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LuckyLib

(6,814 posts)
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 07:32 PM Jul 2012

Holmes: A first year graduate student gets 90 packages at his workplace?

Even over the course of a year, that is one helluva lot of "packages" for someone barely into graduate study. WTF? Didn't anyone confront him with "What on earth are you ordering that is being sent here so regularly?" Using University resources for mail delivery, etc., someone should have wondering what was going on. A small link in a huge chain of tragedy.

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Holmes: A first year graduate student gets 90 packages at his workplace? (Original Post) LuckyLib Jul 2012 OP
Maybe someone thought he was addicted to eBay LonePirate Jul 2012 #1
Lots of people order stuff online these days.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #2
A few of my coworkers do that arcane1 Jul 2012 #3
That's right. I have a lot of my online purchases shipped to my work place. Arkansas Granny Jul 2012 #4
Me too, and I have Amazon Prime obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #9
Sounds like he joined the Semi-Automatic-of-the-Month-Club nt LiberalEsto Jul 2012 #5
Where do I sign up for that? -..__... Jul 2012 #29
People may have thought it weird 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #6
Well, not upper middle class white dudes anyway.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #7
No, not even then 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #8
I'm talking about the reality.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #13
Do you have evidence of the police randomly opening non-white people's mail 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #20
As I said, skin color really doesn't make much difference any more.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #23
Ok, do you have evidence of the police opening poor-peoples mail 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #24
You are making a sweeping generalization: When did grad students become wealthy? TalkingDog Jul 2012 #39
I'm making sweeping generalizations? 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #40
You are actually making sense. The poster you are talking about was obviously full of shit. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #45
Either way the wealth of the person in question is irrelevant 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #47
Exactly, so don't give people ammunition (so to speak) to undercut a good argument. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #51
I guess I see what you're saying 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #55
So "the man" is going around opening homeless folks mail? snooper2 Jul 2012 #62
I Did A Search on eBay for Assault Guns otohara Jul 2012 #10
Actually there are no assault weapons on Ebay ProgressiveProfessor Jul 2012 #11
Wrong! votedems999 Jul 2012 #28
you made that up belcffub Jul 2012 #31
Gun "parts" TalkingDog Jul 2012 #42
ok... now show me a gun... belcffub Jul 2012 #56
"ebay is not gun friendly" Not entirely accurate. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #57
allowing the parts that are there now is a new thing belcffub Jul 2012 #59
That is one of the most ridiculous things ever posted on Democratic Underground slackmaster Jul 2012 #32
This poster has been PRRed obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #37
Given your in-depth knowledge of guns and the law 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #43
Wow. Marinedem Jul 2012 #48
And nothing is certainly ever wrongly labelled there either Posteritatis Jul 2012 #50
Ebay doesn't allow firearms sales ... oldhippie Jul 2012 #12
After reading your post so did I 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #15
My racist bro bought a deer rifle online votedems999 Jul 2012 #27
You are blowing smoke. I've bought firearms online many times. I have always had to provide... slackmaster Jul 2012 #36
Do you have to do all the paperwork that you mentioned if soccer1 Jul 2012 #60
Any purchase of a modern firearm from a firearm dealer requires the paperwork slackmaster Jul 2012 #61
Do you think all firearms and ammunition transactions should be documented? soccer1 Jul 2012 #64
umm... you just make crap up... belcffub Jul 2012 #58
Link? obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #16
I Apparantly Don't Know Shit About Guns otohara Jul 2012 #18
Orange tip means not a real gun 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #21
If only the police would. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #44
eBay policy prohibits the sale of any kind of firearm slackmaster Jul 2012 #25
If there were reasonable and effective gun controls HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #14
Yes - an effective surveillance state that tracks its citizen's purchases hack89 Jul 2012 #30
Yeah, that's a good idea ..... oldhippie Jul 2012 #33
Legally, you can't send guns through the mail. backscatter712 Jul 2012 #17
things from a site called "bulk ammo . com" according to the news nt Lex Jul 2012 #19
Not quite right. Johnny Rico Jul 2012 #22
I believe he bought the guns locally. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #38
If he was a Muslim, the FBI would have opened his packages! votedems999 Jul 2012 #26
"...still, I can't see why the feds missed this one!" oldhippie Jul 2012 #34
Means nothng by itself KurtNYC Jul 2012 #35
THANK YOU! Jeebus people are reactionary. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #46
Exactly. HappyMe Jul 2012 #63
I have stuff shipped to work. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #41
Well, there is the problem that someone's mail is their business alone. Posteritatis Jul 2012 #49
i have stuff delivered to work all the time.. frylock Jul 2012 #52
In 2001, people wondered why one would want to learn to fly, but not land, an airplane. jtuck004 Jul 2012 #53
Hindsight is a beautiful thing, isn't it? WillowTree Jul 2012 #54

