There’s been a case in New York that should be making headlines around the United States but hasn’t garnered much media coverage. 

The case involves Dexter Taylor, a New York native convicted of 13 weapons charges after having been arrested and charged in 2022 for gunsmithing.

“He liked the nature of putting together guns from lawfully purchased parts,” Bearing Arms stated.

However, the tyrannical state of New York came after Taylor for his gunsmithing hobby.

Jeff Charles provided details about the case at RedState:

The jury found Taylor guilty of second-degree criminal possession of a loaded weapon, four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, five counts of criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of five or more firearms, unlawful possession of pistol ammunition, violation of certificate of registration, prohibition on unfinished frames or receivers. Two lesser charges, including third-degree criminal possession of three or more firearms and third-degree possession of a weapon, were not voted on.

Taylor, a 52-year-old New York native and a software engineer, discovered the world of gunsmithing years ago. He decided to take it up as a hobby and possibly turn it into a business later. However, when a joint ATF/NYPD task force discovered he was legally buying parts from various companies, they opened up an investigation that led to a SWAT raid and arrest.

He is currently being jailed on Rikers Island as he awaits sentencing. Taylor’s conviction highlights the ongoing battle for gun rights. During an interview with Vinoo Varghese, Taylor’s defense lawyer, he detailed how Taylor’s trial proceeded and highlighted a distinct bias in favor of the prosecution.

Varghese described how Taylor became fascinated by weapon science during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which inspired him to take up his gunsmithing hobby. “He ended up building, I believe it was eight pistols and five rifles or six rifles, AR-style rifles, and then eight or nine Glock pistols that he built,” Varghese said.

According to Varghese, the judge presiding over the case said the Second Amendment doesn’t exist in their courtroom.

“She told us, ‘Do not bring the Second Amendment into this courtroom. It doesn’t exist here. So you can’t argue Second Amendment. This is New York,'” Varghese told RedState.

Bearing Arms wrote:

The Second Amendment doesn’t exist there? Excuse the hell out of me?

“This is New York?”

This just smacks of “the Aloha spirit” nonsense where some parties seem to think that the Constitution doesn’t actually apply because they really, really don’t like it.

Is the judge in this case, Judge Abena Darkeh, suggesting that the Second Amendment doesn’t apply anywhere she doesn’t approve? What other rights don’t exist in New York under Judge Darkeh’s paradigm? Do defendants not have the right to representation? Is free speech non-existent?

Oh, one might make the case that I’m being ridiculous, but I don’t think I am. Not based on Darkeh’s other actions.

Varghese also tries to take a jury nullification approach. Jury nullification basically means you convince the jury that while a crime might have occurred, the law in question is the real problem. It’s rare, but it’s still a thing. Judges aren’t supposed to encourage it, but they’re not supposed to stop it.

Yet Judge Darkeh did just that. She reportedly warned jurors in such a way as to suggest they could face consequences if they didn’t vote to convict.

Watch Varghese discuss the case on “A Fresh Perspective with Jeff Charles”:

“Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, and it appears Judge Darkeh will likely make an example out of him to send a message to others who might consider building their own firearms in New York, according to Varghese. He could be facing between 10 and 18 years in prison,” Charles wrote at RedState.

However, Taylor and Varghese are determined to fight as long as possible.

Varghese believes they have a chance of winning in federal court.

Watch Taylor discuss his case in the clip below:

Varghese joined “The Breanna Morello Show” last week to provide updates on the case.

“Dexter Taylor (@futureradiocast) was convicted by a NYC jury over allegations protected by the 2nd Amendment. The judge in his case openly told the jury the 2nd Amendment does not apply in their courtroom. Dexter is currently in one of the most dangerous jails in the country,” The Breanna Morello Show wrote.

WATCH:

“My name is Dexter Taylor, a.k.a. TapeDecks, a.k.a. Carbon Mike. I am a New York native; a father; a Data Engineer with almost 30 years in the software industry; the founder of The Foundationist Society (www.futurerad.io); a licensed Radio operator (Technician class); a musician and studio owner; a carpenter; a metalworker; an old-school analog electronics geek (with a squeaky-clean criminal record),” a GiveSendGo for Taylor writes.

Per GiveSendGo:

BUT

The State of New York believes I’m a Dangerous Felon — because I’m also an gunsmith.

Because I quietly exercised my Second Amendment rights at home, building weapons and developing weapons-science and new hardware/software products, I was raided by an NYPD / ATF task force in April of 2022.

(At the time, I was a member in good standing of the Westside Rifle and Pistol Range in Manhattan.)

We’re fighting the case now. If I lose, I’m looking at 18 years in prison — but of course there is no guarantee that I’ll win.

This campaign is to help me cover my legal fees and expenses during the trial and the appeal process.

Thank you.

 

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