Gun dealer arrested
By Gabriel Leiner/ Staff Writer
Friday, January 20, 2006


   Federal agents seized more than 90 guns from the Farm Lane home of Richard Feinberg last week and charged him with dealing firearms without a license.   Some of the weapons sold by Feinberg may have been traced to criminal activity, according to a press release from Michael Sullivan, US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

   Feinberg, of 15 Farm Lane, was arrested Thursday, Jan. 12 for dealing firearms without a license, according to the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF).

   ATF agents seized more than 90 weapons from Feinberg’s home, including two suspected machine guns, for which Feinberg was not licensed, said Daniel Kumor, acting special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in New England.

   "Early that morning (on Jan. 12), federal agents, including members of the ATF, executed a search warrant at ’We Are Guns,’ owned by Feinberg, and we are still cataloging guns found at Feinberg’s residence," Kumor said.

   Kumor said he believes there is evidence Feinberg sold 29 guns unlawfully since June 2005.

   Feinberg, 56, was arraigned and charged for dealing firearms without a license in federal court on the same day, Jan. 12, and according to Sullivan’s release, Feinberg faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

   The investigation has also revealed that some of the weapons may have been traced to criminal activity, according to Sullivan’s release.

   Feinberg was released on $50,000 cash bail Jan. 12 and will return to federal court Feb. 13.

   Feinberg sold the guns through an online vending site called "We Are Guns," that states on its main page, "’We Are Guns’ is a licensed exporter of firearms."

   Feinberg’s site stated that it was selling "Massachusetts Compliant Guns" made by Beretta, Glock, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, all in the price range of $300 to $800. The site also listed Bushmaster Rifles from $800 to $1200 and an "August 2005 Special" as a Barrett Semi-Automatic 50 caliber rifle.  

   According to Sullivan’s release, Feinberg previously held a valid license and surrendered it in June 2005 due to his failure to comply with federal regulations. But on six occasions since that time, Feinberg was accused of selling firearms to undercover ATF agents.

   The case is still under investigation by Special Agent James McNally of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn A. MacKinlay, Project Safe Neighborhoods firearm program coordinator of Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit.

What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'?

Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'?

One that has been function checked and appears to be select fire or full auto but has not been confirmed with live ammo yet?

That's what he gets for having a shoe-lace on the premises.  He's gonna do time now!

ETA:  I suppose if they can't get one to go FA the regular way they can always get one of "those" agents we've all heard about.  Like the one who considered a broken firing pin on a gun that was slam-firing to be a "conversion".

Seriously, it sounds like this guy was a real moron and the kind of guy who makes honest dealers look bad, which just gives the gun grabbers more "ammunition".  Probably a good thing he is out of business.

He was running a business called "We are Guns" and advertising, and selling for profit - AFTER having his FFL pulled for failure to follow the rules?

If that's the case, he is going to jail for being stupid.  




On the other hand, if he was just selling off excess inventory, left over from when his business was killed by losing his FFL, is that really such a terrible crime?

He's got quite a website with active listings on auction arms... Quite a dumbshit if the allegations are true..

Quoted: He was running a business called "We are Guns" and advertising, and selling for profit - AFTER having his FFL pulled for failure to follow the rules? If that's the case, he is going to jail for being stupid.   On the other hand, if he was just selling off excess inventory, left over from when his business was killed by losing his FFL, is that really such a terrible crime?

I don't think that'd be a problem - but if he's buying new stuff and then re-selling it for a profit, that'd be a no-no for sure.

Quoted: That's what he gets for having a shoe-lace on the premises.  He's gonna do time now!

Yes it is a crime to sell off his inventory.  He can't do background check and who knows what the hell those guns will be involved in.  And if you buy guns and then turn around and sell them for a small profit then you too will be breaking the law.  

Quoted: Yes it is a crime to sell off his inventory.  He can't do background check and who knows what the hell those guns will be involved in.  And if you buy guns and then turn around and sell them for a small profit then you too will be breaking the law.

If he's shipping them out of state to a valid FFL, he doesn't need to do a background check.

he'll have his day in court, that's what court is for

"These aren't the guns you are looking for."

Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'?

It is a gun the ATF figures they can get to double or triple a few times.
Given enough tow straps, light primer ammo, and shoe strings, etc, they can make anything double.

Quoted: Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'? It is a gun the ATF figures they can get to double or triple a few times. Given enough tow straps, light primer ammo, and shoe strings, etc, they can make anything double.

