Reply #121: used in crimes? shurely not

[iverglas]

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6120761

PHILADELPHIA - May 4, 2008 (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police announced just before 8 a.m. Sunday that one person was arrested for the killing of a Philadelphia officer during a robbery, and they have the warrant to arrest another person.

The suspects were cold and calculated. Sources say as Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski was about to pull over the alleged criminals when one of the suspects said, "Bang him... get the rifle." Moments later at Schiller and Almond Street, investigators say Howard Cain emerged from a Jeep and fired an assault rifle, hitting and killing the 12-year veteran.

Deputy Police Commissioner William Blackburn describes the weapon as being, "similar to an AK-47. It's an SK. It's got tremendous firepower, and was loaded with 25 rounds. It's a deadly weapon."

... Liczbinski, 39-years-old and serving in the 24th District, encountered suspects from the holdup of a Bank of America branch inside the Shop Rite located at 3547 Aramingo Avenue around 11:26 a.m. Saturday. On the 2500 block of E. Schiller Street, Liczbinski found a dark-colored Jeep that the suspects used to get away. That's when police say Cain drew the SK and fired shots at Liczbinski, fatally wounding the officer.

I wonder whether they used handguns for committing the robbery, and just brought the rifle along ... for decoration.


http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/annette_john-hall/20080513_Annette_John-Hall__Why_do_we_buy_the_NRA_s_line_.html

In the aftermath of the cold-blooded killing of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski with a semiautomatic weapon, they made a written appeal to lawmakers in Harrisburg last week.

... Roy Vernick, a small businessman who lives in Warrington, bought his first gun in 1976 for safety. Today he owns three handguns. They're all registered and kept under lock and key in his home.

But when he and his wife go into Center City, chances are he's packing.

... He believes he represents the typical law-abiding gun owner who supports gun regulation.

And he wouldn't join the NRA if you paid him.

"I'll probably get shot for saying this, but I think they're a bunch of terrorists," Vernick says. "We don't have the right to own an AK-47 and we don't necessarily have the right to own a Glock with a 15-round magazine."

Vernick's opinion is shared by the 25,000 members of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, a new organization created to bring reason back to the gun issue.

Hmm. One firearm owner in the US who doesn't quite fit the model so oft paraded here ...