Last week, authorities seized somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 stolen guns from the property of an alleged opium and heroin trafficker in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
The gun thief, identified as Brent Nicholson, had stored the cache of guns in a warehouse and house near Pageland, according to WBTV.
Investigators were stunned at the sheer volume of stolen guns, which filled multiple tractor trailers.
“None of us have ever seen anything anywhere close to this,” said Chesterfield County Sheriff Jay Brooks. “No telling how many break-ins this will held [sic] wrap up.”
Police believe that Nicholson wasn’t the only one stealing firearms, but had help from associates. They estimate that at least 99 percent of the seized guns were stolen.
What’s puzzling is that there was no evidence that Nicholson was attempting to sell the stolen guns. Sheriff Brooks said, “(he) looks like a gun hoarder to be honest with you.”
This discovery had at least one neighbor scratching his head.
Brent Nicholson (Photo: Union County Sheriff’s Office)
“He’s always been a good cat, but you know, people do things,” said Rusty Fender, a neighbor.
Fender had difficulty making sense of the situation.
“What was you thinking? Why was you collecting that many firearms? What was you planning on doing with them? I mean was you planning on starting a riot?” questioned Fender.
In addition to the firearms, police found taxidermy supplies, 150 chainsaws, 4-wheelers and ammunition — most of which also appeared to be stolen.
“I don’t understand why he done the things he done, but I’m glad it’s off the streets,” said Fender.
Nicholson was already facing charges for the drug trafficking, but will now obviously face charges for theft and possession of stolen property.
Weird story. Weird guy.
Most states do not require registration. All require ATF paperwork be completed at purchase and a background check. It is not a felony to transport your firearms between states. Hunters do it all the time. Say you move from CA to Nevada, you can take your guns with you. It is generally not legal to sell guns to non residents directly with the ecception of some long guns depending on states involved. A non resident can buy a handgun but it must be shipped by the dealer to a dealer in that persons home state where they complete more ATF paperwork and another backgroung to take delivery. It is illegal for one person to buy a firearm for a third person, especially if that third person is nonresident of the state in which it was purchased or the third person is a felon or convicted of domestic battery. There are licenses required to carry them concealed in every state except one. Most states have laws regarding the way they are transported, unloaded, etc. Also a subpoena is not authorization to search a home. It is a document requiring you to appear in court. A search warrant is what they had to obtain to search his home. Also he had lots of other stolen property there. This is a very excessive number of firearms. I know plenty of collectors and none have any where near this number. Judging by photos they were not mostly shotguns but rifles of all sorts and shotguns. Please get facts and terms straight before doing a news story.
FYI, your facts are not quite all there either.
For starters when buying a gun across state lines, there is only one background check, done by the state where the purchaser resides using either the state resources or the FBI NICS system.
Second, you CAN purchase a firearm for a third party as a gift as long as you know that third party is not ineligible to own a firearm, for example a gift from father to son. It’s only a straw purchase if you are intentionally avoiding a background check for an ineligible person.
Third, Many states DO NOT have laws regarding the way guns are transported privately from point a to point b unless it’s hunting season, then they have requirements for keeping the chamber unloaded on long guns.
Fourth, More than a dozen states do NOT require a license to carry a concealed weapon, it’s called Constitutional Carry Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho (residents only), Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota (residents only; concealed carry only), Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming (residents only) plus Colorado does not require a permit to carry concealed in your home, business, or in your private vehicle, so you CAN carry a loaded hidden handgun in ALL those locations without a permit or license.
FYI, your facts are not quite all there either.For starters when buying a gun across state lines, there is only one background check, done by the state where the purchaser resides using either the state resources or the FBI NICS system.
Second, you CAN purchase a firearm for a third party as a gift as long as you know that third party is not ineligible to own a firearm, for example a gift from father to son. It\’s only a straw purchase if you are intentionally avoiding a background check for an ineligible person.
Third, Many states DO NOT have laws regarding the way guns are transported privately from point a to point b unless it\’s hunting season, then they have requirements for keeping the chamber unloaded on long guns.
Fourth, More than a dozen states do NOT require a license to carry a concealed weapon, it\’s called Constitutional Carry Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho (residents only), Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota (residents only; concealed carry only), Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming (residents only) plus Colorado does not require a permit to carry concealed in your home, business, or in your private vehicle, so you CAN carry a loaded hidden handgun in ALL those locations without a permit or license.
Probably just crazy. This guy was probably trading drugs for guns and didn’t even know most were stolen
This story smells worse than Hillary. Coming from the wrong side of the tracks, I know junkies and cons are about the only people that mess with stolen shit. Now. It doesn’t take but a few miscreants busted to spill the beans about where the stuff they stole is. Just to get out of a little time, or less time. There is no way possible that the local law, SBI, OR BATFE didn’t sniff this out in its beginning. Unless this guy is a Mexican cartel leader across the border. This story is either a true blue setup by our “FINE & JUST” gov’t leaders. Or the specifics of this story have been twisted way out of proportion. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t an accumulation of firearms tossed together from multiple states. That were supposed to be destroyed. And wouldn’t doubt the agencies they were collected from have no clue the firearms weren’t actually destroyed. I am interested in seeing how this is going to be used to plot against our 2nd amendment rights. How many of you also see this as being extremely suspect? Or am I just crazy?
James M. You sound crazy !! From my standpoint ! Any comments from you about aliens and ghosts next !! Lol