Wow, some of you guys are really paranoid. Say a cop finds an M16A1.  He does a function check, you remember those from boot camp, right?  The function check makes it appear the gun is select fire.  the markings "M16A1" are certainly consistant with select fire. It has a fully auto bolt carrier, and the owner says its select fire.  the police report is still going to read "suspect machinegun" becuase it hasnt been confirmed with live ammo yet.

Same with dope.  you find a bindle of meth. it looks like meth, its pacjkaged like meth, the owner says its meth, you have meth parapheranlia, and it test positive with a prsumptive test for meth.  its still written as "suspected methamphetamine" unitl the crime lab does formal analysis.

Quoted: Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'? One that has been function checked and appears to be select fire or full auto but has not been confirmed with live ammo yet?

No silly, a suspected machine gun is a rifle with a detachable magazine, pistol grip, and bayonet lug.

Let the court decide his fate.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'? It is a gun the ATF figures they can get to double or triple a few times. Given enough tow straps, light primer ammo, and shoe strings, etc, they can make anything double. Wow, some of you guys are really paranoid. Say a cop finds an M16A1.  He does a function check, you remember those from boot camp, right?  The function check makes it appear the gun is select fire.  the markings "M16A1" are certainly consistant with select fire. It has a fully auto bolt carrier, and the owner says its select fire.  the police report is still going to read "suspect machinegun" becuase it hasnt been confirmed with live ammo yet. Same with dope.  you find a bindle of meth. it looks like meth, its pacjkaged like meth, the owner says its meth, you have meth parapheranlia, and it test positive with a prsumptive test for meth.  its still written as "suspected methamphetamine" unitl the crime lab does formal analysis.

Its not paranoia.  It is a verifiable fact that the ATF has taken malfunctioning semi-autos, observed the slam-fire, and then charged the owner with owning an unregistered mg.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'? It is a gun the ATF figures they can get to double or triple a few times. Given enough tow straps, light primer ammo, and shoe strings, etc, they can make anything double. Wow, some of you guys are really paranoid. Say a cop finds an M16A1.  He does a function check, you remember those from boot camp, right?  The function check makes it appear the gun is select fire.  the markings "M16A1" are certainly consistant with select fire. It has a fully auto bolt carrier, and the owner says its select fire.  the police report is still going to read "suspect machinegun" becuase it hasnt been confirmed with live ammo yet. Same with dope.  you find a bindle of meth. it looks like meth, its pacjkaged like meth, the owner says its meth, you have meth parapheranlia, and it test positive with a prsumptive test for meth.  its still written as "suspected methamphetamine" unitl the crime lab does formal analysis.

No, we're not paranoid-we just know that they didn't send street cops to arrest a man for firearm violations of this alleged order. Doesn't take a mental giant to hold the trigger down and rack the action a few times.... If the hammer falls without further manipulation of the trigger with each cycling, then you probably do in fact have a machine gun in your hands.

We are only as suspicious of the .gov because of their past behavior-it's called a survival instinct. The Federal Government has proven time and again that they will completely ruin a man's life for a sound byte and a flash in the paper, actual jury verdict be damned. You wouldn't think it was funny if they kicked your door in, arrested you, seized your home in everything in it, then siezed your bank account so that you couldn't mount an effective legal defense....

You must be new, right?

ETA: Because Huked on Foniks Werkd fore Me.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What the Hell is a 'suspected machine gun'? It is a gun the ATF figures they can get to double or triple a few times. Given enough tow straps, light primer ammo, and shoe strings, etc, they can make anything double. Wow, some of you guys are really paranoid. Say a cop finds an M16A1.  He does a function check, you remember those from boot camp, right?  The function check makes it appear the gun is select fire.  the markings "M16A1" are certainly consistant with select fire. It has a fully auto bolt carrier, and the owner says its select fire.  the police report is still going to read "suspect machinegun" becuase it hasnt been confirmed with live ammo yet. Same with dope.  you find a bindle of meth. it looks like meth, its pacjkaged like meth, the owner says its meth, you have meth parapheranlia, and it test positive with a prsumptive test for meth.  its still written as "suspected methamphetamine" unitl the crime lab does formal analysis. Its not paranoia.  It is a verifiable fact that the ATF has taken malfunctioning semi-autos, observed the slam-fire, and then charged the owner with owning an unregistered mg.

That pretty much covers it.
I trust my local PD.
I do not trust the ATF.
They have a history of lies, abuse, and manufacturing evidence.