Federal agents were tracking Ohio resident Richard Schmidt’s imports of counterfeit sports jerseys when they stumbled upon his arsenal of 18 guns, more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition, and bulletproof body armor. Besides the arsenal, he had lists of Jewish and black leaders in Detroit, MI. He is also an ex-felon who killed a Hispanic man and wounded two others 24 years ago.
Yet before December, no one even noticed that Schmidt, 47, was amassing weapons illegally, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Instead, federal investigators zeroed in on his sports memorabilia shop around September 2011, tracking his shipments of knock-off jerseys from China for over a year before they discovered the cache of firearms.
Schmidt plead guilty to federal gun charges and the counterfeit racket last month, and will be sentenced in October. But many connected to the crime are still scratching their heads over how an ex-felon with ties to white supremacist groups was able to get his hands on so many guns.
“I can’t tell you how he got all those guns and ammunition,” U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach told the Plain Dealer. “It’s not that I won’t tell you; it’s that I can’t. This is somebody who should never have had one gun, one bullet. But he had an entire arsenal.”
Schmidt is technically banned from possessing a gun for the rest of his life. In 1989, he pulled a gun on three men during a traffic argument, killing one man and wounding the other two. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served 12 years in prison.
"I can't tell you how he got all those guns and ammunition." Seriously?
I'm confused is NOW the right time to bring up the importance of stricter gun control laws, background checks at gun shows, and keeping people from being able to buy guns and ammo off of the internet.
Because, and I'm just spit balling here. that MIGHT be how this idiot got his weapons.
And don't give me that 2nd Amendment bullshit either, because do you know what REALLY stops a bad guy with a gun? Too many laws, and too muhc paperwork for the bad guy to get the gun in the first place THAT'S what!
He most likely had a little help from his friends. I hope he goes down. It's obvious what he intended to do with that arsenal.
ReplyDeleteOh and btw, doesn't Sarree also too have one?
Everything is legal in Alaska. Unless you are caught, then you have a 99% chance you will get off if you have influence or you are purty.
DeleteDon't know about where YOU live, Gryph
ReplyDelete...but here in South Dakota they have these gun shows.
Yeah, in places like motels.
You (me, him, her, them - anybody) can walk around and buy ANY gun - take it out to the trunk of your car (or the back of your pickup) and go back in and buy another.
And another.
And another.
...and you don't even have to show a driver's license.
And that's a fact, Jack.
Same here in Ohio I am sure it was very easy for him to buy that arsenal...probably didn't have to venture more than 100 miles from home either.
DeleteI have family that used to sell at these shows. ANYBODY can get a gun. The laws are not followed and in fact are flouted. People who sell at gun shows are proud to be outlaws.
ReplyDeleteI would bet his name and weapons are on the NRA's database.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone be an "EX" felon?
ReplyDeleteYeah you're right.
DeleteI thought it sounded clunky when I wrote it.
A felon is always a felon.
be pardoned.
DeleteCome on, Gryphen.
ReplyDeleteThe NRA says he's a good guy who's ready to take out a bunch of Black and Jewish people.
Straw Laws. We have gun shows everywhere, even on federal property (arsenals), gun shows, Wal mart parking lots, craig's list, etc etc etc. When one has a record, they go to middlemen who buy guns and ammo in Virginia, transport them to Pennsylvania and scurry off like roaches when the lights go on.
ReplyDeleteThis WOULD be an excellent "teachable moment"... but I bet the superman teeshirt scared the shit out of the federal investigators.
Wow Superman got old...and really fat, not to mention he is a racist pig.
ReplyDeleteOh hey Sarah how's that fetal position in the corner going on the cold travertine?
So a wingnut is stockpiling weapons to attack black and Jewish leaders in Detroit. As a Michigan resident I am not surprised to learn he is from Ohio.
ReplyDelete