Prosecutor: 46 guns seized from Ind. man in militia plot

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib

Federal agents seized 46 guns as well as military-survival equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition last weekend at the home of a Hammond man described by prosecutors as an "insider" with a Michigan-based Christian militia group planning to kill police officers.

Thomas Piatek, 46, was denied bond today and ordered sent to federal court in Detroit to face charges with eight other individuals from Michigan and Ohio that they were members of a fringe group called Hutaree that planned a war against the government.

...

Friends and family said he never expressed extreme anti-government views and that he often talked about his activities in Michigan, describing it as "playing army."

"I knew he went up there and played army, but I didn't know anything about the overthrowing of government," said childhood friend, James Duha, of Whiting, who said Piatek helped his family when he had a stroke. "I'm surprised he had time to do what you're saying."


Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/03/indiana-man-to-appear-in-court-today-in-alleged-militia-plot.html

[maxsolomon]

1. o midwest how i miss thee

:sarcasm:

[crim son]

2. I'm only surprised

that the guy wasn't also a pastor at his local Christian church.

[tsstranger]

3. I own guns

And I firmly believe in defending myself, my wife and my home. I refuse to be a victim.

That said, I'm a gun owner who believes in sensible gun ownership.

46 guns? Thousands of rounds of ammo?

As I asked a similar gun nut here at work, let's say the government did come for your guns, which they won't, just how many rounds do you think you might get off BEFORE THEY BLOW UP YOUR FUCKING HOUSE?????

I'm not a member of the NRA, nor do I agree with the notion of 'any gun, any ammo, for anyone'.

[Mopar151]

6. A lot of folks would be astounded at the private arsenals

In existence out there, and the amounts of stockpiled ammo. If this guy wasn't into five figures, or did'nt have a reloading factory in his gararge, he's not even a player.

[Flaneur]

13. I'm staying with a friend in South Dakota...

He has a nice gun case with some hunting rifles downstairs.

But upstairs, in the bedroom I'm using, he has about 25 more rifles and shotguns, hanging on the walls, standing in the corners.

He has no politics, but he sure likes rifles. He goes hunting, too.

[Mojorabbit]

20. I know lots of people like that myself

To a collector that isn't a whole lot of guns.

[X_Digger]

7. 4 boxes of 22lr bulk ammo at wal-mart = "thousands of rounds"

Buying ammo in bulk is cheaper, especially with prices having been so high and ammo so scarce recently. So I wouldn't put much significance behind 'thousands of rounds of ammo'.

And 46 guns? I know guys who collect WWII era gear that have twice that amount. To an era specific collector, 46 would be a good start.

Not saying this guy isn't a militia nut, but the sensationalism of these numbers isn't really as significant as it's being made out to be.

[Aristus]

10. I don't think it's the number of guns at issue, it's the firing capability.

If a collector of WWII pieces went crazy with one of his M1 Garand's, he'd be able to get off just eight shots before someone could safely grab the thing away from him, buttstroke him to the head, and put him down for the count.

Notice that the "kill everybody" gun-crazies never show up with a one-shot derringer...

[X_Digger]

12. You assume US only?

Most collectors I know go for a particular country or region- com-bloc, or finnish, or chinese..

ie, German Gewehr 43 with a detachable mag, etc..

even the bolt action enfield.. heck.. see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m1yN-3n0FU

(5 seconds between reloads)

*eta: Is there another story detailing what kind of weapons were seized?

[Aristus]

15. I did.

Oh man. Somebody out there with an MG43? Whew! That's trouble waiting to happen...

[X_Digger]

17. Ehn.. lots of collectors out there, don't seem to be many problems..

Again, my issue with this guy isn't how many guns he has, or whether or not any of them have detachable magazines, but to what end he might have been planning to use them.

(Obviously he's not convicted yet- if he isn't, I have no problem with him getting them all back.)

[melm00se]

36. i buy

ammo whenever it's on sale.

I probably have 2-3000 (most of it .22 rim fire)rounds in the house right now (but then again I burn through 500 rounds every 2 weeks or so); 2 hand guns, 2 shotguns and 1 rifle.

[Bette Noir]

4. See? They were out to take away his guns.

[peacetalksforall]

5. What they claim is that Obama is going to come and get their guns - FOR NO REASON. I wonder

if any of the other gun loving militia, have agreed that it appears that the law enforcers probably have a reason on this.

[Kali]

11. ...

:spray: :rofl:

if that isn't a DUsy, I don't now what is, no matter your position on the issue
:thumbsup:

[Myrina]

8. Interesting ... Hammond is up Hwy 65 from Indy, and ...

.... yesterday some knucklehead broke into the Reserve Armory here and stole a Military Humvee, headed up Highway 65 with it, finally went off road the next county up and somehow the State Troopers caught up with him.

