A Y2K expo operator charges government officials used intimidation to stop him from buying unwanted guns and redistributing them to those who wanted guns for protection.
The effort, he points out, was in direct competition with a Milwaukee-area police buyback program designed to destroy guns.
The Waukesha County Voluntary Gun Disposal Program did not sit well with Chuck Ball, organizer of the recent Milwaukee Y2K Family Preparedness Expo. The county program offered $50 gift certificates to be used at local merchants in exchange for unwanted firearms. All guns collected would be destroyed.
Ball decided to offer $75 cash for unwanted firearms and free admission to his two-day expo. The collected firearms would then be made available to those who wanted them for self-protection. Ball found himself in a media feeding frenzy and was subjected to government intimidation, he said in an interview with WorldNetDaily.
“I will keep weapons in the hands of responsible citizens who can protect themselves in any situation, whether it’s Y2K or anything else,” Ball told the media of his intentions. From that comment, press accounts claimed that Ball planned to provide guns to friends and family to defend against civil unrest that would occur as a result of Y2K computer disruptions Jan. 1, 2000.
“Let the insanity reign,” Pewaukee Police Chief Ed Baumann said when he was told of the press account of Ball’s intentions. “Why do you need a gun for the turn of the century?” Baumann asked.
Ball complained to WorldNetDaily of intimidation from the local police, state police, the district attorney, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and even the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. He said it was obvious they were out to get him no matter what he did.
“The only reason we called off the gun buy back at the expo was because they sent in an inspector from the department of consumer trade and protection. He made it pretty clear that if he found any violation he was basically going to lock the doors and shut the expo down,” described Ball of the incident.
Ball’s purchase of firearms was declared legal by law enforcement officials and the district attorney. Ball said the local gun disposal program felt threatened by his efforts and was using every means possible to stop him.
“When you have vendors from all across the country, and speakers coming in to do these expos, and they threaten to shut you down, well it’s not just me in jeopardy any more,” explained Ball of his decision to end his offer before it really began.
Ball told WorldNetDaily he simply wanted to give people a choice of how to dispose of unwanted guns. He was willing to pay a little more than the county program and put the guns to use by getting them to people who wanted them. He ended up fearing for his own safety and the safety of his family.
“When your name starts getting bantered about with the BATF, state representatives, the sheriff’s department, and the local DA and everything, I start worrying about my family and what they may try to do next.
“I fear that my family is in some jeopardy either by local, state, or federal officials,” Ball said. He issued a press release prior to the start of his exposition in which he predicted he would receive harassment from local officials.
Ball was accused of “spreading fear and panic” by District Attorney Paul Bucher. He said that citizens who are in fear of civil unrest should contact local authorities for advice on how to prepare for Y2K rather than buy firearms.
The purchase of firearms by Ball at the event would be considered a legal transaction between private parties, according to Jim Kuboushek, spokesman for the local BATF office.
When Ball went public with his offer to pay $75 for firearms and recycle them to those who wanted them for protection, he said he was stepping on the toes of the pet project of the local politicians and police officials.
CrimeStoppers of Waukesha County Inc. organizers of the county firearms destruction program, suddenly found themselves with a donation of $5,000 from an anonymous source. It was to be used to beat Ball’s $75 offer. After Ball withdrew his offer and turned over five guns to the police for destruction, the CrimeStoppers announced they would instead use the donation to buy more guns at $50 and to offer free gunlocks to anyone who wanted one.
When Ball put an end to his offer just after the start of his expo, he made his intentions public by going directly to the press, who arrived in large numbers. The threats to close him down came to an end and Ball said the expo was a great success.
“I’m just tired of the Second Amendment being trashed,” said Ball. He disagreed with efforts to take perfectly good firearms and destroy them when there are plenty of qualified people who would like to have them and who would benefit from them.
Baumann, who was closely involved in the CrimeStoppers program, explained that there was no intention to infringe on anyone’s rights. He said his program was provided to give people a means to safely dispose of guns they did not want.
Ball is searching for an attorney to help him pursue possible legal action over the incident. He said it is too early to know what action, if any will be taken. He also said he is not discouraged from making a similar offer to buy guns in the future.
Ball’s next expo is expected to draw extremely large numbers. It will be held in Chicago on September 10, 11, and 12. He said it will be the last major Y2K expo in the nation, and he believes many will attend who have procrastinated making preparations.
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