Larry Vickers, a well-known firearms expert, instructor, and retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, entered a guilty plea on October 19th, 2023, to two felony charges as part of a broader indictment involving illegal acquisition of machine guns and other regulated firearms by five individuals.
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A United Front in Times of Adversity
Vickers, recognized for his vast influence within the gun community, has broken his usual silence with a public statement expressing remorse and ownership of his actions.
Amidst the legal turmoil, he has drawn an outpouring of support from industry partners and the community at large.
In his statement, Vickers acknowledges the support from friends and partners, stating that the strength lent by the community has been a beacon during his personal and legal battles.
Having faced both cancer and depression alongside this legal struggle, the support he’s received has been instrumental in maintaining a positive outlook.
Background of the Case
The case, which has shaken the core of the firearms industry, involves Sean Reidpath Sullivan, James Christopher Tafoya, Matthew Jeremy Hall, James Sawyer, and Vickers.
Notable among the accused are Hall and Sawyer, who served as Chiefs of Police in North Carolina and North Dakota, respectively, and Sullivan, an Intelligence Analyst with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
The conspiracy, which spanned from June 2018 to March 2021, involved the deceitful procurement of firearms under the pretense of law enforcement use, only for the weapons to be allegedly resold for profit or retained for personal use.
Legal Implications
With Vickers having pleaded guilty and the potential for prison time looming over his head, the seriousness of the charges is evident.
Vickers has additionally admitted to breaching U.S. sanctions against a foreign firearms manufacturer, a confession that places him at risk for a sentence that could amount to 25 years.
For the other defendants, convictions could bring up to five years for each firearms-related charge, with Sullivan facing possibly longer due to additional counts.
However, as the legal process unfolds, it is critical to remember that indictments are not synonymous with guilt, and all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A Wider Critique
The case has drawn commentary from the Second Amendment Foundation’s Lee Williams, who questions the motives behind the ATF’s targeting of Vickers.
In a recent article, Williams argues that Vickers’ plea may have been influenced by financial pressures rather than clear evidence of importing weapons from the scrutinized Russian arms manufacturer.
He suggests that the legal victory may have been more about convenience and headline-making than justice.
Williams also highlights the peculiar nature of the exotic weapons requests by police chiefs and the ATF’s approval of such requests, raising doubts about the agency’s role and efficiency.
Furthermore, he posits a potential challenge to the National Firearms Act’s constitutionality, especially following recent legal precedents.
Looking Ahead
As the legal proceedings continue, the firearms community watches with bated breath. The case not only challenges an individual but also engages broader questions about federal firearms regulations and law enforcement’s role.
Vickers’ predicament has stirred a dialogue on justice and the constitutionality of current firearms legislation.
As Vickers and his supporters navigate these troubled waters, the outcome of this case may have far-reaching implications for the Second Amendment rights and the future of firearms ownership in America.
As always, stay tuned for updates.
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18 USC 241
Laws are laws, no matter who says them. Do not break the law; instead, vote for those who will alter it. Despite assurances from a certain politician, you still run the risk of going to jail.
Hey is it possible for someone to leave a comment using my name? There are comments I agree with but didn’t make and they say they are from BobW. What the hell?
Since there are just a few of us who actually want to fight a lawful battle against gun control, I can’t understand what the pro-2nd community is trying to accomplish.
This is a part of law, wherein the supposed experts and attorney’s seem to completely ignore. The U.S. Constitution COMMANDS that the states maintain a militia, and of all the state statutes that I have been able to read, they also affirm that.
This is what the court ruled in 1939; “The signification attributed to the term Militia appears from the debates in the Convention, the history and legislation of Colonies and States, and the writings of approved commentators. These show plainly enough that the Militia comprised all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense. “A body of citizens enrolled for military discipline.” And further, that ordinarily, when called for service these men were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves and of the kind in common use at the time.”
The problem is corruption, propaganda, and outright lies. Every state is required to have an ORGANIZED, ARMED, and DISCIPLINED MILITIA acting in accordance with, and EXECUTING the Law. We don’t have that, but we do have a bunch of ignorant people claiming to be militia who simply muddy the water.
