On Sun, 10 Dec 1995, John Lull wrote:
Russell Nelson <nelson@crynwr.com> wrote:
Duncan Frissell writes:
If Clipper were mandated you might be able to resist a prosecution for "failure to file" keys or for double encrypting your transmissions if you could prove that you were transmitting illegal messages or evidence of a crime. Just as those who possess illegal weapons are not required to ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ register them (self incrimination). You have to be sure your traffic is ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You are mistaken here. Failure to get a permit before turning a semi-auto firearm into a fully-auto machine gun, for example, is illegal as is possessing an unregistered machine gun ...
My understanding was that, for example, a convicted felon in posession of a handgun where handguns must be registered could be charged with being a convicted felon in posession of a firearm. He could NOT be charged with posession of an unregistered handgun, because requiring him to register, when it is illegal for him to posess, is a violation of his first amendment rights.
In many/most federal jurisdictions, you are mistaken. See my previous note about the exculpatory no exception. Of course, he need only fill out the form if purchasing from a federally licensed firearms dealer, not, say, at a flea market. EBD Not a lawyer on the Net, although I play one in real life. ********************************************************** Flame away! I get treated worse in person every day!!