Deseret News | Appeals court rules in favor of Ethiopian gun buyer

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Appeals court rules in favor of Ethiopian gun buyer

SGT Jensen | 8:07 p.m. Sept. 25, 2009

Score another victory for the lawful gun owner! Great ruling!!

Utah Jazz | 5:29 a.m. Sept. 26, 2009

There are countless young White Utah residents who legally own guns, play video games and listen to rap music with usual anti police lyrics...How come they're not all picked up?

J peterman | 7:50 a.m. Sept. 26, 2009

atm card being found in his car unused??sounds to me like his roommates planted it in his car fearing the nut with three AKs may go postal on them !would make an easier case for the police in arresting him

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 10:47 a.m. Sept. 26, 2009

leave him lone! Nothing wrong doing. Let him accomplish his goal. Education and have his degree.

M O'Neil | 10:56 a.m. Sept. 26, 2009

Hmm. Providing incorrect numbers for the form, even though they're clearly his ID numbers, so there's no intent to deceive. Possessing a roommate's card, even though he didn't use it, so he hasn't actually stolen money. It sounds like they're desparate to find something, anything, on this guy. Why not try getting him for jaywalking too while you're at it, that'd be another splendid use of our tax dimes. These dirtbags need to be kicked out of government.

utha | 11:00 a.m. Sept. 26, 2009

people open your eyes if someone put it what shall he do

Solomon | 11:39 a.m. Sept. 26, 2009

I do not see what this guy would do with three AK-47. He was most probably planning to smuggle them into his native country so that they would be used for criminal or probably terrorist acts, as if there are no enough guns already.

Anonymous | 4:48 p.m. Sept. 26, 2009

I am not an IRA member and do not own any weapons. But I am sure that you will not find many prosecutors who would spend taxpayer's money prosecuting false information charges against one who was not hiding his identity. The police prejudiced the prosecutor and pursuaded him to file charges and pushed for the maximum charges because they believe that this black kid from Africa with a foreign accent must be dangerous to his white roommates and the rest of us. Now in October when he is released, he still has his weapons. What are these people thinking. This legal process was not cheap. It cost the county more than it would have cost to spend some time with the kid to find out what this was all about and some training or make some clear rules about where you cannot bring your guns or some other way of improving instead of increasing the chances that things will go wrong in the future. I do not know the answer but I am sure jailing this kid over these charges was wrong.

Mad World | 7:14 p.m. Sept. 26, 2009

If this kid was't crazy before, he sure will be now after spending all this time in prison for nothing. Not to mention, he will still legally get his assualt rifles returned to him as he has no felony convictions. I'm glad I don't live in Utha!

Gabriel | 7:45 p.m. Sept. 26, 2009

He deserves Justice where Justice is respected. I won't interfere with the "rights to bear arms" but my question is ...why does he have to waste his money on Guns while he is a student? If he thought that he wasn't safe enough to live in Utah without protection, He should have been moving to another state to where it is more a multi-cultural and safe. I believe many who are immigrated from Africa didn't think that they will end-up "Dead" in the United States of America after leaving all the dangerous places such as the Indean Ocean, Sahara Desert, the Rift Valley areas, The Sub-Sahara crooked and dangerous Police Men and their own origin where there is a group of thugs under the protection of a regime. Sometimes, The United States is more unsafe than any other country and that might be the reason that he wanted to have 3 weapons but as far as the ATM cards concerned, he didn't steal or take his roomate's money out of the bank, then he should be clear. It can easily planted by the same ppl who called a police on him.

System worked | 7:36 a.m. Sept. 27, 2009

He was not convicted of the charges brought against him.

That does not mean he is a harmless "student" or that he was not planning evil deeds. It just means they could not find enough evidence to convict him.

Perhaps if he feels unsafe here, he should go back to his native country and study, buy guns or whatever there.

Bravo to the cops and courts for doing their job.

Phil | 7:05 p.m. Sept. 27, 2009

This is harassment by state or local officials. He has obvious done nothing criminal. Harassment is criminal and DA, cops and roomates need maximum jail time 58 counts for harassment or 29 years.

stupid people | 5:50 p.m. Sept. 30, 2009

I am really sick of stupid people why does he have 3 ak's you know what who cares. he did nothing wrong and how many guns that was bought legally committed any crimes. I bet he got them for a great deal knowing that stupid people are going to try to take away guns that only cause gun prices to go up and I would bet he was planning on selling them to pay for school. DUH!
the room mates are crazy and yes I agree with Phil should be put in jail for harassment. The over zealous police officers should lose their post certifications and made to go flip burgers. Our courts are a joke you are guilty until proven innocent hell did no one listen to the JR High history teachers????? Come on

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