Now that they’ve been vindicated, three Indiana natives of the Hutaree militia are getting their guns and ammunition back, after a judge ruled in favor of defendants Thomas Piatek, Tina Stone and Michael Meeks.
Piatek, Stone and Meeks were among seven members acquitted in March of plotting a revolt against the government that included killing police officers with guns and bombs. All faced up to life in prison, but their trial ended abruptly in March when Roberts concluded that the government failed to prove its case.
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According to the Detroit Free Press, an Indiana court ruled that the three militia members are entitled to get their 60-plus guns back, along with hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition.
That includes 41 guns — shotguns, rifles, handguns and an AK47 — along with more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
The weapons and ammo were seized from Thomas Piatek’s Indiana home during an FBI raid in 2009, which led to his arrest.
He was imprisoned for two years on charges that he helped plot an anti-government revolt.
Piatek’s lawyer Arthur Weiss said his client will never get those two years back, but rightfully will get his weapons back.
“Since they didn’t engage in criminal activity, their lawfully maintained weapons and ammunition should be returned. The government has no basis to keep law-abiding citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights.”
Piatek also is getting back his military helmets, bulletproof vests, $100 in cash and his cell phone.
His codefendant Tina Stone is getting back five weapons — a handgun, three rifles and a shotgun, records show.
Another codefendant, Michael Meeks, is getting back nearly a dozen guns and hundreds of pounds of ammunition.
Weiss noted that his client had never been charged with a crime and was an avid gun collector who lawfully possessed several guns.
Learn from them and learn your rights.
Above: Thomas Piatek, from left, Tina Stone and Michael Meeks are getting their guns and ammo back. Photo credit: U.S. Marshals Service.
