NORFOLK
The man who wanted to buy a 9mm semiautomatic handgun filled out the required background-check forms at Bob's Gun Shop and left.
A worker at the Granby Street store logged the customer's identification into a computer, connecting with state and federal databases that look for outstanding warrants, felony convictions and handgun purchases within the previous 30 days - all blocks to gun purchases.
Virginia State Police denied the application, with a message via computer: "Not at this time." Almost immediately they followed up with a phone call to Bob's: Keep the customer there, or call him back.
The customer was wanted in Baltimore on a murder charge.
Store owner Robert Marcus called the man, saying his application had been approved. About 20 minutes later, the customer returned.
Four state troopers and a Norfolk policeman waiting discreetly inside converged on him as he approached the counter, wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him Monday afternoon, even as other customers continued to peruse merchandise.
State Police on Wednesday called the arrest an unusual byproduct of the state's instant-background-check law.
The customer, Barry Cleveland Roberts, 22, of the 2600 block of Sunrise Ave. in Chesapeake, is accused in an Oct. 12 shooting death. Baltimore police responding to a gunfire report found an 18-year-old man riddled with bullet wounds in the street, according to Officer Troy Harris, a police spokesman. He died hours later.
Police don't have a motive, but the next day they obtained a warrant accusing Roberts, Harris said. Roberts is in the Norfolk City Jail awaiting extradition to Maryland.
"Some criminals are under the illusion, I guess, that states don't talk to each other," said Sgt. Michelle Cotten, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman.
From January through September this year, there were 168,312 recorded firearm transactions in Virginia, according to the State Police. Of those, 181 were denied because there were outstanding felony or misdemeanor warrants on the applicants, and 54 people were arrested, said Corinne Geller, a State Police spokeswoman.
Bob's Gun Shop employees said Roberts insisted to police that it wouldn't make sense for him to go in there if he knew there was an arrest warrant out on him.
"That's why it's so unusual for it to occur," Marcus, the shop's owner since 1989, said of the homicide arrest, "because most people are smarter than that."
He said his store gets one or two denials a week out of 100 attempted transactions but has never had one for something like this.
"The people of the commonwealth can rest easy tonight because there's a system in place and it works," Marcus said.
The quick turnaround does little to hinder Second Amendment rights, which is why gun-store owners are OK with it, he said.
Was he nervous about the "sting"?
"I wasn't," he said. "We have more guns than he has."
Cindy Clayton, (757) 446-2377, cindy.clayton@pilotonline.com
Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com
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Gertz
"I will give you credit for your comments about McCain voting in approval of George Bush 90% of the time."
That may have been another poster named Keith that said that. However, it is probably true. I don't have much faith that McCain or Obama really support the rights of gun owners. I think JM is a loose cannon (no pun intended) and I have philisophical differences with BO. With that said, Jan 20th can't get here soon enough with the exit of GWB.
keith
We have been at this point before, and I see no need to continue, when we are the only 2 in the debate. I will give you credit for your comments about McCain voting in approval of George Bush 90% of the time.
I am sure there will be other articles about gun violence and rights, and not the last time we will continue our debate.
Gertz
I don't follow anyone around Gertz. I am interested in several issues and the rights of gun owners is one that I am passionate about. I will rebutt any comments on this issue that I disagree whether it be you or anyone else. And you do the same. However, you always end up opening yourself up to criticism with some of your logic on this issue. You don't pull any punches when you refer to gun owners as "little boys with their toys" or to the size of their manhood.
Debate is healthy Gertz. Stay out of the kitchen if you can't deal with some fire.
keith
You can twist it anyway you want to, but one thing for sure you will never be able to speak for me. Never! I know it's one of your favorite passtimes to trail me around and try to argue about guun rights, but I've said what I have to say on this page. So you can now write to yourself.
Gertz
Regristration is liberal code for confiscation. It has always been the anti-gun organizations such as Brady. You may constantly state that "you don't want to take away your guns", but I for one, and probably quite a few posters here, don't believe you. Your previous posts in response to responsible gun owners is that you personally don't believe they have the right to defend themselves while on the street, out somewhere at night, or whatever. Your belief rests that they should only be able to defend themselves "with guns" when they are home, and where it will take 30 minutes to unlock it from it's container, unlock the ammo from a separate container, and unlock the trigger lock using three separate keys. Then, if they aren't dead or maimed yet, then they can use it provided they have called 911 and waited on hold for 10 minutes. The only people who will obey any gun laws are the ones who are already law abiding citizens. Felons, parolee's, and ones who intend to use firearms as an aggressor, don't give a rats behind what the law is, or what the consequenses are for their actions.
