42 replies to this topic

[gijive]

QUOTE (Arthur Fliegenheimer @ Oct 4 2005, 02:57 PM)

My case was on the Supreme Court's calendar but got bumped by Anna Nichole Smith.

Hah, that was a good one!

Too bad they don't release the PD registration forms as a general rule. Many guns were registered by Police agencies after WWII and in the 1950's. That kind of information would be invaluable to collector's who are trying to track the history of their gun. Especially the sale of many guns the last few years that have changed hands repeatedly because of ever increasing upward prices.

I thought I had seen someone post a Freedom of Information request on this list a couple of years back that had some earlier information. Maybe my memory is failing me in that respect. I thought some early PD registrations might be available.

Thanks for the interesting response.

[Lancer]

After reading Arthur's last post, it sounds like an appeal would be a waste of time.

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

QUOTE (PhilOhio @ Oct 5 2005, 10:02 AM)

Starting now.  Several days ago, I mailed off an FOIA request regarding the transfer history of my Thompson.  I mentioned that I was primarily interested in the uncensored registration documentation of the Maryland PD which originally owned the gun.  I also pointedly noted that, since the PD was not an entity whose personal privacy was protected, I expected to be receiving the information requested.  And so I do, one way or another. I hope I am getting unnecessarily steamed up, and that I will get what I asked for, without the delays which will end in grudging compliance anyway.  Look at it this way.  In just about every state in the union there is a sunshine law which would require the PD to let you Zerox the MG registration forms if you asked.  No big deal.  Who in the LE world could possibly care?  And now some conehead in D.C. says we can't have it?  Get serious.

Phil,

I am positive that you will not get these documents on your first application for them. Nor even on your second, or third, or maybe even fourth. My second request on appeal prompted a letter from Jesse M. Price, Disclosure Specialist, that began, "This is our FINAL response to your FOIA ........"

That is when I appealed it to Huff, twice. His last correspondence stated, "After careful consideration on this matter, I have determined that my initial decision as outlined in my letter to you was appropriate."

Then I appealed it to the so-called judicial review. All of this took over nine months of correspondence from the first FOIA request to the final rejected request on judicial appeal.

Unless you still have suction with Washington D.C. bureaucracies or hire an attorney who specializes in these matters, you better prepare to lay in a supply of asparagus for your pent up steam.