Records show vet denied right to buy gun over 1971 pot charge was never convicted

[ShooterInPA1]

Ron Kelly didn’t do it, even if he thought he did.

Kelly, who lives in Tomball, was outraged a few months ago when he failed a computerized background check required to buy a gun over a minor pot charge from 1971.

At the time of the rejection, he insisted that he’d been convicted of a misdemeanor, not a felony, and there was no justification for denying a right that he defended with a 20-year career in the Army.



This is a portion of a June 25, 2013 letter from the FBI to Ron Kelly letting him know about what appeared to be a criminal record blocking him from being able to buy a gun.

Following a July article in the Houston Chronicle, he spoke with politicians and lawyers and hoped for some resolution, perhaps some sort of waiver, that would one day allow him to be a gun owner.

The FBI, which runs the database that was used to reject Kelly, also reached out to try and sort out his situation.....

http://blog.chron.com/narcoconfident...ver-convicted/

[John222]

Ron Kelly didn’t do it, even if he thought he did.

Kelly, who lives in Tomball, was outraged a few months ago when he failed a computerized background check required to buy a gun over a minor pot charge from 1971.

At the time of the rejection, he insisted that he’d been convicted of a misdemeanor, not a felony, and there was no justification for denying a right that he defended with a 20-year career in the Army.



This is a portion of a June 25, 2013 letter from the FBI to Ron Kelly letting him know about what appeared to be a criminal record blocking him from being able to buy a gun.

Following a July article in the Houston Chronicle, he spoke with politicians and lawyers and hoped for some resolution, perhaps some sort of waiver, that would one day allow him to be a gun owner.

The FBI, which runs the database that was used to reject Kelly, also reached out to try and sort out his situation.....

http://blog.chron.com/narcoconfident...ver-convicted/

Pot was a serious crime in the early 70's. The feds were handing out manditory 10yr sentences in federal prison. Being a vet doesn't make him immune to pot laws. Personally I think pot should be 100% legal. So it is what it is.

[gnbrotz]

Pot was a serious crime in the early 70's. The feds were handing out manditory 10yr sentences in federal prison. Being a vet doesn't make him immune to pot laws. Personally I think pot should be 100% legal. So it is what it is.

What's your point? The charges were dismissed. There was never a conviction, so the prohibition was not appropriate under the law.

[GeneCC]

What's your point? The charges were dismissed. There was never a conviction, so the prohibition was not appropriate under the law.

Wasn't appropriate but the records were never properly checked.

It's going to get REALLY Interesting when "Mental Health Records" get added to the System.