Bobblehead newspeople around here are flummoxed trying to figure out what his motive was. :shrug:

[formercia]

39. The Humvee would make him invincible

and sure to win the style award. Add that to his custom-made size XXXXXL tiger-stripe cammies and 1000 mw Argon laser gunsight....

[The Straight Story]

9. Owning guns is legal (nt)

[depakid]

14. Not any more for this guy...

[Tempest]

19. The number of guns he owned is not the issue

It's what he planned to do with them.

[aikoaiko]

37. Perfect comment .

Thank you.

[hollowdweller]

16. I probably have near that amount

I haven't counted lately but last time I did I was in the high 30's.

Plus when ammo was cheap I bought several cases so I probably have several thousand rounds. Probably don't have 1000 in any one caliber though.

But I don't have any of the AK's or military copies. Most of mine are either antiques, target guns or hunting guns.

To me a couple of AK's with 3000 rounds of ammo all loaded into clips would be more disturbing than 46 guns that might include a single shot shotgun, some bolt actions, some antique guns and guns typical of a gun collector rather than an anti gov't whacko.

[Arkana]

18. Fucking loon.

He'll spend a long time in the can for this one.

[ck4829]

21. K&R

[kpete]

22. Prosecutors: 46 Guns Found In Home Of Alleged Hutaree Member

Source: Talking Points Memo

Prosecutors: 46 Guns Found In Home Of Alleged Hutaree Member
Justin Elliott | April 1, 2010, 9:18AM

FBI agents found 46 guns and 13,000 rounds of ammunition in the Indiana home of one of the nine alleged members of the Hutaree Christian militia, prosecutors said at a hearing Wednesday.

That man, Thomas Piatek, was ordered held without bond and will face charges with the other charged Hutaree members in Detroit.

..................................

Among other things, prosecutors alleged that Josh Stone posted a message on the Hutaree Web site that the group was ready "to go to war." That prompted the action by the Feds, ABC reports.

Another of the charged men, Kristopher Sickles, allegedly "killed his cat so he could 'see if he had it in him to kill something he cared about,' prosecutors said, according to ABC.



Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/prosecutors_reveal_details_in_hutaree_hearing.php?ref=fpblg

[Heidi]

23. Totally understandable. After all, who wants to be caught short of guns

and ammo when rapture rolls around? :eyes:

[florida08]

28. LOL

:spray: dang..almost choked on my coffee

[TreasonousBastard]

24. Where do these guys get the money for all this shit? And...

why kill the cat, not his wife or kid?

[Javaman]

27. I always wonder about that myself...

being a militia nut certainly is a very costly hobby. This doesn't even take into account the body armor this nut must have also bought. That stuff is expensive.

I garden, it's much cheaper and better for me than eating bullets. ;)

[Mopar151]

32. Morgtage the house, raid the college fund, save your change

Deal in guns 'n ammo, to those who can't own them legally (or drunks/gamblers, who will sell cheap when they need money badly) - be a 'gun show" dealer - buy ammo in bulk, surplus from the Eastern Bloc countries. Buy spent cartridges ("brass"), and reload them. Steal them from the National Guard (I know of a 30,000 round hoard from this).

[DrDan]

25. strictly for self-defense . . .

Who knows when one will be subject to 46 incidents necessitating the use of a gun.

[Javaman]

26. That's 2+ guns for every finger and toe.

"damn it, Vern!! The gun on my pinky toe on my left foot is out of ammo again!!! Damn it!"

[slackmaster]

34. My requirement for my collection is at least one for every year old I am

I'm 52 and my collection is a bit ahead of schedule.

[Javaman]

38. Mine is the hairs on my head.

I'm completely bald.

[HereSince1628]

29. I know this is a dumb question, but is there a legal limit

on either the number of guns or ammunition a person can maintain?

[jody]

30. No if possession is legal. n/t

[HereSince1628]

31. Thanks.

Numbers always seem to get used in such reports, the same thing with Waco.

Legal doesn't mean it can't be suspicious.

[slackmaster]

35. Some localities have fire codes that regulate the manner in which ammunition must be stored

Over a certain amount. Small amounts (e.g. thousands of rounds) aren't regulated.

There are no regulations on the number of firearms a person can own.

[buckrogers1965]

40. Small collection.

Nothing compared to what I have seen in Ohio.

[slackmaster]

33. 46 isn't much of a collection, "thousands" of rounds totally inadequate

Anyone who doesn't have at least 50 working firearms and tens of thousands of rounds of ammo isn't prepared for even the mildest SHTF situation.