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)
2. Lots of people order stuff online these days..
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 07:36 PM
Jul 2012

Home delivery is problematic if you work because it will either require the package to be left outside the residence where it will be subject to possible theft or have to be picked up later at the PO/UPS whatever..

It's just easier and more secure for a lot of people to get their packages at work.

Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
4. That's right. I have a lot of my online purchases shipped to my work place.
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 07:41 PM
Jul 2012

Some of my coworkers do the same. It's nothing out of the ordinary.

 

-..__...

(7,776 posts)
29. Where do I sign up for that?
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:54 AM
Jul 2012

Sounds too good to be true.

I'll bet the deals look enticing, but you end up paying more with the shipping and handling fees added in.

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
6. People may have thought it weird
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 07:49 PM
Jul 2012

but not much you can do about that. You can't open someone's mail on a hunch. Or incarcerate them for receiving too many care-packages.

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)
13. I'm talking about the reality..
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 08:19 PM
Jul 2012

You evidently are more interested in theory..

Unless you are wealthy enough to fund an extended court fight out of pocket you actually have very few if any rights, skin color is really more or less irrelevant any more, I was being sardonic about that..

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)
23. As I said, skin color really doesn't make much difference any more..
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:41 AM
Jul 2012

It's all about wealth and class these days, of course the great majority of the wealthy in the USA are white but that's just an accident of history..

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
24. Ok, do you have evidence of the police opening poor-peoples mail
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:43 AM
Jul 2012

without cause?

/also when did grad students become wealthy? That certainly hasn't been my experience.

TalkingDog

(9,001 posts)
39. You are making a sweeping generalization: When did grad students become wealthy?
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:34 PM
Jul 2012

There are wealthy grad students. How do you know he wasn't one?

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
40. I'm making sweeping generalizations?
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:37 PM
Jul 2012

Not the person who claimed the police open the mail of poor people all the time without a warrant?

/grad students, the new 1%

TalkingDog

(9,001 posts)
45. You are actually making sense. The poster you are talking about was obviously full of shit.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:44 PM
Jul 2012

But once you start straying off into hyperbole, you effectively (not actually mind you) undercut your previously rational statements.

Just calling you out on it. The way you called others out on theirs.

That's why it's called a discussion board. We discuss things.

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
47. Either way the wealth of the person in question is irrelevant
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:45 PM
Jul 2012

unless someone else can prove that rich people don't get their mail searched while poor people do.

 

votedems999

(10 posts)
28. Wrong!
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:51 AM
Jul 2012

the guns are disguised as antiques...under federal law, any gun over 10 yrs old is an antique...plenty of operational tommy guns are available on ebay..but, they are not cheap...many have been made non-functional by a wood peg in the barrel...how easy is that to remove? real easy

belcffub

(595 posts)
31. you made that up
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:00 PM
Jul 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_gun

http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/curios-relics/

10 years... um... no... no such law...

and I search ebay... did not see any firearms... which is their policy... ebay is not gun friendly...

and de-milling a firearm requires more then a wooden dowel...

give me a link to an ebay tommy gun with a wooden dowel down the barrel... would love to see that...

belcffub

(595 posts)
56. ok... now show me a gun...
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 07:40 PM
Jul 2012

I see lots of stocks... some sights... some magazine followers...

so I can use the stock as a club to beat someone... laser sights to blind them... mag followers... ummm.. could grind them up and feed them to someone...

ok... yup all real lethal

I stand by my post...

