Rocket Launcher Found In Apartment No Charges Filed

[bijou]

HOUSTON -- Police went to a southwest Houston apartment to break up a disturbance but ended up finding something else, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

rocket launcher

...
They found an AT-4 shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. It can shoot a missile nearly 1,000 feet through buildings and tanks.

 ...According to court documents, officers also found Jihadist writings that allegedly belonged to Yansane. The woman didn't want to talk to KPRC Local 2 about that, either.

"I don't know," she said. "You'll have to ask the police."

Yansane was charged with criminal trespassing and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to three days in jail, which he has already served. No charges related to the rocket launcher or writings were filed.

"Other people could have had access to the apartment, so maybe if a rocket launcher was located there, as is stated in the offense report, maybe it belonged to somebody else," attorney Garl Polland said.

Prosecutors said there are no state charges for having the unarmed launcher or possessing Jihadist writings, unless they contain some type of threat....

Isolated extremist

[thundley4]

Prosecutors said there are no state charges for having the unarmed launcher or possessing Jihadist writings, unless they contain some type of threat.

By definition wouldn't jihadist writings be threatening ? They may be taking the Second Amendment right to new extremes in Texas. 

[DefiantSix]

By definition wouldn't jihadist writings be threatening ? They may be taking the Second Amendment right to new extremes in Texas. 

Nothing to see here folks, move along.

[ColonialMarine0431]

The former director of Houston's FBI office said rocket launchers can be dangerous if they're in the wrong hands.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that comment.

[DefiantSix]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that comment.

Welcome back to the William Jefferson Clinton school of language parsing.

[Thor]

As long as it was just the launcher, there is no violation. That said, IF they had the rockets to go with it, I think that the BATF would be all over it. Of course, we ALL know that they'd rather prosecute religious people that are isolated in a compound or people who saw off shotguns a little too short by 1/2" or other domestic terrorists.

I have a little problem with the jihadist writings, BUT, the 1st Amendment protects even the most vile of writing or speech. We don't have to accept it, but we are obligated to tolerate it. I would HOPE that these people would be watched VERY closely.

[DefiantSix]

As long as it was just the launcher, there is no violation. That said, IF they had the rockets to go with it, I think that the BATF would be all over it. Of course, we ALL know that they'd rather prosecute religious people that are isolated in a compound or people who saw off shotguns a little too short by 1/2" or other domestic terrorists.

I have a little problem with the jihadist writings, BUT, the 2nd Amendment protects even the most vile of writing or speech. We don't have to accept it, but we are obligated to tolerate it. I would HOPE that these people would be watched VERY closely.

Friends, it appears that our friendly neighborhood God of War has already made a sizable dent in the new year's libations.  I'm sure, when he sobers up - sometime next week - that he'll remember he INTENDED the highlighted to read 1st Amendment.

Either that, or he'll rummage around his mead hall until he finds Mjolnir and chase me around Valhalla until he lays the smackdown upon this mere mortal starship driver.

[Chris]

As long as it was just the launcher, there is no violation. That said, IF they had the rockets to go with it, I think that the BATF would be all over it. Of course, we ALL know that they'd rather prosecute religious people that are isolated in a compound or people who saw off shotguns a little too short by 1/2" or other domestic terrorists.

One of the gun shops here has one... they use it for a doorstop.

[Thor]

Friends, it appears that our friendly neighborhood God of War has already made a sizable dent in the new year's libations.  I'm sure, when he sobers up - sometime next week - that he'll remember he INTENDED the highlighted to read 1st Amendment.

Either that, or he'll rummage around his mead hall until he finds Mjolnir and chase me around Valhalla until he lays the smackdown upon this mere mortal starship driver.

No libations, no chemicals, just an honest to God brain fart. Thanks for the assist, Def6.