Are constitutional rights truly national rights if exercising them can be lawful in one state and result in years of imprisonment in another simply because of where an American lives?
Albany, New York resident Demetrio Daga is currently facing 40 years in a state prison, but if he had lived in Florida, Texas, Georgia or any other free state he would never have been charged with a crime.
Daga, who is 44, was convicted last month after a seven-day trial of violating 15 New York State criminal charges: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
“Demetrio Daga was buying and producing gun parts and building weapons in his home,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis told the jury during closing arguments. “And he wasn’t just someone who builds guns, he was building an arsenal.”
By Lee Williams
