Arlington Man Loses Gun License Due To Blog About Tucson Shooting (Massachusettes)

[shadowrider]

ARLINGTON (CBS) – A blog threatening members of Congress in the wake of the Tucson, Arizona shooting has prompted Arlington police to temporarily suspend the firearms license of an Arlington man.

It was the headline “1 down and 534 to go” that caught the attention. “One” refers to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in the rampage, while 534 refers to the other members of the U.S. House and Senate.

Police are investigating the “suitability” of 39-year-old Travis Corcoran to have a firearms license

WBZ-TV’s Beth Germano reports.

“We certainly take this as a credible threat, and credible until we prove otherwise,” said Arlington police Captain Robert Bongiorno.

In his blog Corcoran writes, “It is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable to shoot indiscriminately. Target only politicians and their staff and leave regular citizens alone.”
Arlington Man Loses Gun License Due To Blog About Tucson Shooting

Travis Corcoran of Arlington

Police visited Corcoran’s home and found a “large amount” of weapons and ammunition. Sources told WBZ-TV that 11 guns were removed.

The length of the suspension, or whether Corcoran’s license will be revoked will be determined by the outcome of the investigation.

Corcoran runs an online comic book business, HeavyInk.com, in Arlington. His views prompted comic book writers like Paul Cornell to tweet his fans, “I can’t stop someone selling my books, but please don’t buy them from HeavyInk.” And another from writer Gail Simone, “You have my pity. May you grow a soul someday, because you desperately are in need of one.”

Corcoran, who has no criminal history, has not been arrested and does not face any charges. Arlington police saying they are working with the Capitol Police in their investigation, and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation have been alerted.

WBZ-TV’s Sera Congi contributed to this report.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/01/18/arlington-man-loses-gun-license-due-to-blog-about-tucson-shooting/

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Good. I'm glad I live in a Liberal state.

Where common sense reigns.

[shadowrider]

3. Note he has no criminal history and has NOT been arrested

If police arrested everyone that voiced this opinion about politicians or who have EVER joked about offing them, half the country would be locked up. He put it into writing, but he's no different than 4 friends standing in a backyard over the grill who say, "Kill 'em all and start over", then move on to talk about the game of the day. Are they less dangerous?

[elleng]

4. Some 'joke.'

:(

[jtrockville]

8. Half? I don't think so.

I hear many people say things like "throw the bums out", but I've NEVER heard anyone, even jokingly, mention KILLING a politician.

I think the response was apprioriate. Talk about killing someone is a threat, not a joke.

[shadowrider]

9. I may have overstated, but it'd be a big bunch n/t

[pnorman]

10. This isn't about if he's "arrestable",

but the "suitability" of him holding that firearms license.

[MineralMan]

11. Lousy joke, and I'm betting he wasn't laughing when he wrote it.

I call it a terroristic threat. That's against the law, and is a felony in most jurisdictions. Prosecute the asshole.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. He publicly voiced a desire to see politicians shot

Who wants to fool around with that?

[shadowrider]

13. Unless and until he actually does something OTHER than post

he's guilty of nothing.

That doesn't mean he isn't actually a threat
That doesn't mean he shouldn't be taken seriously
If he is a threat, he should be dealt with, on this point we agree.

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Got it - I thought you felt he should still have a firearms license nt

[shadowrider]

15. I'm a gun owner and 2A supporter.

That doesn't mean I don't have some common sense when stuff like this happens and I'm willing to see an individuals right (opposed to an individual right ala 2A) suspended or temporarily suspended until the person is professionally vetted.

In this specific case, I don't know if he'd have had the balls to actually do something, or if he was trying to goad others into doing it, or simply expressing anger at congress. That's for the feds/mental health people to determine.

[hlthe2b]

2. Absolutely right.... I hope this is the beginning of similar

response throughout the nation. No, owning a gun is not an absolute right when you post blatant threats. No, "free speech" is not without limits.

Good on them.

[elleng]

6. ...

:thumbsup:

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Good. Good. Good.

If this isn't a warning sign, what is?

We don't need another AZ situation.

[shadowrider]

7. It very well might be, I'm NOT disagreeing n/t

[lawodevolution]

16. yall are spot on in this thread, yes revoking his concealed carry license will guarantee that

he cannot carry his gun somewhere and kill someone. If they put up a sign that says "no gun zone" or if they simply wear a shirt that says "no gun zone withing 500 feet of me" this guy will have no way of actually carrying a gun up to that person and shooting them. It is a much better tactic to remove his permit and agitate him than to send someone to talk to him and possibly invite him to psychotherapy or something. I agree 100% that we should agitate the hell out of and push all possibly crazy people over the edge as that will make sure that they don't go and shoot at people.

Let's summarize:

1. no permit means he cannot physically carry his gun in public, without such permit the person will be confused when he fails to be able to lift his gun and put it in his pocket.
2. "no gun zone" signs creates a force field barrier against guns going into those zones
3. a guy who is angry and paranoid of the government and expresses his desire to kill will be less likely to go shoot someone if you revoke his permit and confirm is paranoia and cause agitation
4. Confiscation of his 11 or so firearms guarantees he does not have another one hidden somewhere or access to another one, it also will calm him down rather than increase his paranoia and it will certainly not agitate him and push him closer to doing something bad.

All this magical thinking leads me to wonder if gun control supporters suffer from schizotypal personality disorders.