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Firearms and drugs: a serious legal combination

On Behalf of | Sep 28, 2017 | Felonies |

Sometimes, one poorly made decision leads to yet another series of unfortunate episodes. For convicted felons, a second arrest could spark an additional world of legal issues, including damaged reputations and costly court fees. While law enforcement is currently working to reduce the number of arrests for drugs and firearms, especially those concerning heroin, arrests nevertheless occur daily. Arrests for drugs are only the tip of the iceberg in some situations, and many felons find themselves overwhelmed with multiple charges that can be difficult to manage.

What once began as a crippling opioid epidemic has now turned into a complex issue involving both opioid-related drugs and the possession of firearms. Just days ago, The Record Delta covered a major drugs and firearms bust in Buckhannon, wherein 29 people faced serious charges. The original investigation began when a West Virginia resident reported missing guns from a cabin. According to state officials, the combination of firearms and drugs is an all-too-common occurrence in the area. In some cases, drugs are used as barter, allowing for the progression of drug manufacturing and distribution. Following a long stream of names of those arrested, The Delta referred to U.S. Marshall for the Northern District of West Virginia Gary Gaskins, who claimed that today’s issues call for much larger involvement from not only local police, but from multi-cooperation units nationwide.

On the same day that The Delta released news of the major drugs and firearms arrest, The Herald-Dispatch reported another large arrest involving drugs and stolen guns. The Dispatch goes on to say in the report that the Huntington Police Department arrested six people in three counter-drug operations in the area. One of the residents at the home faced the charges of intent to deliver a controlled substance and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. This case, much like the one in Buckhannon, involved a medley of illegal substances and the illegal possession of guns. Unfortunately, cases such as these only follow a tragic trend of arrests in the area for similar charges.