Ageism, Sexism, or Worse?
In all of her 81 years, Alvina Vansickle had never owned a firearm. For whatever reason though, in her autumn years, she decided to no longer live unarmed. She drove to Charlie Steele's gun shop in Lewes Delaware last August with a decision to use all legal means to protect herself if necessary.
Her choice was conservative. Her choice was appropriate.
A 22 caliber Taurus revolver.
She had never committed a felony. She had never committed a misdemeanor. Hell, she had never received a traffic ticket. When the call was placed to the Delaware state police for approval of the firearms transaction, the sale was halted. State Police Superintendent Thomas MacLeish has stated that the sale was halted due to the customer's age and gender.
That is bad enough, but there is more........... Sgt. Benjamin Nefosky, who heads the firearms approval unit stated he searched seven years of firearms transaction records to see if Vansickle had ever bought a gun before. She had not.
The official position in Delaware is that all paper records of firearms transactions are shredded after 60 days. Obviously, the electronic records are not.
Ms. Vansickle's application was eventually approved. Ten days after she made it, and only after an interview of herself and the seller. A normal delay is three days.
Superintendent MacLeish said the initial call taker "was concerned this individual never purchased a weapon before. Age and gender caused her to take caution. I believe there was caution taken on behalf of the call taker. It was done without malice."
So, a lawful citizen's constitutional rights were violated, but since it was done through suspicion without malice, it's all hunky dory? I just wanted to make sure I understood that correctly.
Her choice was conservative. Her choice was appropriate.
A 22 caliber Taurus revolver. She had never committed a felony. She had never committed a misdemeanor. Hell, she had never received a traffic ticket. When the call was placed to the Delaware state police for approval of the firearms transaction, the sale was halted. State Police Superintendent Thomas MacLeish has stated that the sale was halted due to the customer's age and gender.
That is bad enough, but there is more........... Sgt. Benjamin Nefosky, who heads the firearms approval unit stated he searched seven years of firearms transaction records to see if Vansickle had ever bought a gun before. She had not.
The official position in Delaware is that all paper records of firearms transactions are shredded after 60 days. Obviously, the electronic records are not.
Ms. Vansickle's application was eventually approved. Ten days after she made it, and only after an interview of herself and the seller. A normal delay is three days.
Superintendent MacLeish said the initial call taker "was concerned this individual never purchased a weapon before. Age and gender caused her to take caution. I believe there was caution taken on behalf of the call taker. It was done without malice."
So, a lawful citizen's constitutional rights were violated, but since it was done through suspicion without malice, it's all hunky dory? I just wanted to make sure I understood that correctly.
Labels: Gun Advocacy
posted by Xavier at 6:39 PM
7 Comments:
Heard about this a few days ago and I was peeved. The next time Obama wants to open his mouth I am going to ask the police to make him wait ten days because I am concerned with his Socialist leaning views....and just for fun I'll throw race in there, and now that is as absurd as stopping this woman because of her age and gender.
And where are all those equal rights woman like Rosie O'Donald....Oh wait they only disagree with sexism unless it is being used to justify the reason not to allow someone to have a gun.
Bravo for this lady, and shame on the DSP! My own mother at age 77 bought a pistol she could operate and shoot, and I rest easier knowing she has the means to fight back if it is ever necessary. Click the link to see her shoot her equalizer. http://truebluesam.blogspot.com/2008/07/birthday-range-report.html
TrueBlueSam
It's unconscionable that someone would waste precious time in allowing this little old lady the means to defend herself. vulgar.
As a nurse, you're surely aware that the thought was that she was buying to commit suicide. True, women don't usually use firearms, but elderly women don't usually buy firearms, either.
Anyhow, the most disturbing thing to me is that nursing school had got me thinking that this infringement was justified on "health" grounds.
Thanks for keeping things grounded.
Yes Chris, either that or a mercy killing of a spouse with Alzheimers.
Neither suspicion is a legitimate reason to deny the lady her constitutional rights.
Chris said: elderly women don't usually buy firearms, either.
Do what? Uh huh, spoken like a youngster....
I resemble that remark and it's clearly the "elderly" that feel their vulnerability and decide that they can become a victim or they can give themselves a fighting change by getting an equalizer.
Gettin' old is not for sissies. -Bette Davis- who was another one of those feisty old broads... ;-)
the part that REALLY pisses me off is the fact that they have kept records of her firearm purchases despite the law saying that those records must be destroyed after 60 days. I am glad than not all of my weapons were purchased from FFL's and did not go through the NCIS check. In fact not all of my weapons were even purchased by me. Obama's "citizen defense corps" can't confiscate what they don't know about and can't find.
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