On March 6, 2006, Angel Shamaya was arrested in his home by the SWAT team for having 3 firearms not lawfully registered in Michigan and for improper use of a communication device. Based on the information available, it sounds as though Mr. Shamaya's ex-girlfriend reported him to the police after a possible disagreement over the phone. At this time it is unclear whether or not Mr. Shamaya has committed any of the misdemeanor crimes he has been charged with. What is perfectly clear, however, is how quickly the government will move in to incarcerate and disarm a law-abiding gun owner if given the slightest opportunity.

In 2004 and 2005 the BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) conducted sting operations at gun shows in Richmond, Virginia. Those operations resulted in unlawful seizures of firearms and unnecessary harrassment of prospective law-abiding gun owners. This harrassment included intimidating prospective gun buyers by surrounding them and questioning their need for a firearm. The harrassment included following law-abiding gun owners to their homes and demanding to see the firearm they just purchased. Many of those targeted were women. Considering the fact that the notorious and most violent gang in America, MS-13, has heavy presence in Virginia, it is unclear why the BATFE chose to utilize its resources by targeting law-abiding gun owners. Their activities did nothing to reduce crime or catch the bad guys. Instead the BATFE had to testify before Congress to explain their actions.

In March, 2005 a Utah man was flying from Salt Lake City to Allentown, Pennsylvania with a change of planes in Newark, New Jersey. He was traveling with a firearm which he declared and stored in accordance with federal law. The man, Mr. Gregg Revell, was 100% within his rights under the law. Due to an airline-caused baggage error, Mr. Revell missed his connection from Newark to Allentown and had to stay overnight in New Jersey. When he checked in at Newark Airport the next morning to complete his travels, he again declared his firearm, as required by FAA regulations. He was then arrested for possession of a firearm without a New Jersey state license, and imprisoned in Essex County jail for five days until his family arranged bail, which had been initially set unusually high at $15,000 cash (no bond).

There was the cab driver in Connecticut who was arrested for using his firearm in self defense after a his passenger stabbed him in the neck. It is illegal for a cab driver to carry a firearm in Connecticut.

Anti-gun sentiment is alive and sick in America today. For many gun-banners the end justifies the means. Unlawful arrests, unusually high bail charges, harrassment, inventing crimes that serve no purpose, and forcing law-abiding gun owners into financial bankruptcy as a result of defending themselves in court are perfectly within reason to gun banners. These anti-gunners are operating within every segment of our society including law enforcement, the judicial system, the media, and the education system.

As gun owners, it is imperative that we stick together and protest the unlawful arrest and prosecution of gun-owners who have harmed none. This is the next wave of the gun-rights movement.

Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org