TalkingDog

(9,001 posts)
57. "ebay is not gun friendly" Not entirely accurate.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 07:44 PM
Jul 2012

Not gun friendly would be nothing gun related at all.

They are still making a profit off guns.

Otherwise, I agree.

belcffub

(595 posts)
59. allowing the parts that are there now is a new thing
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 07:49 PM
Jul 2012

this change in policy was about six months ago... still the parts they allow are the most benign "gun parts" you can... they are still not gun friendly...

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
32. That is one of the most ridiculous things ever posted on Democratic Underground
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:02 PM
Jul 2012
...under federal law, any gun over 10 yrs old is an antique...

Wrong.

plenty of operational tommy guns are available on ebay..

Also wrong.

...many have been made non-functional by a wood peg in the barrel...

BATFE regulations require the frame or receiver of a weapon to be flame-cut into at least three pieces for the weapon to be considered legally non-functional.
 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
43. Given your in-depth knowledge of guns and the law
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:39 PM
Jul 2012

I can only assume you are a reporter?

/the suspect used an automatic military style revolver with a silencer and modifications that make the bullets come out faster (at exactly the speed necessary to kill cops and children). . .

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)
50. And nothing is certainly ever wrongly labelled there either
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:56 PM
Jul 2012

Personal favorite "wtf?" encounter there lately was an obviously-wallhangery katana that was being billed as "a cavalry saber identical to the one hitler wore when invading germany."

I can see someone labelling, say, a Garand as an assault rifle on sites like that.

Or a Lee-Enfield. Or a Brown Bess.

 

oldhippie

(3,249 posts)
12. Ebay doesn't allow firearms sales ...
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 08:11 PM
Jul 2012

... so I wonder what you found that "..there (sic) so cheap"?

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
15. After reading your post so did I
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 09:12 PM
Jul 2012

found only airsoft guns.

"There" cheap sure, but also fire plastic pellets that couldn't even kill a squirrel.

 

votedems999

(10 posts)
27. My racist bro bought a deer rifle online
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:49 AM
Jul 2012

it was through a federal firearms dealer....no ID required...I have no idea why he needed a gun..he does not hunt! I don't speak to him much.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
36. You are blowing smoke. I've bought firearms online many times. I have always had to provide...
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:22 PM
Jul 2012

...a copy of my Federal Firearms License, and my state-issued driver's license.

A person without an FFL can buy firearms by mail order, but the weapon has to be shipped to a federally licensed firearms dealer. That dealer won't let you take possession of the weapon until you complete the federal paperwork and provide ID.

soccer1

(343 posts)
60. Do you have to do all the paperwork that you mentioned if
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 07:59 PM
Jul 2012

you purchase firearms online that are bought from a person or business within your state of residence? I have read that all the paperwork is only required if the goods are shipped crossing state lines.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
61. Any purchase of a modern firearm from a firearm dealer requires the paperwork
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 10:02 AM
Jul 2012

If you live in a state that allows private transfers of USED firearms without documentation, then the transaction you describe could take place. But not from a dealer, it would have to be from an unlicensed individual.

belcffub

(595 posts)
58. umm... you just make crap up...
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 07:45 PM
Jul 2012

he didn't buy a gun online from a dealer no ID required... if he wasn't a dealer it would have had to been shipped to a local dealer who would have done the background check and check ID's

and if you have real information that about an illegal transaction why have you not contacted the police...

 

otohara

(24,135 posts)
18. I Apparantly Don't Know Shit About Guns
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 11:23 PM
Jul 2012

Silly me...happy to be clueless on the guns.

They look like guns.

 

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)
14. If there were reasonable and effective gun controls
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 08:55 PM
Jul 2012

Then there would have been plenty of red flags that a newbie "gun enthusiast" was purchasing a number of firearms, ammunition, and a 100 round drum magazine over a fairly short period of time. And perhaps, based on those red flags, someone from LE or ATF had paid him a visit and asked "hey dude, whats up?", and maybe talked to his parents, boss, and academic counsoler, maybe just maybe.....

hack89

(39,171 posts)
30. Yes - an effective surveillance state that tracks its citizen's purchases
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:58 AM
Jul 2012

will prevent such crimes.

