1997 North Hollywood Shootout recollection (LONG!)

[hermosabeach]

Thanks for sharing the memory....


The only reason I can see for Feinstein to make an "example" of the store is that 100-200 dead cops and people would have helped her push the gun ban agenda.


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The "used guns"- did they sell for a premium after the event??

[fighterpilot562]

great read OP

Yes. Diane Feinstein was behind charges being filed against the store, the owners, and yours truly for allowing firearms to leave the store without the proper paperwork being filled out and submitted. Fortunately the charges were quickly dropped after serious backlash outcry from law enforcement agencies across the state and the public in general. Frankly, I never thought anything would come of it. Just political grandstanding.

Wow, I guess the ***** rather LEO get killed then allow LEO(it wasn't even civis) getting guns to help in the gun battle.

[iluvmycolt]

Thanks for sharing OP.

[SMarquez]

I watched it at work. I was surprised that there wasn't one concerned citizen that couldn't loan a common *** hunting rifle to any of those cops.
God Bless B&B and those cops that charged in anyway knowing the odds.

[Oceanbob]

What a snatch.

Festering.

[Venom.357]

I work near where B&B used to be, and I was having a conversation with a coworker the other day. We were talking about how B&B helped that whole situation. I had never been to B&B, so I asked him "Well where are they at? I'd like to head over " and he mentioned that B&B was no longer around.

How did you folks go out of business if you dont mind me asking? I figured you guys would still be around considering how much you helped the LAPD with the situation. You would think these officers and many other officers would be making purchases from B&B from that point on. So I couldn't see how B&B would shut down due to low sales.

[Ugly Hombre]

Great story thanks very much for posting it.

"Yes. Diane Feinstein was behind charges being filed against the store, the owners, and yours truly for allowing firearms to leave the store without the proper paperwork being filled out and submitted. Fortunately the charges were quickly dropped after serious backlash outcry from law enforcement agencies across the state and the public in general. Frankly, I never thought anything would come of it. Just political grandstanding."

Stupid is as stupid does.

"You have got to help us"

"Sorry Senator Feinkenstein says no dice"

[golfish]

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The "used guns"- did they sell for a premium after the event??

From another thread

There was no "screwing" regarding the department not purchasing the guns. I don't recall any of the firearms even being offered for sale to the department. All but one were put up for auction and the proceeds were given to the department (specifically the LA Police Memorial Foundation if I recall) - a rare show of generosity from our owners, trust me.

[Marquand]

That's a great story, thanks for sharing it. You, the owners and all the employees should be very proud of yourselves!!

Thank you for saying that - thanks to everyone who says it - but honestly we did what any of you would have done in the same situation. If anyone deserves praise it's the LAPD. Outgunned and under constant fire from a foe they couldn't put down, they kept the two gunmen contained in a five block area and literally threw themselves in the line of fire to prevent civilian deaths. I think they gave their all and I'm glad to this day that none of them had to give their lives to do their duty.

[Ugly Hombre]

Sir, a question for you, if I may.

Do you know if the AK's used by the goblins were converted to full auto or smuggled fully auto weapons?

At the time IIRC, there were news reports of smuggled full auto Chinese AK's being taken off container ships- intercepted by LE.

Thanks.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Another lecture from a LEO. How dare any of the tax paying citizen form an opinion and question any expenditures.

So it's all about "expenditures" for you? To me, it's all about a properly well armed LEO coming home safely each night. Not one single cop chooses this profession and signs up to get his/her name mounted on a memorial wall there buddy.

Pretty sure no one on here wants LEOs to get hurt on the job. Pretty sure folks on here would love a faster response time from LE when the seconds do matter.

. So answer this, how do we get "faster" response times??? Hire more cops and put them in the field? Whew-hew, tell me how to pay for that huge "EXPENDATURE?" Most times a "faster" response time alone is NOT feasible, nor is it reality. I live in reality. Again, I thought you're worried about "expenditures" as quoted above. Let's see, one AR-15 costs about $1,000. Hiring one new additional cop = about $70-100K EACH. An EXISTING cop armed with the proper AR-15 = priceless. Tell me more about your "expenditure" concern, please....

....a couple perks.

So that's what it all boils down to apparently. You're a "citizen" (like me), as well as a "tax payer" (like me) that's more concerned or jealous that you don't have some type of perceived "perk?" Seriously??? So far, I've read from you that it's "cops vs non-cops" and "perks vs non perks. You haven't explained MY only concern for both citizens AND the first responders. A first responder armed with the proper tools immediately SAVES LIVES OF people like you (and me) when you call 911! (What a concept, eh?)

I never saw or read about one single solitary "armed" "citizen" that run into that North Hollywood gun battle that day to confront the bad guys. Did you? Those LAPD officers were horribly unarmed because some "civilian" politicians for one, didn't think it was cost effective (aka: worth the "expenditure") to issue rifles to "our" first responders that day.

Read my old posts son. I've been a cop that has touted for years on this website that ALL law abiding CITIZENS should be benefited with the same carry and weapon laws of police officers! I'm all for a "shall issue" ccw for ALL mentally sane and competent CIVILIANS, period. Whereas you appear to be opposed to first responders being armed properly with the right equipment because it's an insignificant "expenditure" and you don't get the same falsely perceived "perks."

May I suggest that if you want some type of perceived "perk," why don't you join a police department then? It's open to you and we're always hiring somewhere.

[Marquand]

I'll tell you what's crazy; half of all Calgunners were still probably messing their pants in 1997!

Yeah - can't believe that this happened 17 years ago! Getting old sucks.

[Marquand]

I have always wondered if scoped bolt action centerfire rifles would have been a better option for taking out those BGs who were spraying down the neighborhood. It's a miracle that no LEOs or civilians were killed.

Thank you for assisting the PD!

Honestly, I agree that some longer range precision rifle fire would have been ideal in this scenario. Ultimately it comes down to each officer's capabilities which is why we mostly gave out 870 shotguns and AR15 rifles - the only long guns most of them had any experience firing. The SWAT team certainly had these options but they were so far away and stuck in traffic that by the time these sort of assets could come into play, it was all over.

Nevertheless, the LAPD performed admirably with what they had to work with and it was indeed a miracle that none of the good guys were killed.

[Marquand]

Neat. Weird that you all were still selling Norinco ammo by 1997 since it had been banned from import by 1995 figured would have all been sold by then. I did most my bsoness with Westminster B&B.

We had our ammo room stacked high with crates of Norinco 5.56 for years after importation ended. I think I bought one of the last ones not long after the robbery. People loved the 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R fodder from Norinco as it was some of the only ammo available in those calibers but with UMC and American Eagle 5.56 available the Norinco stuff sold pretty infrequently at first.

[madjack956]

Yes. Diane Feinstein was behind charges being filed against the store, the owners, and yours truly for allowing firearms to leave the store without the proper paperwork being filled out and submitted. Fortunately the charges were quickly dropped after serious backlash outcry from law enforcement agencies across the state and the public in general. Frankly, I never thought anything would come of it. Just political grandstanding.

Its funny that everyone that gets a form letter form Feinstein, it begins with how she supports the 2nd Amendment blah, blah, blah.

She supports it so much that she wants cops under fire, take time to fill out paperwork, to receive arms so they can protect fellow officers and civilians, in a neighborhood that has turned into a war zone.

She should have been run out of office on a rail.