Michael Koenigs @MikeOnABikeABC stories on Colorado gun store proprietor Mel Bernstein who casually generally known as the “most armed man in America” after buying 1000’s of high-powered weapons, bazookas and machine weapons.
His firearms assortment dwarfs the variety of weapons — 47 — allegedly discovered within the Las Vegas lodge suite and two properties of mass shooter Stephen Paddock, as an example, however the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is unable to substantiate whether or not Bernstein has amassed extra weapons than some other U. S. gun proprietor.
“ATF can’t quantify who possesses essentially the most firearms in America as a result of there is no such thing as a database to reference this info,” an ATF consultant wrote in response to an inquiry from ABC Information. “A firearm registry or database of people who personal firearms regulated beneath the Gun Management Act (GCA) doesn’t exist.”
Bernstein says he has amassed over 4,000 weapons at his Colorado Springs compound, the place he additionally retains military-style autos. The weapons are registered in his title, he says, and he additionally rents and sells machine weapons to his prospects.
His gun store, six taking pictures ranges, army museum, paintball park, motorcross park and residential are situated on the 260-acre property generally known as Dragonland.
“We’ve been promoting extra weapons within the final three weeks than now we have within the final eight months,” Bernstein mentioned of his firearms store known as Dragonmans.
As for gun possession on the whole, about 3 p.c of Individuals personal about half the nation’s 265 million weapons, in keeping with a 2016 Harvard-Northeastern survey. Such “tremendous homeowners” possess a median of 17 weapons every, and an estimated 133 million weapons in whole.
“If anyone comes in your property and threatens you with bodily hurt, it’s authorized to shoot them, [according to] Colorado regulation,” Bernstein mentioned as he drove towards his one-story home during which he retains M-16 machine weapons, sawed-off shotguns, and a number of handguns round his mattress.
In August, 4 folks used Bernstein’s truck to smash into the Dragonmans gun retailer and steal 84 weapons, police mentioned. Federal authorities have since arrested 4 suspects, together with his stepdaughter and step-grandson, who now face felony expenses in connection to the theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. They haven’t entered pleas.
In 2012, his spouse, Terry Flanell, 51, was unintentionally killed by a smoke bomb on the property whereas filming a reality-TV pilot for the Discovery Channel.
Now, his dwelling — adorned with jukeboxes, classic Cola-Cola memorabilia and mannequin automobiles — reminds him of a bygone period.
Bernstein additionally retains 4 feminine mannequins on the dwelling. “I want somebody to speak to, to inform them my issues,” Bernstein mentioned.
He added: “This complete home mounted up like this places me again in my period, again within the sixties the place I belong.”
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