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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Thumbs up to Ellicott police for showing the way to remove a possible threat once it makes itself known publicly. A Falconer man who had previous felony convictions and is not permitted to own firearms was charged earlier this week with possession of several firearms, including an AK-47 assault-style weapon and a large amount of ammunition. Police began their investigation after the man allegedly made threats of “terrible violence” on social media. That was enough for police to obtain a search warrant for a storage unit the man had allegedly rented. No one knows for sure if the man was actually going to commit violence or not, but in this case it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Thumbs down to the seeming ease with which some people can still obtain weapons. In addition to the case mentioned above, members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team and FBI conducted a raid last week that turned up 58 grams of cocaine, four pounds of marijuana and 15 long guns owned by a city man who also had previous felony convictions that should have made it impossible for him to own guns. It’s just the latest reminder that the toughest gun restrictions in the country still can’t keep guns out of the hands of those who will use them for ill purpose.

Thumbs up to the Robert H. Jackson Center for hosting a presentation by TheArthur A. Duncan, an attorney who served a a three-year prison sentence selling drugs. After leaving prison, Duncan embarked on the path toward becoming a lawyer. Despite being a felon, he attended Erie Community College and the University of Buffalo. He worked 40 hours a week to support his family and attended college at the same time, all in the hopes of becoming an attorney. He put in the time and energy to gain his education, but was not guaranteed a spot as an attorney because of his criminal background. However, against all odds, he graduated from UB law school in 2012, and passed the New York State Bar Exam in 2013. Duncan currently works as an attorney in Chautauqua County and in Buffalo, including a recent trial in Chautauqua County Court. We agree with Greg Peterson, Jackson Center co-founder, that Duncan’s story gives people hope no matter their circumstances. “He’s a model for somebody who may have made a bad decision, that they cannot correct what was wrong in the past, but can move forward in a positive direction. This is the inspiration of TheArthur Duncan.” What a wonderful lesson.

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