keith never fully reads and
is constantly dogging me about my views on guns. What he never seem to get is that I am not trying to take you guns away, a point he keeps missing, overlooking or hates to face.
rlesley74
You're waisting your time arguing with Gertz. Whether you believe her or not, her untimate goal (I believe) IS to ban firearm ownership of everyone except government. Anyone who advocates turning a right into a privilege and touts resgistration of firearms by law-abiding citizens is out for total confiscation. That happened in 1933 by a guy from Austria who was elected Chancellor. The rest is history. Look at Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, and other big cities. Every firearm has to be registered. DC is the crime capital of the nation. Felons and criminals aren't going to "register" their firearms. That's like robbing a bank and leaving your drivers license on the counter. Absurd! Liberals like to take things like rights they disagree with a little at a time. After all it's "for the children". Norfolk Police seem to be on that same page as well, but they are using their police power to enforce their views.
rlesley
You overlook my concerns about how it's legal for an 18 year old student to legally have a gun locked in his vehicle while parked on public school property. Yes, I think there are gun laws that are far too lax, and need better control.
To anyone who never bought a gun
Well here's how you go about purchasing a gun:
- Go to shop
- Pick out firearm you want
- Fill out background check/registration paperwork
- Pay for firearm
- Leave store with new purchase, all legal and registered like
The only people who this does not pretain to are criminals, who for the most part do no buy their guns through any legally acceptable means (ie. Out the back of a van in a seedy part of the city LOL)
I must be missing the part about how these laws are too lax, I mean come on, if you have any overdue traffic tickets you can not buy one. Well thats my 2cent rant. Have a good night Norfolk.
when did I say
When did I say ban guns? I'm not trying to take your gun away, but I will continue to say the laws are too lax. Bob's gun shop got one killer caught. That's great news! However, how many guns sold in VA to felons don't get caught? I think some people who own a gun are irresponsible. I think open carry is asking for trouble, because the first person to get shot by the bad guy will be the person with the open carry. I think you should have to have a permit for any gun, and it should be registered. I think guns should not be allowed locked in a vehicle on public shool property.
I could go on, but some of you have read my comments on previous gun related articles, but please know I am not trying to take your gun away. I just want better controls on them.
GERTZ PLEASE!
How about this one, little kid is playing at the park and is kidnapped, or this guy is crossing the street and hit by a car, or hiker found dead in state park. People are accidently everyday, so what are we to do? Ban cars, hiking, boating, walking, breathing, eatting food, base ball bats, etc... Maybe Gertz should lobby against everything that is or can be harmful to anyone. Oh well I can see Lego going out of business soon LOL.
oh please
"Guns really do not kill anyone or anything by themselves. Guns require bullets and an operator to function as designed. So, the moniker of "Guns kill people." is incorrect."
Is that the best you can do???
I guess you have never heard of 2 kids playing with daddy's gun they foun in the endtable drawer, no one pulls the trigger, it hits the floor, goes off, and kills one of the kids. It does happen!
Your arguement is very lame.
Guns really do not kill anything...
Guns really do not kill anyone or anything by themselves. Guns require bullets and an operator to function as designed. So, the moniker of "Guns kill people." is incorrect. In all actuality, the more correct term is "Guns are used by people to kill people!". A gun by itself is nothing more than a paper-weight. Guns are tools that require a person to put bullets into them to fire. Most importantly, it takes a person to pull the trigger to fire a gun. Any right-minded gun owner, NRA member, or anyone with a lick of common sense will argee to that arguement. Enacting, stiffening, and enforcing the laws governing the unlawful, negligent, or criminal purchase, possession and use of firearms should be the correct focus of any lobby or protest. Don't bring the punishment of gun control to the millions that lawfully purchase, own, and use guns - go after those that fail in that priviledge and responsibility.
They were killed by people
They were killed by people Chris.
Guns are bad, mmmkay
Ten million Americans have been killed in auto accidents since 1960. Thanks Henry Ford!!! Guess we should ban cars next! Think of all the money we could save on gas.
One million Americans killed
One million Americans have been killed by guns since 1960. Thanks, NRA!
Did they arrest the gun?
People don't shoot other people, guns do! I hope they arrested the gun. He was obviously a victim of what was in his hand. Thank God he was stopped though, because if that gun would have went off, the heat from the bullet would have helped heat up the planet and destroy the environment.
Thats the way its suppose to work!
Now this is what I like to see. Laws that make sense AND work!