Teen charged with bringing bullet to Neuqua Valley

[EagleDad]

www.dailyherald.com/article/20111020/news/710209936/

A Naperville teenager has been charged with a misdemeanor after bring in and showing off a bullet at Neuqua Valley High School, officials said.

Joseph C. Kuenster, 18, of the 2700 block of Modaff Road, was charged with illegal possession of ammunition, according to Naperville police officials.

Sgt. Gregg Bell of the Naperville Police Department said Kuenster was also charged with possession of ammunition without having a firearm owner’s identification card.

He said police were called to Neuqua Valley High School at about 2:37 p.m. Tuesday with claims the student had found the bullet on a playground off campus and brought it to school.

He was showing his friends when teachers got wind of it and called police.

“This was an isolated incident and he was found to not want to harm anyone,” Bell said. “He was not charged with having a weapon, but its still illegal to own ammunition without a FOID card.”

Bell said the student was cited for the incident and his court date was unknown.

[EagleDad]

So the kid finds a bullet on a nearby playground and the Naperville Police charge him with a FOID violation (a serious offense which IIRC correctly could be pumped up to a felony charge by a likewise overzealous prosecutor). This young man is old enough to serve, and die for his country, and now his record will be permanently blemished because of this stupidity? Great job NPD, I'm sure that's how Andy Griffith would have handled it.

Illinois is the only state in the country with a FOID type system, and the only one without concealed carry (for now).

I have a confession to make. I've gone to school functions after the range. One time a spent casing, that I didn't notice, was stuck in my dress pant cuff (I've since learned to check), and almost fell out in a classroom (thank goodness I noticed it in place and discretely put it in my pocket). Imagine if you will it was a live round, not empty, your young child found it, and told an adult immediately (as they should because they were well trained in gun safety). The NPD is called, shows up, cuffs them and takes them to the station where your second grader is fingerprinted, mugshotted and charged. How would you feel?

Really, what have we become?

[macrockett]

Oct 20, 2011 18:25:11 GMT -6 EagleDad said:

So the kid finds a bullet on a nearby playground and the Naperville Police charge him with a FOID violation (a serious offense which IIRC correctly could be pumped up to a felony charge by a likewise overzealous prosecutor). This young man is old enough to serve, and die for his country, and now his record will be permanently blemished because of this stupidity? Great job NPD, I'm sure that's how Andy Griffith would have handled it.

Illinois is the only state in the country with a FOID type system, and the only one without concealed carry (for now).

I have a confession to make. I've gone to school functions after the range. One time a spent casing, that I didn't notice, was stuck in my dress pant cuff (I've since learned to check), and almost fell out in a classroom (thank goodness I noticed it in place and discretely put it in my pocket). Imagine if you will it was a live round, not empty, your young child found it, and told an adult immediately (as they should because they were well trained in gun safety). The NPD is called, shows up, cuffs them and takes them to the station where your second grader is fingerprinted, mugshotted and charged. How would you feel?

Really, what have we become?

Take your pick: Nanny State? Politically correct? Paranoid? Police State? Socialist safe haven? Oversized government?

The one I prefer, however, is "broke" (you can use that, conveniently, for federal, state, or local government, your choice)