Drivers Questioned On Guns At Federal Checkpoint

Drivers were quizzed about their shooting habits and had their vehicles searched by Forest and National Park rangers at a checkpoint in Redington Pass, Arizona this past weekend.

Although the checkpoint was ostensibly justified in the name of combating littering, the fact that gun owners are being pulled over and identified by the feds is certain to stoke apprehension amongst many in the second amendment community.Since most of Arizona is federal land, this also seems to be an effort to discourage the exercise of the second amendment in the state. While the feds are hyping the problem caused by empty bullet shells, they don’t seem as fussed about the piles of trash being left behind by illegal immigrants and drug smugglers as they pass back and forth between Mexico.

Unannounced checkpoints, historically associated with dictatorial regimes, are popping up in numerous different guises across America.

A “Constitution-free zone” which includes areas within 100 miles of the border has been put in place which authorizes US Border Patrol agents to set up checkpoints targeting two thirds of Americans who live within this buffer zone.

Infowars and CBS 10

And the attack on gun owners continues.

Educating shooters on not littering and picking up their brass is somehow an attack on gun owners? So gun owners are supposed to get a gree pass to litter on public lands?

Something the Dog Said wrote: Educating shooters on not littering and picking up their brass is somehow an attack on gun owners? So gun owners are supposed to get a gree pass to litter on public lands?

Of course not !
Do the feds need to forcibly search cars to "educate" shooters? This was about intimidation nothing else. If the feds are so concerned about trash in Coronado national forest how about they go after the illegals and drug smugglers who trash the forest every day. I've seen trash in some of those arroyos that would make the HP shooting area look like Coors field on game day.


Of course the shooters should not be littering, nor should they be shooting up the forest, killing trees. That causes shooting areas to be closed Shooters need to be aware and clean up after themselves.

Forest Service employees are not ICE agents, and can not go "after" illegal aliens. As per the actual news report and not the right wing blog, the checkpoint was very polite and respectful, educating the shooters on the littering laws and requesting that they pick up their spent rounds. Only a far right winger would object to such a checkpoint, as they did not "confiscate" weapons, demand registration or anything of the kind. The shooters were informed as they entered the shooting area that they would be checked on the way out to make sure they had picked up their spent rounds. If the shooters objected, then they could simply leave the area. The vehicles were also checked for drugs and contraband.

Why gun owners think they would have special dispensation to litter on public lands is beyond me.

Grady... do you actually consider InfoWars to be a credible site? That site is one Bavarian short of complaining about the Illuminati.

Really.

Seems to me a better way to insure shooters pick up their brass would be to have a ranger patrolling on foot in the area to talk with individuals rather than violating 4th Amendment rights.

I still don't see that this was any more of a violation of 4th Amendment rights than a DUI checkpoint...which has been ruled legal.

Something the Dog Said wrote: Forest Service employees are not ICE agents, and can not go "after" illegal aliens.

Seriously? Federal law enforcement agencies are not allowed to enforce federal laws now? I thought Obama had only sought to restrict State agencies (not to include the courts of course) from enforcing federal laws.

PrintSmith wrote:

Something the Dog Said wrote: Forest Service employees are not ICE agents, and can not go "after" illegal aliens.

Seriously? Federal law enforcement agencies are not allowed to enforce federal laws now? I thought Obama had only sought to restrict State agencies (not to include the courts of course) from enforcing federal laws.

And of course you must be kidding. Immigration control is within the purview of Immigration and Naturalization. The Agriculture Department of which the Forest Service is within, is charged with administering our federal forest lands. Just because one carries a badge under the Agriculture Department does not make you competent to investigate immigration control issues.

Something the Dog Said wrote: Forest Service employees are not ICE agents, and can not go "after" illegal aliens. As per the actual news report and not the right wing blog, the checkpoint was very polite and respectful, educating the shooters on the littering laws and requesting that they pick up their spent rounds. Only a far right winger would object to such a checkpoint, as they did not "confiscate" weapons, demand registration or anything of the kind. The shooters were informed as they entered the shooting area that they would be checked on the way out to make sure they had picked up their spent rounds. If the shooters objected, then they could simply leave the area. The vehicles were also checked for drugs and contraband.

Why gun owners think they would have special dispensation to litter on public lands is beyond me.

Most don't
Most shooters do pick up their crap, but like any group you have those that think the world is their disposal bin. If you've ever participated in one of the roadside pick up trash day, you'd be amazed at what gets tossed out the car windows.

The trash is within the national forest certainly park rangers do go after litter bugs.