fight them.

 

[Acer-m14]

The law, which went into effect in August, allows family members, teachers, doctors and law enforcement to ask courts to order the seizure of firearms from people who are legally deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation in February.

"Hepp wrote a series of letters with “violent” and “derogatory” language to elected officials"

the law was not followed .. his shit was stolen .. the judge is very very wrong ..

 

[RBean]

In his case, no Red Flag Order, no judicial finding, no due process, no right to cross examine secret witness, no hearing etc.

 

[Acer-m14]

@RBean ..

The law, which went into effect in August, allows family members, teachers, doctors and law enforcement to ask courts to order

i see the law as the first 3 can contact law enforcement ... or elected officials would have been listed after doctors .. correct

 

[Shadow2]

I'm sure the framers felt threatening politicians was not part of free speech after they just started a revolutionary war.

 

[Robin]

F L's
Robin

 

[repete]

We all are aware of the potential abuse so to help avoid this I will now reread any and all letters to our betters err elected officials a full day or more after writing them! I will also keep a copy of them no matter if e-mailed, screen shot or photo copy. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to record any meetings (for instructional purposes )