Vector Arms

[rubberneck]

My early morning routine includes a cup of coffee and a half hour to read the local paper (the Newark Star Ledger). Today there was a story about the death of John List the infamous mass murder who killed his entire family and then spent 18 years on the lamb. The story started on page one but concluded in the New Jersey section of the paper, since this section has more to do with local politics I usually skip it. Today I didn't and found a really disturbing article.

Under the last paragraph of they List story was a short report of a Rutherford man that was arrested for being in possession of assault weapons (NJ law) and for modifying them to fire full auto (NFA). The report said 35 "illegally" modified weapons were taken from his home. Considering most LEO in these parts think every M-4, regardless of configuration, is an illegal assault weapon i'll take that accusation with a giant grain of salt. Stupid hurts and if Joseph Leone of Rutherford altered his guns to fire full auto than it's on him. What caught my eye was the following (since the story isn't published online I cannot link to it):

Police began investigating Leone after he ordered parts for an Uzi submachine gun from a Utah manufacturer, said Detective Sgt. Tom Ryan, of the State Police's street gang unit. The maker, Vector Arms, contacted police after receiving the order. Troopers interviewed Leone when he picked up the parts in New Jersey.

I have no reason to doubt the account given by Sgt Ryan that he was contacted by Vector after a customer made a legal purchase of gun parts. This disturbs me to no end. Vector had no idea that Leone was up to no good.

Instead of refusing to sell him the parts they processed the transaction and then called the NJ police to set up a sting. What if the guy is innocent and those 35 fully automatic assault weapons aren't automatic and are NJ compliant? In that case he has suffered through the indignity of being arrested, having his firearms confiscated and probably shelled out $30,000 in legal fees to clear his good name. I don't know about you guys but I won't give business to a company that will report you to the local authorities for purchasing legal parts. It makes me sick to think that a gun company would do something like this to a customer, as it could quite have easily happen to any one of us.


If some one questions the validity of this post it was reported on page 14 of the New Jersey section of today's Newark Star Ledger in the bottom right hand corner.

[tuff]

Intriguing way to treat your customers.... maybe it had something to do with shipping those parts to a ban state????

[rubberneck]

Originally Posted by tuff

Intriguing way to treat your customers.... maybe it had something to do with shipping those parts to a ban state????

If they were of the belief that it violated NJ law or that he was up to no good than they should have refused to process the transaction. Instead they sold the guy the parts and then set him up.

[CarlosDJackal]

Not trying to defend anyone here, I've never dealt with Vector Arms and probably never will (I'm not a big fan of Uzis). But there has got to be more to this story that meets the eye. What possible reason would they have to inform the authorities of a legal purchase unless they guy bought FA items and was stupid enough to indicate that he was going to do something illegal with the parts.

IF the subject did provide Vector Arms with some sort of information about his illegal intentions, then they may be obligated to take some sort of action. JM2CW.

[Lumpy196]

Originally Posted by CarlosDJackal

But there has got to be more to this story that meets the eye.

There ALWAYS is.