Militia is the only recognized constitutional authority “to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions”. Lawfully there can be no other agency granted such power. Not the National Guard, who are “Troops of War”, the FBI, DHS, ATF, and a host of other agencies.
At this point, the so-called pro-2nd organizations have painted themselves into a corner, because they can’t admit that they’ve been lying through their teeth on this. There needs to be a change in the leadership of those organizations to actively return the rule of law as it was debated, and ratified by the authors of the Constitution.
What I’ve learned over the years is that most people do not want to know the truth.
I tell people all the time that the law is the law. If you don’t like the law, vote for people that will change the law but DON’T BREAK THE LAW. You can end up in prison even if some dumb ass politician, like you know who, tells you it’s ok.
“An unconstitutional act is not a law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is, in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed.” Norton v Shelby County, 118 US 425
If you read the Constitution, and if we had lawyers who worried more about law than their pocket books, this would not be an issue. “We the People” have allowed these laws to pass because we did not want to be bothered enforcing our part of the law, which requires some Duty.
Read my other comment.
I’ve never been a Vickers fan, don’t really know much about him, but I still think this is a bunch of crap.
High-profile people are what they’re after. It’s like the medieval practice of hanging the heads of criminals on the town’s wall as a warning to others.
Well, whatever it is that he ends up getting penalized for, I hope he can bounce back from it.
Many of US might end up like Larry Vickers.
Don’t break the law and you have nothing to worry about
Gee, Bob… I guess we don’t have to worry about the ATF “re-interpretating” decades-old definitions and/or certain states deciding that some guns aren’t “arms” as referenced in the 2nd Amendment. No… we don’t have anything at all to be concerned about!
BTW, Bob… That was sarcasm in case you couldn’t figure it out.
Frank, yours is an appropriate response to bob.
Hey Bob W – You sound vaccinated (and boosted) and likely supported all actions taken against brave people who resisted the Covid Clot Shot mandates and Vaccine Passport laws. You are totalitarian (go look that up).
There’s a document you should also read from 1776…”whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…,”
You are far from correct on who I am Elmer. Why do you feel it necessary to get personal? I’m just suggesting obey they law.
Bob W, we don’t know what law he broke. This is lawfare and it’s practiced every day to make an example of people. Break them and it discourage others.
Crimes far more serious are ignored because it’s (D)ifferent.
You’re right buddy, I was vaccinated and boosted twice. I also wore a mask every time I came in contact with some dumbass who thought Covid was a hoax. Im a three time cancer survivor with asthma and a bunch of other shit I got as a New York City Firefighter from fighting a fire at the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the weeks after. I’m also a U S Army veteran which gives me the right to give my opinion weather you agree with it or not. That being said, thanks to the vaccine and boosters I got Covid twice and not only didn’t I not die like a million other Americans did, I felt fine. And you might want to re read that document from 1776 and not just the parts you agree with. Read the whole thing. And while you’re at it read that other one written in 1787.
Bob W is from New York, Vaxxed and Boosted and thinks masks work. OK, this makes more sense.
Can we get you to say next, “I used to vote Republican until that Trump started doing his Mean Tweets”.
My gosh Sir, you come from a city that arrested people for going into restaurants without COVID passports and still deny people the right to Keep and Bear Arms which is an inalienable right affirmed by the US Constitution. You really need to read the US Constitution.
Some of ATF rules and interpretations are far from law, yet enforced. Vague and poorly defined, they are meant to ensnare people. Perhaps you should stop, read and research before you fire off a “witty” comment.
Larry Vickers plead guilty to obtain machine guns and other regulated firearms from foreign sources (Russia?) under false pretenses and resold them for profit or kept for personal enjoyment. The law on that seems pretty clear, what part is “vague and meant to ensnare” in your mind? Not being witty…
OK, maybe Bob never tweeked his taxes and paid every cent he has owed to the federal ,local and state government. And maybe Bob has never has he gone over the speed limit, all possible but NOT probable.
You must have noticed Bob that very powerful people are breaking the law on a regular basis while creating laws that defy the US Constitution. The 2A laws in your state are probably the focus of political operatives who intend ignore recent and long standing court decisions while banning and restricting many firearms that are currently legal to own.
If you find your property will soon become illegal, how will you respond? If you comply with un-Constitutional laws then have you broken then have you broken highest law in the land?