Vietnam War Veteran Sentenced to 7 Years for Violating the NFA

Plano, Texas –-(Ammoland.com)-A Vietnam War veteran has been sentenced to 7 years in federal prison on federal gun charges.

Alfred Pick, 70, was sentenced to serve an 87-month prison sentence by District Judge Marcia A. Crone for possessing a fully automatic M14 that he purchased at a Texas gun show almost 40 years ago.

The former prisoner of war was drawn to the rifle because it was similar to the one he used during the Vietnam War where he served as a lieutenant in the Army carrying out over 100 combat missions and receiving the nation’s third highest military honor, the Silver Star. According to his attorneys, Pick did not know it was not legal to own the fully automatic rifle.

According to his friends in the Plano’s Air Park neighborhood, where Pick served as the HOA President, he was a gun collector of 14 rare guns, and the M14 was the crown jewel of his collection. He had a strong sentimental connection to the rifle.

The Plano’s Air Park is an upper class neighborhood for pilots like Pick who enjoy easy access to community runways for their private airplanes.

Two weeks after Pick lost his wife of 40 years to cancer the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents raided his home looking for the M14. When they found the rifle Pick was immediately arrested for violating the National Firearms Act.

Federal authorities also charged Pick for the possession of marijuana. Pick’s wife was using medical marijuana to help treat the pain and nausea from her cancer.

Neighbors and friends of Pick were shocked by the arrest and hoped that the courts would consider his military and civic past. Pick’s friend, Mark Shackelford, spoke to the local TV station, KTVT about the decorated war hero and his life since Vietnam.

“He’s had it all these years, never robbed a bank or done anything with it,” Shackleford said. “I would think that when a man turned 70 and is an American hero, you don’t destroy the rest of his life for one mistake.”

The serial number of the rifle was scratched, but according to friends Pick never removed the rifle from it’s case and they are not sure Pick knew the serial was removed from the rifle.

Pick pleaded guilty in court. His attorney, Ryne Sandel, asked the court for leniency citing his lack of a criminal record, his Silver Star and his reputation within the community and among his friends.

“He’s a really remarkable man to be honest,” Sandel said. “I do think it’s unfortunate for a gentleman like Alfred that’s had such an outstanding life to have it mired at the age of 70 by this federal felony.”

In front of a courtroom full of Pick’s friends and supporters Judge Crone decided not to grant mercy to him and handed down the harsh sentence that didn’t sit well with his supporters in attendance.

“Somebody that made one mistake,” Shackelford said, “and now 50 years later he’s paying a really big price for it.”

About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.

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