Why limit such government power to guns - there is a lot of criminal activity out there.

Perhaps you can use the Patriot Act as the basis for such a system.

 

oldhippie

(3,249 posts)
33. Yeah, that's a good idea .....
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:13 PM
Jul 2012

And maybe those same folks can watch a list of the books you order on-line, just in case they see a trend they find questionable or inappropriate. Then they can pay you a visit and say. "Hey, what's up Dude?" If the Repubs are in control at the time, maybe the authorities will take you "downtown" for "questioning" about what websites you visit and what books you are reading? All in the name of "security" of course. And all reasonable and effective.

backscatter712

(26,355 posts)
17. Legally, you can't send guns through the mail.
Sat Jul 21, 2012, 09:24 PM
Jul 2012

In order to buy a gun from somebody far away & have the gun shipped, the shipper has to take the gun to a licensed gun dealer, who takes care of shipping the gun... to another licensed gun dealer close to the buyer. The buyer then stops at the recipient gun dealer, and does his Brady check before he's allowed to take possession of the weapon.

I have no idea what Holmes was having shipped to his workplace.

 

Johnny Rico

(1,438 posts)
22. Not quite right.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:39 AM
Jul 2012

While the recipient has to have an FFL, the sender does not if they are shipping a long gun through the mail. Handguns can be sent by someone without an FFL (to someone with an FFL) if they go through UPS or Fedex.

That having been been said, these are the Federal rules. I understand there are states which have the more restrictive rules that you just described.

 

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)
38. I believe he bought the guns locally.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:33 PM
Jul 2012

2 at Bass Pro Shop, and 2 at another local retailer. It was reported that he bought the ammo in small lots by mail order... that might have been the case for the drum magazine and body armor also.

 

votedems999

(10 posts)
26. If he was a Muslim, the FBI would have opened his packages!
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 11:48 AM
Jul 2012

The FBI is so racist against Islam...thank god they are not looking over everyone at Colorado if you are white...but still, I can't see why the feds missed this one!

 

oldhippie

(3,249 posts)
34. "...still, I can't see why the feds missed this one!"
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:17 PM
Jul 2012

Do you think there are Feds somewhere monitoring the contents of every package being sent to every purchaser from every site on the internet? Really?

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
35. Means nothng by itself
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:18 PM
Jul 2012

If you are receiving packages that need a signature then work is the best place to do it since you are not home during the day.

Even with 20/20 hindsight this doesn't seem like a piece of this puzzle that would have prompted anyone to think "hmmm, gets a lot of packages at work so he must be planning to shoot up a movie theater."

 

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)
41. I have stuff shipped to work.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:37 PM
Jul 2012

Daily UPS delivery + place of business- saves shippers a dollar or two, which they appreciate. Plus I can sign for it, and its not left on my doorstep.

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)
49. Well, there is the problem that someone's mail is their business alone.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:50 PM
Jul 2012

Seriously, "confronting" someone for receiving parcels because they, in your opinion, aren't in a demographic that should be allowed to do such things without being interrogated?

frylock

(34,825 posts)
52. i have stuff delivered to work all the time..
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 01:28 PM
Jul 2012

anything from motorcycle tires to complete bicycles, as well as other big-ticket items like cameras. i would take offense if anyone from work were to ask "What on earth are you ordering that is being sent here so regularly?" my answer would be nunya damn business.

 

jtuck004

(15,882 posts)
53. In 2001, people wondered why one would want to learn to fly, but not land, an airplane.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 01:40 PM
Jul 2012


Lots of things slip by...

WillowTree

(5,325 posts)
54. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, isn't it?
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 01:53 PM
Jul 2012

Unless the packages were marked "CAUTION: EXPLOSIVES", it would have been none of anyone else's damned business what he was ordering. There have been periods of time when I did quite a bit of online ordering and had my packages delivered to me at work since I wouldn't be at home to accept them. And I would have taken considerable umbrage at such nosiness.

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