Shelby County State’s Attorney – Misinformation Sufficient To Mislead? – Trust But Verify!

Shelby Co. (ECWd) –

In our last article, we pointed to Benjamin Franklin’s famous response regarding the form of Government we have, “A Republic if you can keep it“.   As we mentioned in that article, we referenced how people pump out misinformation which contains an element of truth surrounded by false information.

Some examples were shared in this article.  While in that article we only pointed to the misinformation pumped out on payroll by the State’s Attorney in her press release, we note yet another comment she made needing to be addressed.

“All firearms related to this investigation are accounted for and secured within the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office according to Shelby County Sheriff Brian McReynolds.”

We challenge Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke to provide a current inventory which includes the following illegally sold weapons by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and done without a single court order controlling the disposition of all seized weapons.  We note these firearms were sold by former Sheriff Michael Miller in 2014 according to records we obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Handguns
Colt MKlV 380 Cal.
Colt Pocket Light 380 Cal.
Colt Government Model 45 Cal.
Colt Anaconda 44 Mag.
Colt Target 22 Cal.
Colt Cobra 38 Cal.

Long Guns
Beretta Sporting 12 Ga.
Benelli Super Eagle 12 Ga.
Browning 10 Ga.
Colt 22 Cal.
Colt Colteer 22 Mag
Colt AR15
Harrington and Richardson 12 Ga.
Hawken Muzzleloader
Marlin Model 882 22 Mag
Marlin 17 Cal.
Mossberg Model 3000 12 Ga.
Remington Model 700 270 Cal.
Savage Model 12 204 Cal.
SKS 7.62 /39
Stoeger Arms 410 Double Barrel
Ruger 10/22 22 Cal.
Ruger 10/22 Bull Barrel 22 Cal.
Winchester Model 12 16 Ga.

The above list was included in the information provided to federal authorities which started the investigation and by all indications, investigations into the above illegal gun sales have been ignored by the federal authorities and the Illinois State Police. While we understand the sale date for these firearms being in 2014 is beyond any statute of limitations for prosecution, a much bigger issue still looms and is being ignored.

What if your family member is injured or killed by a gun on the list above?  Would you want to know where it came from?  Who sold it?  Was it sold legally? If you found that it was sold illegally, would you want the seller held accountable?

We understand there are times when the “what if” scenario is blown out of proportion, however, in this case, we believe it’s important to apply the what-if question.

Shelby County Sheriff’s office sold guns illegally in 2014 and 2018.  While the 2018 sales resulted in the return of the guns after we exposed them, the guns sold in 2014 have not been returned.  If a person is injured or killed by one of those guns the County may find itself as a target of a lawsuit by the injured person or the family of someone killed because those guns should have never been put back on the street according to our laws.

Every attorney we have spoken to on this matter agrees that if a person is injured or killed by a gun sold illegally, in this case by the county sheriff, the door would be open for that entity to be sued and potentially cost the county millions in damages.

Again, we challenge State’s Attorney Kroncke to produce the inventory of the above list of guns as the most recent inventory provided by the current Sheriff did not include them.  If she is unable to produce evidence that those firearms have been returned, it points to her press release containing elements of truth wrapped in misinformation and false claims.