Pinal County Sheriff Office offers gunsmithing certificate

**4V50 Gary** · April 1, 2025, 09:05 AM

to non-violent convicts:

https://youtu.be/bh9aOf5yx0o?si=U57WnYcgpIvAKiNm

Of course it's April's Fool Day today but the video is so well put together.

mikejonestkd · April 1, 2025, 12:46 PM

thanks for sharing a fun video!!

here is another one for everyone to enjoy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhmTs0lzku0

jmr40 · April 1, 2025, 01:51 PM

It happened in real life. In the 1920's a guy named David Williams was arrested after a shootout while trying to shut down his North Carolina moonshine still. A deputy was killed and Williams was scented to 30 years.

While in prison he was allowed to work in the blacksmith shop and built his 1st gun there. It was so successful that Winchester representatives visited him in prison. They used his idea as the basis for the 30 Carbine rifle used by the military.

He was paroled in 1929 and is responsible for several firearms patents.

https://northcarolinahistory.org/enc...ams-1900-1975/

Jimmy Stewart played him in a movie released in 1952. Good movie if you've not seen it.

**44 AMP** · April 1, 2025, 06:10 PM

Before 1968, there was no federal law prohibiting convicted felons from owning gun or being a gunsmith (which requires possessing guns) after they "paid their debt to society".

Personally, I think it should still be that way today. The people actually reformed aren't going to do bad things, and the bad guys are going to get guns and do bad things, anyway.

armoredman · April 1, 2025, 09:56 PM

The Jimmy Stewart movie about Carbine Williams is excellent, but the real guy was a jerk.
I could see our Sheriff doing this as a joke, but if I told you what inmates CAN make from materials you throw out...it would astound you. A piece of paper, a straightened paper clip, a bit of mattress fuzz and a strip of tape makes a blow gun.
There was a Canadian inmate who built a firing, reloadable firearm from a soda can, pen, bolt, match sticks, lead solder scraped off his bunk, AA batteries, (projectiles), 9 volt battery, (ignition source), steel wool, a lighter and an empty potato chip bag. He never ever ever shot anyone with it, just did target practice out his window at the fence, and poked holes in a steel fence with this thing.

**Aguila Blanca** · April 1, 2025, 10:58 PM

The Pinal Country Sheriff's Office also produces the "Fridays with Frank" YouTube channel that covers the activities of Deputy Frank Sloup, a member of the traffic enforcement unit (I think Frank is also a member of the SWAT team). Frank is originally from Long Island, Noo Yawk, and he brings to the job a unique combination of friendly personality and biting sarcasm -- as long as you don't cross him.

https://www.youtube.com/@PinalCountySheriffsOffice

The Fridays with Frank started under the previous sherfif, Mark Lamb, who I believe left the office to run for the U.S. Senate.

armoredman · April 2, 2025, 06:54 AM

Yes Sheriff Lamb did lose his bid for the Senate - he would have been awesome. That guy, BTW, is HUGE, met him a few times working on another campaign. Very cool dude.

**4V50 Gary** · April 2, 2025, 10:32 AM

David Marshall "Carbine" Williams and Bill Ruger both shared one thing in common. Their first gun was based on modifying the Rem 5 semi-automatic rifle. Ruger at that time was an employee of Springfield Armory (the military one in Springfield, MA) and received a plaque with Springfield's crossed cannons and cannonball for it.

I read a book about Williams and he was indeed a mean man not to be crossed. it was ironic to cast the afffable Jimmy Stewart to protray him in the film.

Thanks for the link MikeJones. Old as it is, I've never seen it before.

April 1, 2025, 09:05 AM	#1
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,287	Pinal County Sheriff Office offers gunsmithing certificate to non-violent convicts: https://youtu.be/bh9aOf5yx0o?si=U57WnYcgpIvAKiNm Of course it's April's Fool Day today but the video is so well put together. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 1, 2025, 12:46 PM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,758	thanks for sharing a fun video!! here is another one for everyone to enjoy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhmTs0lzku0 __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

April 1, 2025, 01:51 PM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,972	It happened in real life. In the 1920's a guy named David Williams was arrested after a shootout while trying to shut down his North Carolina moonshine still. A deputy was killed and Williams was scented to 30 years. While in prison he was allowed to work in the blacksmith shop and built his 1st gun there. It was so successful that Winchester representatives visited him in prison. They used his idea as the basis for the 30 Carbine rifle used by the military. He was paroled in 1929 and is responsible for several firearms patents. https://northcarolinahistory.org/enc...ams-1900-1975/ Jimmy Stewart played him in a movie released in 1952. Good movie if you've not seen it. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

April 1, 2025, 06:10 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,433	Before 1968, there was no federal law prohibiting convicted felons from owning gun or being a gunsmith (which requires possessing guns) after they "paid their debt to society". Personally, I think it should still be that way today. The people actually reformed aren't going to do bad things, and the bad guys are going to get guns and do bad things, anyway. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 1, 2025, 10:58 PM	#6
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 19,033	The Pinal Country Sheriff's Office also produces the "Fridays with Frank" YouTube channel that covers the activities of Deputy Frank Sloup, a member of the traffic enforcement unit (I think Frank is also a member of the SWAT team). Frank is originally from Long Island, Noo Yawk, and he brings to the job a unique combination of friendly personality and biting sarcasm -- as long as you don't cross him. https://www.youtube.com/@PinalCountySheriffsOffice The Fridays with Frank started under the previous sherfif, Mark Lamb, who I believe left the office to run for the U.S. Senate. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

April 1, 2025, 09:56 PM	#5
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,478	The Jimmy Stewart movie about Carbine Williams is excellent, but the real guy was a jerk. I could see our Sheriff doing this as a joke, but if I told you what inmates CAN make from materials you throw out...it would astound you. A piece of paper, a straightened paper clip, a bit of mattress fuzz and a strip of tape makes a blow gun. There was a Canadian inmate who built a firing, reloadable firearm from a soda can, pen, bolt, match sticks, lead solder scraped off his bunk, AA batteries, (projectiles), 9 volt battery, (ignition source), steel wool, a lighter and an empty potato chip bag. He never ever ever shot anyone with it, just did target practice out his window at the fence, and poked holes in a steel fence with this thing.

April 2, 2025, 06:54 AM	#7
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,478	Yes Sheriff Lamb did lose his bid for the Senate - he would have been awesome. That guy, BTW, is HUGE, met him a few times working on another campaign. Very cool dude.

April 2, 2025, 10:32 AM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,287	David Marshall "Carbine" Williams and Bill Ruger both shared one thing in common. Their first gun was based on modifying the Rem 5 semi-automatic rifle. Ruger at that time was an employee of Springfield Armory (the military one in Springfield, MA) and received a plaque with Springfield's crossed cannons and cannonball for it. I read a book about Williams and he was indeed a mean man not to be crossed. it was ironic to cast the afffable Jimmy Stewart to protray him in the film. Thanks for the link MikeJones. Old as it is, I've never seen it before. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*